Camera - Microdia [0c45:648d] rev 1c.07, unable to take still pictures with camera_test (fswebcam)

Bug #1194761 reported by Po-Hsu Lin
8
This bug affects 1 person
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
linux (Ubuntu)
Won't Fix
Medium
Unassigned

Bug Description

CID: 201203-10664 Dell Inspiron 7420

On this system, the camera_test script is able to display video capture form the built-in camera. But it's unable to display a still image and multiple resolution images, the file size of temporarily stored file is zero. Causing the image viewer complain about "Could not load image" (screenshot attached) Or "Failed to validate image" for multiple resolution images test case. I tried to get more information from the script by adding "-v" to fswebcam command like this:
    def _still_helper(self, filename, width, height, quiet, pixelformat=None):
        """
        Captures an image to a given filename. width and height specify the
        image size and quiet controls whether the image is displayed to the
        user (quiet = True means do not display image).
        """
        command = ["fswebcam -v", "-S 3", "--no-banner",
                   "-d", self.args.device,

I didn't get any extra information, but both the "still" and "resolutions" test cases work fine with this.

201202-10404 Inspiron 5720 - 12.04.2 Precise (3.2.0-48) : Same issue, "-v" tweak works too.
T: Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=04 Cnt=02 Dev#= 4 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
P: Vendor=0c45 ProdID=648d Rev=1c.07
S: Manufacturer=1234567890-17V
S: Product=Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_HD

And usb-devices output from 201203-10664:
T: Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=04 Cnt=02 Dev#= 4 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
P: Vendor=0c45 ProdID=648d Rev=1c.07
S: Manufacturer=1234567890-17W
S: Product=Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_HD

WORKAROUND: run "fswebcam --save OK.jpg -D 1"

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: linux-image-3.5.0-34-generic 3.5.0-34.55~precise1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-34.55~precise1-generic 3.5.7.13
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-34-generic x86_64
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.25.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu17.3
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: ubuntu 1635 F.... pulseaudio
CRDA:
 country TW:
  (2402 - 2472 @ 40), (3, 27)
  (5270 - 5330 @ 40), (3, 17), DFS
  (5735 - 5815 @ 40), (3, 30)
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'PCH'/'HDA Intel PCH at 0xf1610000 irq 46'
   Mixer name : 'Intel PantherPoint HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:14f1506e,1028055f,00100002 HDA:80862806,80860101,00100000'
   Controls : 26
   Simple ctrls : 11
Date: Wed Jun 26 15:32:34 2013
HibernationDevice: RESUME=UUID=1b545ae9-c477-4296-bad8-13df99c1a066
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20130213)
MachineType: Dell Inc. Inspiron 7420
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB:
 0 inteldrmfb
 1 nouveaufb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-3.5.0-34-generic root=UUID=cae2ed03-ffc3-4fe2-8206-9939fad0a62a ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-3.5.0-34-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-3.5.0-34-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.79.4
SourcePackage: linux
StagingDrivers: rts5139
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 07/24/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: X58
dmi.board.name: A4E3T1
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: X02
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 0.1
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrX58:bd07/24/2012:svnDellInc.:pnInspiron7420:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rnA4E3T1:rvrX02:cvnDellInc.:ct8:cvr0.1:
dmi.product.name: Inspiron 7420
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.

Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) wrote :
Revision history for this message
Brad Figg (brad-figg) wrote : Status changed to Confirmed

This change was made by a bot.

Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Joseph Salisbury (jsalisbury) wrote : Re: Camera test is unable to take still pictures

Would it be possible for you to test the latest upstream kernel? Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Please test the latest v3.10 kernel[0].

If this bug is fixed in the mainline kernel, please add the following tag 'kernel-fixed-upstream'.

If the mainline kernel does not fix this bug, please add the tag: 'kernel-bug-exists-upstream'.

If you are unable to test the mainline kernel, for example it will not boot, please add the tag: 'kernel-unable-to-test-upstream'.
Once testing of the upstream kernel is complete, please mark this bug as "Confirmed".

Thanks in advance.

[0] http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v3.10-rc7-saucy/

Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
importance: Undecided → Medium
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew)
Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: Confirmed → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) wrote :

After kernel v3.10-rc7 installed, the "-v" tweak is no longer needed.
camera_test script works fine with still / multiple resolution test.
And it's faster than before!

Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: Incomplete → Confirmed
tags: added: kernel-fixed-upstream
Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) wrote :

Further investigated on those system that equipped with Microdia [0c45:648d]
Here's the result and output from usb-devices (some repeated message truncated, please find attachment for full log):

201208-11538 Dell Inspiron 3521 - 13.04 Raring (3.8.0-19) : No Problem
T: Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=03 Cnt=03 Dev#= 5 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
P: Vendor=0c45 ProdID=648d Rev=22.06
S: Manufacturer=CNFB194I2450100017G2
S: Product=Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_HD

201208-11539 Dell Inspiron 3521 - 12.04.2 Precise (3.5.0-34) : No Problem
T: Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=03 Cnt=03 Dev#= 5 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
P: Vendor=0c45 ProdID=648d Rev=22.06
S: Manufacturer=CNFB194I2450100017C2
S: Product=Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_HD

201208-11540 Dell Inspiron 5521 - 12.04.2 Precise (3.5.0-32) : No Problem
T: Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=03 Cnt=03 Dev#= 5 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
P: Vendor=0c45 ProdID=648d Rev=22.06
S: Manufacturer=CNFB194I123010000QH2
S: Product=Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_HD

201209-11715 Inspiron 5421 - 13.10 Saucy (3.9.0-7) : No Problem
T: Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=05 Cnt=03 Dev#= 5 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
P: Vendor=0c45 ProdID=648d Rev=27.23
S: Manufacturer=1234567890-14P
S: Product=Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_HD

201202-10404 Inspiron 5720 - 12.04.2 Precise (3.2.0-48) : Same issue, "-v" tweak works too.
T: Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=04 Cnt=02 Dev#= 4 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
P: Vendor=0c45 ProdID=648d Rev=1c.07
S: Manufacturer=1234567890-17V
S: Product=Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_HD

And usb-devices output from 201203-10664:
T: Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=04 Cnt=02 Dev#= 4 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
P: Vendor=0c45 ProdID=648d Rev=1c.07
S: Manufacturer=1234567890-17W
S: Product=Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_HD

Verified with the same script that was used in 201203-10664

It looks like the Rev of this device has something to do with this issue.

tags: added: 201202-10404
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew)
summary: - Camera test is unable to take still pictures
+ Camera - Microdia [0c45:648d] camera_test is unable to take still
+ pictures
Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) wrote : Re: Camera - Microdia [0c45:648d] camera_test is unable to take still pictures

Also affects 201203-10656
0c45:648d (camera cannot take still image)
T: Bus=01 Lev=02 Prnt=02 Port=04 Cnt=02 Dev#= 4 Spd=480 MxCh= 0
P: Vendor=0c45 ProdID=648d Rev=1c.07
S: Manufacturer=1234567890-1AG
S: Product=Laptop_Integrated_Webcam_HD

tags: added: 201203-10656
penalvch (penalvch)
tags: added: bios-outdated-a17 kernel-fixed-upstream-v3.10-rc7
removed: kernel-fixed-upstream
penalvch (penalvch)
Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: Confirmed → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) wrote :

Hello,

I verified this issue again on 201203-10656
by following these steps:
1. Install Ubuntu, boot to desktop, install fswebcam
2. run "fswebcam --save OK.jpg"
3. run "fswebcam --save OK.jpg -D 1"

This problem still exist on:
3.5.0-44 (12.04.2 + update)
3.8.0-29 (12.04.3)
3.12.0-7 (daily-live Trusty)

For all of these kernels,
On step 2,
picture cannot be taken, the webcam LED will be lit for a while
and the following error message pops-up:
"Timed out waiting for frame!"
"No frame captured"

On step 3,
webcam LED flashes and picture can be taken correctly.

Also, I have it tested with 3.10-rc7 again for consistency.
I would like to rephrase what I tested for v3.10-rc7
On this kernel, step 2 works fine for one time after boot,
but if you do it again, it behaves like other kernels

Step 3 also works for 3.10-rc7

Along with the -v tweak that I mention earlier,
I think it's the delay time that make the difference on this specific Rev. of device.

Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: Incomplete → Confirmed
penalvch (penalvch)
tags: added: trusty
penalvch (penalvch)
description: updated
Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Po-Hsu Lin, thank you for testing Trusty. Given the dependence on revision noted in https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1194761/comments/5 , it would be most helpful to have one bug report per revision, in order to easily focus on it. Currently, the report is bouncing around between revision results, making it confusing for others. Would this be ok?

Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) wrote :

Hello Christopher,

For comment #5, I want to prove that this issue only happen on a specific revision of this webcam, which is revision 1c.07, therefore I think maybe we can nominate series for this?

summary: - Camera - Microdia [0c45:648d] camera_test is unable to take still
- pictures
+ Camera - Microdia [0c45:648d] rev 1c.07, unable to take still pictures
+ with camera_test (fswebcam)
penalvch (penalvch)
description: updated
penalvch (penalvch)
tags: added: bios-outdated-a19
removed: bios-outdated-a17
Revision history for this message
penalvch (penalvch) wrote :

Po-Hsu Lin, thank you for the consolidated focus of this report. One thing that is of interest is , as per http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/inspiron-14r-se-7420 an update is available for your BIOS (A19). If you update to this following https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BiosUpdate , does it change anything? If it doesn't, could you please both specify what happened, and just provide the output of the following terminal command:
sudo dmidecode -s bios-version && sudo dmidecode -s bios-release-date

Thank you for your understanding.

penalvch (penalvch)
Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: Confirmed → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) wrote :

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]

Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: Incomplete → Expired
Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) wrote :

To comment #11
Since this issue is affecting more than one system (with different model) it's unlikely to be BIOS-related

This webcam is now able to take pictures with 12.04.5 (8/4 dailylive) + cheese on 201203-10664
(but not working with recording videos)

Should be verified on other affected systems as well

Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: Expired → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Po-Hsu Lin (cypressyew) wrote :

12.04.5 EOL. Closing this old bug.

Changed in linux (Ubuntu):
status: Confirmed → Won't Fix
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