RV1126B AI Camera Carrier PCB Design – AR0234, Dual GMSL2, MIPI CSI-2, Ethernet and Isolated Trigger

We are developing an industrial AI camera system based on the Rockchip RV1126B processor and onsemi AR0234 global-shutter image sensors.
We want to use a ready-made RV1126B SOM/core board and develop a custom carrier PCB. Our internal team will concentrate on AI and application software. The freelancer/company must handle hardware design, PCB layout, board bring-up and low-level Linux camera integration.
The system will support:
Two GMSL2 camera inputs
One local AR0234 MIPI CSI-2 camera
Three simultaneous camera streams
Isolated industrial trigger input
Gigabit Ethernet for compressed preview and communication
3.3 V TTL UART service/debug connection
12–24 V DC power input
Proposed Architecture
RV1126B SOM/core board
Minimum 2 GB RAM
Minimum 16 GB eMMC
MAX96716A dual GMSL2 deserializer or approved equivalent
MAX96717-compatible remote GMSL2 cameras
Two FAKRA or mini-FAKRA GMSL2 connectors
Power-over-Coax support, if required by the selected cameras
One local 23-pin AR0234 FPC connector
Gigabit Ethernet PHY and RJ45 connector
Isolated 12–24 V external trigger input
3.3 V UART/TTL connector
Protected 12–24 V DC input
Local AR0234 Interface
We will provide the AR0234 module drawing and predefined 23-pin pinout.
The local camera interface includes:
One-lane MIPI CSI-2 clock and data
I²C SCL/SDA
RESET
External sensor clock
External trigger
Shutter and flash signals
AVDD 2.8 V
DOVDD 1.8 V
DVDD 1.2 V
Multiple ground connections
The designer must verify the FPC connector pitch, cable thickness, contact orientation and pin-1 direction before PCB layout.
GMSL2 Requirements
Two independent GMSL2 camera inputs
Preferred deserializer: MAX96716A
3 Gbps/6 Gbps link support
Both streams routed to one RV1126B CSI receiver
Separate MIPI virtual channels for the two cameras
I²C pass-through for remote sensor configuration
Remote GPIO/trigger support
Link-lock and error monitoring
Optional PoC with independent current protection for each camera
ESD and EMC protection
Target cable length must be stated and tested
The base quotation should cover the main RV1126B carrier board. Please provide a separate optional quotation if custom AR0234 + MAX96717 remote GMSL2 camera boards are also required.
Trigger Requirements
One galvanically isolated trigger input
Accept 12–24 V industrial input
Reverse-polarity and surge protection
Trigger output translated to the required 1.8 V sensor level
Trigger distributed to:Local AR0234
Both remote GMSL2 cameras
RV1126B GPIO for timestamping

Measured inter-camera trigger/exposure skew
Target synchronization accuracy: preferably 1 µs or better
Trigger polarity and operating mode configurable through software
The industrial trigger voltage must never be connected directly to the image sensor.
Ethernet and Communication
10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
RGMII PHY or compatible RV1126B Ethernet interface
RJ45 MagJack with ESD protection
H.264/H.265 compressed network preview
RTSP or another documented preview protocol
3.3 V TTL UART for debug and service
Recovery/programming interface for the RV1126B module
Power Requirements
12–24 V DC input
Reverse-polarity protection
Input fuse/eFuse
Surge and transient protection
EMI filtering
DC/DC rails for the SOM, deserializer and cameras
Independent protected PoC outputs, if PoC is included
Power-good and reset sequencing
Thermal design for continuous operation
Approximate design target: 30–36 W input capacity, subject to the final camera power requirement
PCB Requirements
Preferably 6-layer or higher PCB
Controlled-impedance MIPI CSI-2 routing
Controlled-impedance GMSL2 routing
Correct RGMII/Ethernet layout
Proper grounding and power-plane design
ESD protection on all external connectors
Test points for power rails, I²C, reset, trigger and clocks
Debugging provisions for GMSL and MIPI bring-up
Design suitable for prototype and later production
Software and BSP Scope
The contractor must deliver the complete low-level working camera platform, including:
RV1126B Linux BSP
Kernel configuration
Device-tree files
AR0234 V4L2 subdevice driver
AR0234 register initialization and mode tables
External-trigger configuration
MAX96716A/MAX96717 configuration or drivers
GMSL virtual-channel configuration
RKAIQ ISP configuration and AR0234 IQ/tuning files
Exposure and gain controls
Multi-camera streaming
Trigger timestamp support
Ethernet and UART support
Example camera capture application
Example H.264/H.265 network-preview application
Complete build instructions
Our team will develop the AI and final application after the camera platform is stable.
Required Deliverables
Complete system block diagram
Power-tree calculation
Schematic source files and PDF
PCB layout source files
Gerbers and fabrication files
BOM with manufacturer part numbers
Pick-and-place and assembly files
PCB stack-up and impedance requirements
3D PCB model
Linux kernel/BSP source code
V4L2 drivers and device-tree source
GMSL initialization source code
RKAIQ IQ files
Board bring-up report
Trigger synchronization test report
GMSL link and cable test report
Thermal test results
Manufacturing and functional-test procedure
KiCad or Altium is acceptable. Please state which design software and version will be used.
Minimum Acceptance Test
The completed prototype must demonstrate:
Two GMSL2 cameras and one local AR0234 camera detected simultaneously
Three cameras streaming at 1920×1200 RAW10, 30 fps
Continuous operation for at least eight hours
No repeated MIPI CSI errors, GMSL link loss or unexplained dropped frames
External 12–24 V trigger captures synchronized frames
Measured synchronization/skew results supplied
Exposure and gain controllable through V4L2
H.264/H.265 Ethernet preview working
Automatic camera recovery after GMSL cable disconnect/reconnect
Linux boots reliably from eMMC
UART debug and system recovery working
Higher frame rates may be discussed separately. Do not assume three-camera operation at 60 or 120 fps without bandwidth validation.
Required Experience
Please apply only if you have proven experience with several of the following:
Rockchip RV1126/RV1126B camera platforms
Rockchip Linux camera framework
V4L2 sensor-driver development
RKAIQ ISP tuning
AR0234 or other RAW Bayer sensors
MAX96716/MAX96717 or other GMSL2 devices
Multi-camera MIPI virtual channels
High-speed MIPI PCB layout
Industrial power and isolated-input design
Gigabit Ethernet hardware design
Prototype bring-up and debugging
Information Required in Your Proposal
Please provide:
Similar camera or GMSL projects completed.
Which RV1126B SOM you recommend.
Whether both CSI interfaces are exposed by that SOM.
Experience with AR0234 drivers and ISP tuning.
Experience with MAX96716A/MAX96717.
Whether you can supply and assemble prototype boards.
Number of prototypes included.
Estimated project schedule.
Fixed-price milestone breakdown.
Software and hardware tools you will use.
Which deliverables require third-party NDA documentation.
Confirmation that all project source files will be provided to us.
Suggested Milestones
Architecture, SOM selection and feasibility review
Schematic and power-tree approval
PCB layout and design-review approval
Prototype manufacturing and assembly
Power and interface bring-up
Single AR0234 camera streaming
Dual GMSL2 camera streaming
Three-camera simultaneous operation
Trigger synchronization and Ethernet preview
Final source-code, manufacturing-file and documentation handover
All custom schematic, PCB and software source files developed under this project must be delivered to us with commercial usage and manufacturing rights.