Arducam 5MP Plus OV5642 Mini Camera Module

Jargon buster

Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.

frame buffer

A frame buffer is memory that stores a complete image before it is shown on a display. Displays without their own frame buffer need the controller to continuously send pixel data, which affects the choice of microcontroller and software library.

IoT

Short for Internet of Things, meaning physical devices that connect to networks or the internet to send data or be controlled remotely. It matters if you want projects such as connected sensors, remote controls or classroom data-logging activities.

JPEG

A widely used compressed image file format for photographs, where some detail is discarded to keep file sizes small. When a device produces JPEG output, the images are already compressed, making them easier to store on an SD card or send over a slow link than uncompressed raw data.

microcontroller

A microcontroller is a small computer on a single chip that runs a stored program and controls connected inputs and outputs such as buttons, sensors, displays and communication interfaces. In a device built around one, it is the part that executes the code and coordinates the device's behaviour.

RGB

Short for red, green and blue, the three primary colours of light that are mixed in varying amounts to make a wide range of colours. In electronics RGB can refer to an LED or pixel that blends these three colours, or to a colour signal or interface that carries separate red, green and blue channels.

RP2040

The RP2040 is a dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontroller chip from Raspberry Pi, used on many maker boards and offering programmable I/O, multiple GPIO pins and reasonable processing speed. Code and accessories built for that chip should work where RP2040 compatibility is listed, though demanding tasks such as reading a camera can require careful pin allocation and timing.

SPI

A fast serial communication bus often used for displays, memory cards, and sensors. It matters because SPI devices need specific pins for clock and data, plus a separate chip-select line for each device.

STM32

STM32 is a family of microcontroller chips commonly used in embedded electronics. Knowing a product uses an STM32 can help when looking at firmware updates, pin connections, or low-level serial control options.

VGA

VGA has two common meanings in electronics: as a resolution it usually refers to a 640 x 480 pixel image, which is modest detail suitable for basic display or inspection rather than high definition; as a connector it refers to the analogue 15-pin video output long used on computers and monitors. Check which sense a listing means.