PyDIPLink

Source repository: https://github.com/embeddip/PyDIPLink

PyDIPLink is a Python package for transferring images, JPEG frames, and one-dimensional signal data between a computer and an embedded device over UART. It is used with the embedded examples from the book Embedded Digital Image Processing with Microcontrollers.

Features

• Send images from a computer to an embedded device.
• Receive raw images from an embedded device.
• Receive and record JPEG frame streams.
• Receive one-dimensional signal data, such as histograms.
• Support RGB888, RGB565, grayscale, YUV, HSV, and JPEG data.

Installation

Install from PyPI:

pip install pydiplink

Install from source:

git clone https://github.com/embeddip/PyDIPLink.git
cd PyDIPLink
pip install -e .

Command Line Use

Start the receiver with the default serial settings:

pydiplink

Specify the serial port and baud rate:

pydiplink --port /dev/ttyUSB1 --baud 115200
pydiplink --port COM3 --baud 500000

Set a default image to send when the embedded device requests one:

pydiplink --image input.jpg

Record received JPEG frames to a video file:

pydiplink --record --output video.avi --fps 15

Python Use

Record JPEG frames from Python:

from pydiplink import JpegVideoWriter, receive_and_show_jpeg

with JpegVideoWriter("output.avi", fps=30, resolution=(640, 480)) as writer:
    for _ in range(300):
        frame = receive_and_show_jpeg(ser)
        if frame is not None:
            writer.write_frame(frame)

Receive one-dimensional signal data:

import serial
from pydiplink import receive_1d_signal

ser = serial.Serial("/dev/ttyUSB0", 500000, timeout=5)
signal_data = receive_1d_signal(ser, plot=True, save_path="histogram")
ser.close()

Protocol

The embedded device sends a three-byte command to select the transfer type:

• STR: device requests an image from the computer.
• STW: device sends a raw image to the computer.
• STJ: device sends a JPEG frame to the computer.
• ST1: device sends one-dimensional signal data.

PyDIPLink handles the serial transfer, timeouts, validation, and file output for these commands.

Configuration

The command line tool can read default settings from environment variables:

export DIPLINK_PORT=/dev/ttyUSB0
export DIPLINK_BAUD=500000
export DIPLINK_IMAGE=input.jpg

Images are limited to 4096 by 4096 pixels and 50 MB.

Examples

Complete examples are available in examples/:

• basic_image_transfer.py: send and receive images.
• jpeg_streaming.py: receive JPEG streams.

Documentation

See docs/API.md for API documentation.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See LICENSE for details.

Author

Developed by Ozan Durgut for embedded systems and digital image processing examples.