Hi everyone, hoping someone can help me figure this out. I just received an Arducam CSI-USB UVC Camera Adapter Board for IMX477 along with the IMX477 Mini HQ Camera (M12 lens) and the 15-pin FPC cable.
The first thing I noticed when connecting the camera to the UVC board is that the 15-pin FPC connector feels really loose — the cable doesn’t seem to seat securely at all. I’ve tried testing the setup on Windows 10, Windows 11, and even on an Android device. The weird thing is the microphone works fine across all devices, but I get absolutely no picture from the camera. Just a black screen no matter what app I use.
Anyone run into this before? Is the loose connector normal or could that be the issue?
Hello, sorry to hear you’re having trouble. The loose feel of the FPC connector can be misleading — let’s first make sure the cable is oriented correctly, because that’s often the culprit. Here’s what to check:
The silver contacts on the FPC cable must face AWAY from the black plastic connector body.
The FPC cable must be routed UNDERNEATH the black connector — not over the top of it.
If you’re unsure, try removing and re-inserting the cable with these points in mind. The connector has a latch/flap mechanism — make sure you’ve lifted it before inserting, then press it down to lock the cable in place.
Let me know if that changes anything. A photo of your current connection would also help if the issue persists.
Thanks for the quick reply. I went back and double-checked — I’ve got the silver contacts facing away from the black connector and the cable routed underneath just as you described. I also made sure the latch was lifted before inserting and pressed down firmly after.
Unfortunately, same result. Microphone still works, still no image on any device. I’m starting to wonder if the FPC connector on my particular board might be physically damaged — it genuinely feels like it doesn’t grip the cable at all. The cable slides out with almost no resistance even after locking the latch down.
Is the connector supposed to have a firm grip on the FPC cable? Mine definitely doesn’t.
The connector should hold the cable firmly — if the cable is sliding out with minimal force even after the latch is engaged, that does sound like there may be some damage to the connector. Could you post some close-up photos of the connector area and the cable seated in it? A short video showing how loose it is would also be really helpful.
Also, just to rule out the camera module itself — can you confirm the other end of the FPC cable is fully inserted into the camera board as well? Both ends need to be properly seated.
Also a short clip of what I see when testing: 3.mp4
Quick update on my end — after messing with the original board’s connector I’m pretty sure I damaged it further, so I actually went ahead and bought a second UVC adapter board. But here’s the thing: even with the brand new board, I’m getting the exact same behavior. Mic works, no image. The new connector does feel tighter at least, but the result is identical. So now I’m wondering if I’ve been inserting the cable wrong this whole time, or if there’s something else going on.
Both ends of the FPC are definitely pushed in as far as they’ll go.
Thanks for the detailed photos and video — that’s exactly what I needed to see. I can now tell what’s going on.
Your FPC ribbon cable is inserted upside down — it’s rotated 180° from the correct orientation. Looking at your photos, the cable needs to be flipped over entirely from its current position.
Here’s the corrective procedure:
Remove the FPC cable completely from the UVC adapter board.
Flip the cable over 180° from how you currently have it.
Re-insert with the silver contacts facing AWAY from the black plastic connector body.
Make sure the cable routes UNDERNEATH the black connector.
Lock the latch down.
This also explains your earlier observations. The UVC adapter board has a built-in microphone that operates completely independently of the camera image path — it gets power and enumerates as an audio device over USB regardless of whether the camera is connected properly. So a working microphone with no image is actually a strong indicator that the issue lies specifically with the camera-side FPC connection, not a complete board failure. In your case, the flipped cable orientation means the correct pins aren’t making contact for the image data lines, but USB enumeration and audio still work fine.
This also likely explains why the original board’s connector ended up damaged — repeated insertion attempts in the wrong orientation (180° flipped) can stress the connector. The new board should be fine once the cable is oriented correctly.
Give that a try and let us know if the image comes through.
