How to Control IR Filter? - Pico Zero and IMX415 IR Cut

2026-05-30 3:18

Hi, I recently received my Pico Zero and IMX415 IR Cut camera module and was able to try out the RTSP stream via VLC. However, the resulting image is reddish. I believe this is due to the IR filter not being switched on? I've been looking at the file in /etc/oem/usr/share/rkipc-800w.ini, but I'm having trouble finding any comments for the configuration values.

I noticed the following block:

Code: Select all

[isp.1.night_to_day]
night_to_day = day       
night_to_day_filter_level = 5
night_to_day_filter_time = 5
dawn_time = 07:00:00
dusk_time = 18:00:00
ircut_filter_action = day
over_exposure_suppress = open
over_exposure_suppress_type = auto
fill_light_mode = IR         
brightness_adjustment_mode = auto
light_brightness = 1
distance_level = 1

This suggests that I can change the scene mode (and therefore the IR filter) depending on the time of day, but I've tried setting various times and there doesn't seem to be any effect.

This leaves me with a few questions:

Are the dawn/dusk times in the rkipc-800w.ini file supposed to control when the IR filter is activated?

If yes, how do I get this to work?

If no, is there another way to switch the filter with a script? Or even just using the physical onboard switch?

Thanks in advance!

2026-06-01 18:42

When turning on the Pico Zero, I can hear two clicks coming from the camera. The first click occurs almost immediately after I plug in the power cable, and the second click is a few seconds after. I've found that the first click corresponds to the filter being activated, and the second click comes from the filter being deactivated.

I found a workaround to keep the IR filter activated:

Plug in the Pico Zero

After the first click, unplug the power cable

Disconnect the header on the camera module

The IR filter will remain activated between power cycles

However, I would still like to be able to control the filter via software (either automatically based on lighting conditions or even just time of day). From my research it seems that the filter can be controlled by manipulating GPIO pins output, but I'm not sure which pins on the Pico Zero are used for this.