We design the camera, found TX1 camera has a U1 chip, part number is CAT24C02HU4IGT3A, chip-related parameters are IC I2C CMOS SERIAL EEPROM 2Kb 1.7V TO 5.5V 100KHz MAX STANDARD 400KHz MAX FAST UDFN-8-EP; to ask this What is the role of the chip?
I had the same question before.
The following is from Nvidia Tegra Linux Driver Package developer Guide:
Device Registration
Using Plugin Manager
Using Main Platform Device Tree File
After driver development is complete, you must add your device information to the system kernel device tree so it can be instantiated when the kernel boots. There are two ways of registering your device.
Using Plugin Manager
If your camera module has onboard EEPROM and has a valid camera ID programmed, Plugin Manager can be used. If your device module does not meet this requirement, use the main platform device tree instead by following the directions in Using Main Platform Device Tree File.
Plugin Manager automatically links devices when the system kernel boots. Plugin Manager uses the camera module ID returned by the boot loader to update the device tree entries with proper information at runtime. Plugin Manager allows a single system image to support multiple camera devices. To change camera modules, power down the device, replace the camera module, and then reboot. The new module works automatically.
For Plugin Manager support, add your DTSI file to the camera configuration DTSI file, and then update the camera plugin manager DTSI with proper override information.
Many cameras (e.g., Pi cameras) work for TX1 without EEPROM.