Author: Eileen David

Sleep-on-exit is a feature in Cortex-M3 processors that allows the processor to automatically enter a low power sleep mode when exiting an ISR or exception handler. This reduces power consumption by avoiding unnecessary wakeups when handling short interrupt service routines. By enabling sleep-on-exit, the processor can go to sleep and wake up much faster between

Debugging software on Arm Cortex-M devices requires configuring the CoreSight components like the Embedded Trace Macrocell (ETM), Trace Port Interface Unit (TPIU), Embedded Trace Buffer (ETB) etc. Choosing the right debugger and properly setting up the debug hardware is key to an efficient software debugging workflow. Overview of CoreSight Components in Cortex-M The Cortex-M series

The JTAG-DP and SWJ-DP are two commonly used debug ports for ARM Cortex-M series microcontrollers. Both provide debug access and programming capabilities, but have some key differences. Overview of JTAG-DP and SWJ-DP JTAG-DP refers to the JTAG Debug Port, which utilizes the IEEE 1149.1 JTAG interface standard. It provides 4 pins for debug access –

Cross-compiling for ARM can seem daunting at first, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be straightforward and efficient. Here are some tips to help you get started with ARM cross-compilation. Choose the Right Toolchain The first step is choosing the right toolchain for your needs. Popular options include: Consider factors like licensing,

The ARM Cortex-A55 and Cortex-A76 are two of ARM’s most popular CPU cores used in mobile devices. The Cortex-A55 is ARM’s first 64-bit “little” CPU core, while the Cortex-A76 is a high-performance “big” CPU core. There are some key differences between these two cores: Intended Use Cases The Cortex-A55 is designed for power efficiency and

ARM Cortex-M processors feature both instruction and data caches to improve performance by reducing accesses to slower main memory. Caches take advantage of locality principles – the tendency for programs to access the same data and instructions repeatedly over a short period of time. By storing this frequently accessed information in smaller, faster memory caches

Interrupts are a critical part of embedded systems, allowing time-critical tasks to be executed with minimal latency. However, there can be significant differences in interrupt latency depending on the type of interrupt and how it is configured. This article examines the latency differences between three common types of interrupts on ARM Cortex chips: timer interrupts,

Interrupt latency refers to the time it takes for an interrupt request to be serviced after it is asserted. There are various factors that can influence interrupt latency in an ARM Cortex system. The key factors include: Interrupt Controller Design The interrupt controller plays a critical role in determining interrupt latency. Factors like the number

The vector table in Cortex-M3 microcontrollers contains the reset value and exceptions handler addresses. Its placement in memory is an important consideration during application development. This article provides a detailed overview of vector table placement options and considerations for Cortex-M3 devices. Introduction to Vector Table The vector table contains the initial stack pointer value and