ARM Cortex-M System Memory Map and SSE-200 MPU Configuration Challenges The ARM Cortex-M system memory map, as defined in the ARMv8-M architecture, partitions the address space into specific regions with predefined memory attributes. One such region is the 0x6000_0000 to 0x7FFF_FFFF range, which is typically designated as "normal" memory. Normal memory is characterized by its…
ARM Cortex-M CYCCNT Cycle Counting Behavior During CPU Halt The ARM Cortex-M series of processors includes a Cycle Counter (CYCCNT) as part of its Debug Watchpoint and Trace (DWT) unit. The CYCCNT is a 32-bit counter that increments with each clock cycle, providing a high-resolution timer for performance analysis and debugging. However, a common point…
ARM Cortex-A Instruction Fetch Alignment Requirements In ARM Cortex-A processors, instruction fetch alignment is a critical aspect of performance optimization and cache utilization. The instruction fetch unit in Cortex-A processors typically operates on 16-byte boundaries, meaning that the Program Counter (PC) must be aligned to a 16-byte boundary when fetching instructions from the instruction cache….
ARM ACE Protocol: WriteUnique and WriteLineUnique Restrictions Explained The AMBA ACE (AXI Coherency Extensions) protocol is a critical component in modern ARM-based systems, enabling efficient cache coherency and memory management across multiple processors and peripherals. Among its many features, the protocol defines specific restrictions on the usage of WriteUnique and WriteLineUnique transactions, particularly for cached…
ARM Cortex-M0+ Instruction Fetch Mechanism and Pipeline Behavior The ARM Cortex-M0+ processor is a highly efficient, low-power microcontroller core designed for embedded applications. It employs a 2-stage pipeline (Fetch and Execute) and uses the Thumb instruction set, which primarily consists of 16-bit instructions. The Cortex-M0+ fetches instructions in 32-bit chunks from memory, even though most…
Cortex-A53 DMIPS/MHz: Official Documentation and Unofficial Claims The Cortex-A53 is a highly efficient 64-bit ARM processor core designed for a wide range of applications, from mobile devices to embedded systems. One of the key metrics used to evaluate processor performance is DMIPS/MHz (Dhrystone MIPS per MHz), which provides a standardized measure of a processor’s integer…
Cortex-M55 Peripheral Access Configuration: AXI vs. AHB The Cortex-M55 processor, a member of Arm’s Cortex-M series, is designed for high-performance embedded applications, particularly those requiring machine learning and digital signal processing capabilities. One of its key architectural features is the ability to access peripherals using either the Advanced High-performance Bus (AHB) or the Advanced eXtensible…
ARM Cortex-M4F UDIV Instruction Timing Variability The ARM Cortex-M4F processor, a member of the Cortex-M series, is widely used in embedded systems due to its balance of performance and power efficiency. One of its key features is the inclusion of a hardware divide unit, which supports the UDIV (unsigned divide) instruction. Understanding the timing characteristics…
ARM64 LDR (Literal) Instruction and the VR Field in SIMD-FP Context The ARM64 instruction set architecture (ISA) is a rich and complex ecosystem designed to cater to a wide range of computational needs, from general-purpose processing to specialized tasks like Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) and Floating-Point (FP) operations. One of the key instructions in…
Cortex-M Coprocessor Interface: Purpose and Limitations in Modern Embedded Systems The Cortex-M series of processors, widely used in embedded systems, includes a coprocessor interface designed to extend the functionality of the core processor. This interface allows for the integration of specialized hardware accelerators or additional processing units that can offload specific tasks from the main…