DMA330 Microcode Limitations for Linked-List DMA Transfers The DMA330, also known as the PL330, is a highly configurable DMA controller widely used in ARM-based systems. It is designed to handle complex data transfer tasks with minimal CPU intervention. However, programming the DMA330 to perform linked-list-style DMA transfers, particularly for circular buffer implementations, presents unique challenges…
ARM CHI TXLINK and RXLINK State Transition Deadlock Scenario The issue at hand involves a potential deadlock scenario in the ARM AMBA CHI (Coherent Hub Interface) protocol, specifically concerning the state transitions of the TXLINK and RXLINK during a sequence of transactions involving CompAck, Snoop Request, and Snoop Response. The deadlock arises when the Requester…
ARM AXI4 Protocol: WVALID and AWREADY Timing Dependencies The ARM AXI4 protocol is a widely used on-chip communication standard for high-performance embedded systems. It defines a set of rules and signaling mechanisms for data transfers between managers (masters) and subordinates (slaves). One of the critical aspects of the AXI4 protocol is the timing relationship between…
ARM-Specific Toolchain Installation Challenges for Corstone RTL Rendering The process of setting up ARM-specific tools for RTL (Register Transfer Level) rendering on Corstone platforms can be fraught with challenges, particularly when dealing with the installation and configuration of specialized toolchains. The primary issue revolves around the inability to locate and properly install the ARM-specific tool…
SACTIVE Signal Synchronization and Timing Requirements in AMBA CHI The SACTIVE signal in the AMBA CHI (Coherent Hub Interface) protocol plays a critical role in ensuring proper transaction handling and synchronization between components in a system-on-chip (SoC). According to the AMBA CHI Architecture Specification (IHI0050), the SACTIVE signal must be synchronous to the clock (CLK)…
ARM Cortex-R52 ECC Implementation for TCMs and Cache Memories The ARM Cortex-R52 processor is widely used in safety-critical applications where error detection and correction are paramount. One of the key features enabling this reliability is Error Correction Code (ECC) for Tightly Coupled Memories (TCMs) and cache memories. ECC is a mechanism that detects and corrects…
ARM Cortex-M7 Prologue and Epilogue: Understanding R7 Usage The prologue and epilogue of a function in ARM Cortex-M7 assembly code are critical for maintaining the stack frame and ensuring proper function execution and return. In the provided code, the prologue begins with the instruction push {r7}, which saves the current value of the R7 register…
GICv3 LPI Interrupt Delivery Failure After Bootloader Transition The issue at hand involves a custom bootloader that loads an image from an NVMe device, utilizing LPI (Locality-specific Peripheral Interrupts) interrupts routed through the GICv3 ITS (Interrupt Translation Service). The bootloader successfully loads the next image into RAM and transfers control to it. However, the second…
ARM Cortex-M Process Stack: Purpose and Architectural Context The ARM Cortex-M series of processors, widely used in embedded systems, features a unique architectural element known as the process stack. This stack is distinct from the main stack and plays a critical role in the execution environment of the processor. To understand its purpose, we must…
ARM Cortex-A Multi-Core Boot Failure During Initialization The issue at hand involves a failure in booting multiple cores on an ARM Cortex-A processor using the Fixed Virtual Platform (FVP) and the boot-wrapper-aarch64 software. The system successfully boots when running with a single core, but fails when multiple cores are enabled. The primary observation is that…