ARM Cortex-A7 RTL Validation and the Missing ARM Assembler Toolchain When working with ARM Cortex-A7 processors, particularly during RTL (Register Transfer Level) validation, the toolchain setup is critical for ensuring that the hardware design behaves as expected. One of the key tools in this process is the ARM assembler, commonly referred to as armasm. This…
ARM Cortex-M1 ITCM Update Failures in Xilinx Vivado 2020.1 The ARM Cortex-M1, a popular soft-core processor designed for FPGA implementations, has been widely used in embedded systems due to its flexibility and compatibility with FPGA toolchains. However, users have reported significant issues when attempting to use the Cortex-M1 with Xilinx Vivado 2020.1 and later versions….
ARM Cortex-M7 IT Block Misinterpretation in BSS Erasure Code The issue revolves around the unexpected behavior of the IT (If-Then) instruction in an ARM Cortex-M7 processor during the execution of a BSS (Block Started by Symbol) erasure routine. The code in question is designed to clear the BSS section by iterating through memory regions and…
ARM Cortex-R52 Interrupt Priority Level 31: Non-Preemptive Behavior The ARM Cortex-R52 processor, designed for real-time and safety-critical applications, implements a sophisticated interrupt handling mechanism. One of the key features of this architecture is the configurable priority levels for interrupts, which determine the order in which interrupts are serviced. The Cortex-R52 supports up to 32 priority…
Understanding TCM Interface Timing in ARM Cortex-R4F and TMS570LS3137 The Tightly Coupled Memory (TCM) interface in ARM Cortex-R4F processors is a critical component for achieving low-latency, high-performance memory access in real-time embedded systems. TCM is divided into two types: ATCM (Instruction TCM) and BTCM (Data TCM). These memory regions are directly connected to the processor…
ARM Cortex-R52 EL1 to EL0 Transition Challenges During Initialization The ARM Cortex-R52 processor, part of the Armv8-R architecture, is designed for real-time and safety-critical applications. One of the key features of this architecture is its support for multiple exception levels (ELs), which provide isolation between different software components. However, transitioning from EL1 (supervisor mode) to…
ARM Cortex-R4F TCM Interface Configuration and Timing Challenges The Tightly Coupled Memory (TCM) interface on the ARM Cortex-R4F processor is a critical component for achieving high-performance, low-latency memory access in real-time embedded systems. TCMs, including ATCM (Advanced TCM) and BTCM (Base TCM), are designed to provide fast and deterministic access to critical code and data,…
ARM Cortex-A53 Cache Flush Ineffectiveness in EL3 Secure State The core issue revolves around the inability to flush the data cache effectively when operating in the ARM Trusted Firmware (ATF) environment, specifically in the EL3 secure state. The user is working with a Hikey 620 board, utilizing ARM Trusted Firmware version 2.5, and has implemented…
Interrupt Handling During Secure to Non-Secure World Transition in GICv3/v4 The behavior of interrupt signals during a world switch between Secure and Non-Secure states in ARM architectures using GICv3 or GICv4 is a nuanced topic that requires a deep understanding of the ARM exception model, the Generic Interrupt Controller (GIC) architecture, and the interaction between…
AXI Slave Design Fundamentals and Protocol Compliance Designing an AXI (Advanced eXtensible Interface) slave involves understanding the AXI protocol specifications and translating them into a functional hardware description language (HDL) implementation. The AXI protocol, part of the AMBA (Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture) family, is widely used in ARM-based systems for high-performance, high-frequency communication between master…