ARM Cortex-M3 Hard Fault Triggered by Instruction Access Violation (IACCVIOL) The core issue revolves around a Hard Fault error occurring on the STM32F205VET6 microcontroller, specifically triggered by the IACCVIOL (Instruction Access Violation) bit being set in the Configurable Fault Status Register (CFSR). This error manifests after integrating a static library into the application firmware. The…
ARM Cortex-M7 DWT Counter Overflow and Instruction Counting Inaccuracy The ARM Cortex-M7 processor provides a set of Debug Watchpoint and Trace (DWT) counters that are commonly used for profiling and performance analysis. These counters include DWT_CYCCNT (cycle count), DWT_CPICNT (CPI count), DWT_EXCCNT (exception overhead count), DWT_SLEEPCNT (sleep count), DWT_LSUCNT (load/store unit count), and DWT_FOLDCNT (folded…
DebugMonitor Exception Suppression During Interrupt Disable The issue at hand involves the DebugMonitor exception, which is triggered by a Data Watchpoint and Trace (DWT) unit’s watchpoint function on an ARM Cortex-M33 processor. The watchpoint is configured to monitor a specific memory address, and when this address is written to, a DebugMonitor exception is expected to…
Corstone SSE-300 FVP Simulator Fails to Initialize on Cortex-M55 The Corstone SSE-300 Fixed Virtual Platform (FVP) simulator is a critical tool for developers working with ARM Cortex-M55 processors, enabling software development and testing without requiring physical hardware. However, users often encounter issues when attempting to initialize and run the simulator, particularly when configuring the Cortex-M55’s…
DSB Completion Before Write Reaches Endpoint in Device-nGnRE Memory The behavior of the Data Synchronization Barrier (DSB) instruction in ARM architectures, particularly when dealing with Device-nGnRE memory types, is a nuanced topic that requires a deep understanding of memory attributes, write acknowledgements, and the ARM memory model. Device-nGnRE memory, which stands for Device-non-Gathering, non-Reordering, and…
ARM Cortex-A7 Kernel-Level Optimization Challenges and Physical Memory Access The ARM Cortex-A7 processor, widely used in embedded systems, presents unique challenges and opportunities for kernel-level optimization. One of the most common questions from developers new to ARM architectures is whether direct physical memory access is possible at the kernel level and how it impacts system…
ARM Assembly Function Integration Challenges in a Single File When working with ARM assembly, developers often face the challenge of integrating multiple assembly functions into a single .s file. This is particularly common when transitioning from a mixed C and assembly project to a purely assembly-based implementation. The primary issue arises from the incorrect use…
ARM Cortex-M4 Emulation Requirements for CC3200 Virtualization When developing a virtual platform for the Texas Instruments CC3200 SoC, which incorporates an ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller, the need for an accurate and efficient emulator becomes paramount. The ARM Cortex-M4 is a widely used processor in embedded systems, known for its balance of performance and power efficiency. Emulating…
ARM ACE Protocol: RACK Signal Usage in Load and Store Operations The ARM ACE (AXI Coherency Extensions) protocol is a critical component in ensuring cache coherency and efficient data transfers in multi-core ARM systems. One of the key aspects of the ACE protocol is the use of acknowledgment signals, specifically RACK (Read Acknowledge) and WACK…
ARM ACE Partial Cache Line Store Mechanisms In ARM architectures, particularly those utilizing the ACE (AXI Coherency Extensions) protocol, handling partial cache line stores is a critical aspect of ensuring efficient and coherent memory operations. A cache line, typically 64 bytes in size, represents the smallest unit of data that can be transferred between the…