Dual Cortex-A9 Core Initialization and Synchronization Challenges When working with a dual-core ARM Cortex-A9 system like the CycloneV SoC, one of the primary challenges is ensuring proper initialization and synchronization between the two cores. The Cortex-A9 cores share a common L2 cache and are typically connected via an AXI coherency extension (ACE) interface, which allows…
AHB Lite Wrap Burst Calculation and Alignment Issues The AHB Lite protocol, a subset of the Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture (AMBA), is widely used in ARM-based SoC designs for its simplicity and efficiency in handling data transfers. One of the key features of AHB Lite is its support for burst transfers, which allow multiple data…
ARM PL390 GIC Interrupt Priority Handling in Cyclone V SoC The ARM PL390 Generic Interrupt Controller (GIC) is a critical component in the Cyclone V SoC for managing interrupt priorities and ensuring that high-priority tasks are handled appropriately. The PL390 GIC is responsible for receiving interrupts from various sources, prioritizing them based on configured settings,…
ARM GPIO Fail-Safe, Retention, and Core Down Mode Functionality The ARM Artisan GPIO library provides three critical operational modes for GPIO pins: Fail-Safe, Retention, and Core Down. These modes are essential for ensuring robust and reliable operation in various power and fault scenarios. Understanding the functionality and application of these modes is crucial for designing…
AHB Slave HREADY Signal Behavior During Multi-Slave Transactions The AHB (Advanced High-performance Bus) protocol is a critical component of ARM’s AMBA (Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture) family, widely used in SoC designs for efficient communication between masters and slaves. One of the key signals in the AHB protocol is HREADY, which plays a dual role as…
NIC400 AXI4 Bridge Configuration and Outstanding Transaction Limitation The NIC400 interconnect is a highly configurable and scalable interconnect IP from ARM, designed to support AMBA AXI, AHB, and APB protocols. It is widely used in ARM-based SoC designs to manage communication between multiple masters and slaves. One of the key features of the NIC400 is…
QACTIVE Assertion and QDENY Dependency in AMBA Q-Channel The AMBA Low Power Interface (Q-Channel) is a critical component in ARM-based SoC designs, enabling efficient power management by facilitating communication between power controllers and peripheral devices. The Q-Channel consists of several signals, including QACTIVE, QDENY, and PWAKEUP, which play pivotal roles in managing power states. A…
AXI Downsizer Address and Data Handling in 64-bit to 32-bit Conversion The BP131 AXI Downsizer is a critical component in ARM-based SoC designs, particularly when interfacing between AXI masters and slaves with differing data widths. One of the most common use cases involves converting a 64-bit AXI transaction into one or more 32-bit transactions. This…
Cache State Behavior in ACE Protocol for ReadShared and ReadOnce Transactions The ARM ACE (AXI Coherency Extensions) protocol defines a set of rules and mechanisms to ensure cache coherency in multi-core systems. Two critical transaction types in ACE are ReadShared and ReadOnce, which have distinct implications for cache state updates. Understanding how these transactions interact…
ARM Artisan GPIO PO and POE Signal Functionality The ARM Artisan GPIO library provides two critical signals for pad control and data integrity: PO (Parametric Output) and POE (Parametric Output Enable). These signals are essential for managing the interface between the pad and the core logic, ensuring that data is correctly transmitted and received while…