Architectures and Processors

ARM Cortex-M7 vs. Cortex-M0/M3: Balancing Performance and Power Efficiency for IoT Applications When designing an IoT device that integrates functionalities such as capturing and transmitting images via Bluetooth, powering an LCD touchscreen, and playing audio files, selecting the appropriate ARM Cortex-M processor is critical. The Cortex-M series offers a range of processors tailored to different…

ARMv7 MMU Stage 2 Translation and Short Descriptor Limitations The ARMv7 Memory Management Unit (MMU) architecture introduces a two-stage translation mechanism for virtual memory management, particularly in the context of virtualization and secure monitor code. Stage 1 translation is used for standard virtual-to-physical address translation, while Stage 2 translation is employed in hypervisor or secure…

ARM Cortex-R Instruction Fault Generation and IFSR Behavior The ARM Cortex-R series of processors is designed for real-time applications, offering high performance and reliability. However, debugging instruction faults and understanding the behavior of the Instruction Fault Status Register (IFSR) can be challenging, especially when attempting to generate faults intentionally for testing purposes. A common issue…

ARM Cortex-M33 Exception Handling Issue During FreeRTOS Task Restoration The issue at hand revolves around the vRestoreContextOfFirstTask function in FreeRTOS running on an ARM Cortex-M33 processor. The problem manifests when attempting to jump to EXC_RETURN (0xFFFFFFBC), which results in an exception. This issue is critical as it prevents the system from correctly restoring the context…

ARM Cortex-R Security Requirements and TrustZone Feasibility The ARM Cortex-R series is designed for real-time applications, where deterministic performance and reliability are paramount. These processors are commonly used in automotive, industrial, and safety-critical systems. The discussion around TrustZone implementation in Cortex-R processors stems from the need for robust security mechanisms in these environments. TrustZone, a…

ARM Cortex-A72 Delay Generation Requirements and Challenges Generating precise delays in the range of microseconds (µs) on an ARM Cortex-A72 processor is a common requirement in embedded systems, particularly when dealing with hardware register access, timing-sensitive protocols, or synchronization tasks. The Cortex-A72, being a high-performance processor, operates at clock frequencies typically ranging from 1 GHz…

ARM Cortex-R52 FreeRTOS Porting Challenges and Compatibility Issues Porting FreeRTOS to the ARM Cortex-R52 processor involves addressing several architectural differences and ensuring compatibility with the specific features of the Cortex-R52. The Cortex-R52 is a high-performance processor designed for real-time applications, featuring a dual-core configuration, advanced memory protection, and support for virtualization. These features necessitate careful…

QSPI Memory Overflow and SRAM Boot Failures on ARM Musca Board The ARM Musca board, a popular development platform for secure and non-secure world applications, often encounters issues related to memory allocation and boot sequence configuration. One common problem arises when the QSPI (Quad Serial Peripheral Interface) memory overflows due to increased code size, forcing…

FreeRTOS Task Scheduling Across Secure and Non-Secure Worlds in ARMv8-M TrustZone The integration of FreeRTOS with ARMv8-M TrustZone on Cortex-M33 processors presents a unique challenge due to the separation of secure and non-secure worlds. The Cortex-M33 processor, part of the ARMv8-M architecture, introduces TrustZone technology, which provides hardware-enforced isolation between secure and non-secure states. This…

ARMv8-M TrustZone Register Clearing Behavior: Secure to Non-Secure Transitions The ARMv8-M architecture introduces TrustZone technology, which provides hardware-enforced isolation between secure and non-secure states. This isolation is critical for protecting sensitive data and code in embedded systems. However, the behavior of register clearing during state transitions, particularly from secure to non-secure states, has raised questions…