Architectures and Processors

Cortex-M0 Vector Table Relocation Challenges in Bootloader-Application Scenarios The Cortex-M0 processor, being a member of the ARMv6-M architecture, lacks the Vector Table Offset Register (VTOR) present in higher-end Cortex-M processors like the Cortex-M3, M4, and M7. This absence complicates the process of relocating the vector table, which is essential in scenarios where a bootloader and…

Cortex-A72 Instruction Throughput and Pipeline Utilization The Cortex-A72 is a high-performance ARM processor core designed for advanced applications, including neural network inference and training. To accurately profile neural network performance on the Cortex-A72, understanding its operations per second (OPS), operations per core, and operations per cycle is critical. The Cortex-A72 features a sophisticated microarchitecture with…

ARM Microcontroller LCD Interface Challenges for Hobbyists When integrating a TFT LCD with an ARM microcontroller, hobbyists often face several challenges, particularly when aiming for a cost-effective solution that does not compromise performance. The primary issues revolve around selecting the appropriate display interface, ensuring sufficient frame rates, and managing the complexity of software libraries and…

ARM Cortex-R52 Cache Coherency and Memory Sharing Configuration The ARM Cortex-R52 is a high-performance real-time processor designed for safety-critical applications. It features integrated L1 instruction and data caches, but it lacks a coherent agent, which introduces complexities when configuring memory attributes for shared memory regions. In systems with multiple clusters, cores, and external masters like…

ARM Cortex-A15 I-Cache PIPT Implementation and Its Implications The ARM Cortex-A15 processor employs a Physically Indexed, Physically Tagged (PIPT) cache architecture for its instruction cache (I-Cache), which stands in contrast to the Virtually Indexed, Physically Tagged (VIPT) cache architecture used in many other ARM Cortex-A series processors. The choice of PIPT over VIPT for the…

ARM Cortex-M33 LED Toggle Subroutine Cycle Count Analysis The ARM Cortex-M33 is a highly efficient microcontroller core designed for embedded applications, offering a balance of performance, power efficiency, and security features. One common task in embedded systems is toggling an LED, which, while seemingly simple, can be a useful benchmark for understanding the cycle count…

Cortex-M7 Usage Fault Due to Unaligned Memory Access in Idle Thread The Cortex-M7 processor, known for its high performance and advanced features, can occasionally encounter a Usage Fault triggered by an unaligned memory access. This fault is particularly challenging to diagnose when it occurs infrequently, such as every ~500 hours of runtime, and manifests as…

ARM Special Register Access Monitoring Limitations The ability to monitor access to special registers in ARM architectures, particularly in the context of debugging and performance analysis, presents a unique set of challenges. Special registers, such as SCR_EL3 in the ARMv8-A architecture, are crucial for controlling system behavior, security states, and exception handling. However, unlike general-purpose…

ARM Cortex-M7 Usage Fault Due to Illegal Unaligned Memory Access The ARM Cortex-M7 processor is a high-performance embedded processor designed for real-time applications. One of the challenges developers face when working with this processor is diagnosing and resolving usage faults, particularly those related to illegal unaligned memory accesses. An unaligned memory access occurs when a…

ARM7 CAN Code Compatibility Issues with ARM Cortex-A9 FlexCAN When attempting to port a CAN (Controller Area Network) program written for an ARM7 processor to an ARM Cortex-A9 processor, such as the one found in the i.MX6 board, several architectural and peripheral differences must be considered. The ARM7 and ARM Cortex-A9 are fundamentally different in…