11: Architecture and Embedded Programming

ARM7/9/10/11: Architecture and Embedded Programming

Training Objectives

You know the ARM architecture and can write software in C and Assembler. You can locate programs in memory and test them. This is the perfect start in designing ARM based software systems.

Required Knowledge

A basic understanding of ANSI-C and microcontrollers.

ARM Processor Architecture
- Register organization, operation modes, states, pipeline

ARM Processor Cores
- ARM7 / ARM9 / ARM10 / ARM11 processor core
- Cortex family overview

ARM, Thumb and DSP Instruction Sets
- v4, v4T, v5, v6 instructions
- Thumb-2 instruction set overview
- ARM/Thumb interworking
- Assembler directives

Exception Handling
- FIQ, IRQ, abort, software, undefined
- Exception handler templates
- Vectored Interrupt Controller

Coprocessors, Floating Point Unit
- ARM coprocessor concept
- System controller CP15
- Vectored Floating Point Unit, VFPU

Memory Interface
- Tightly coupled memory, cache architecture
- Memory Management Unit MMU
- Memory Protection Unit MPU for embedded systems

Embedded Core Debug, Embedded Trace Macrocell
- Watchpoint units, ETM

Embedded Software Development
- Adjustment of library routines to HW (retargeting)
- Locating code and data in memory (scatter loading)
- Linker description file
- Reset, start-up, start-up file

Efficient C Programming for the ARM Architecture
- Compiler optimization, compiler options
- Interface C – Assembler
- Programming guidelines for ARM compilers
- Efficient use of local and global variables

Hardware-near C
- C statements and their execution in Assembler
- Access to peripherals in C
- Layer model for embedded systems
- Structured description of peripherals

Practical Exercises with Keil µVision
- Different tools can be used on request
- All programs are tested on an evaluation board