Microprocessor Systems

Lecture 3-4
Cortex-M Processor

Engr. Rehan Azmat

Lecture 3-4
Recap
 Introduction, Digital Logic Design, Embedded System,
Flowcharts

Topics
 Cortex-M Features
 Cortex-M Family
 IP Based Microcontroller
 How to Select a Microcontroller
 Advantages and Applications
 Evolution of Cortex-M Processors
 Software Development Process
Cortex-M Processors
 Three-stage pipeline design
 Harvard bus architecture with unified memory
space
 32-bit addressing
 On-chip bus interfaces
 An interrupt controller supporting up to 240
interrupt requests and from 8 to 256 interrupt
priority levels
 Support of system tick timer and shadowed stack
pointer
 Sleep mode support
 Support for an optional MPU (Memory Protection
Unit)
Continue…
 The ISA used in Cortex-M3 and Cortex-M4 processors
provides a wide range of instructions:
◦ General data processing
◦ Memory access instructions supporting 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, and
64-bit data, as well as instructions for transferring multiple 32-bit
data
◦ Instructions for branches, conditional branches and function
calls
◦ Instructions for system control, OS support, etc.

 In addition, the Cortex-M4 processor also supports:

◦ Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) operations
◦ Additional fast MAC and multiply instructions
◦ Saturating arithmetic instructions
◦ Optional floating point instructions (single precision)
Cortex-M Processor Family
IP Based Microcontroller
Selecting Microcontroller
 Peripherals and interface features
 Memory size requirements of the application
 Low power requirements
 Performance and maximum frequency
 Chip package
 Operation conditions (voltage, temperature, electromagnetic
interference)
 Cost and availability
 Software development tool support and development kits
 Future upgradability
 Firmware packages and firmware security
 Availability of application notes, design examples, and
support
Advantages of Cortex-M Processor
 Low Power
 High Performance
 Energy Efficient
 High Code Density
 Interrupts Support
 Ease of use, C Friendly
 Scalability
 Debugging Feature
 OS Support
 Versatile System Features
Applications
 Microcontrollers
 Automotives
 Consumer Electronics
 Data Communication
 Industrial Control
 System on Chip
 Mixed Signal System
ARM Cortex-A/R/M
Architecture Versions
Evolution of ARM Processors
Architecture
Naming of ARM Processors
Software Development Flow
Software Compilation Flow