Explore the Fundamentals of ARM Architecture with the ARM University Program
Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- The History of ARM Architecture
- ARM Limited: The Company
- The ARM Ecosystem
- ARM Processors and Architecture Profiles
5.1 ARMv7-A Profile
5.2 ARMv7-R Profile
5.3 ARMv7-M Profile
- Processor Modes and Register Organization
6.1 ARM Cortex-A and Cortex-R Register Organization
6.2 ARM Cortex-M Register Organization
- ARM Instruction Sets
7.1 ARM Instruction Set
7.2 Thumb Instruction Set
7.3 Thumb-2 Technology
7.4 Other Instruction Sets: VFP and NEON
- Exception Handling in ARM Architecture
8.1 Exception Handling in ARM Cortex-A and Cortex-R
8.2 Exception Handling in ARM Cortex-M
- Security Extensions: TrustZone
- Hardware Virtualization: Hypervisor Mode
- ARM University Program
- ARM Accredited Engineer Program
- Conclusion and Resources
🔥 Highlights:
- The ARM architecture is the most popular embedded processing architecture in the world.
- ARM Limited is the company behind the ARM architecture and its products.
- ARM processors are available in different profiles, such as ARMv7-A, ARMv7-R, and ARMv7-M, catering to various application needs.
- ARM instruction sets include ARM, Thumb, and Thumb-2, providing a balance between performance and code density.
- Exception handling in ARM architecture allows for efficient handling of interrupts and exceptions.
- ARM offers security extensions with TrustZone and hardware virtualization with Hypervisor mode.
- The ARM University Program and ARM Accredited Engineer Program offer resources and qualifications for students and professionals.
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Introduction
Welcome to this introduction to the ARM architecture! In this video, we will explore the fundamentals of ARM, the most popular embedded processing architecture in the world. While we won't cover all aspects of ARM technology in detail, this video will serve as a gateway to the world of ARM, providing a foundation for further exploration.
The History of ARM Architecture
Let's start by taking a brief look at the history of ARM. Founded in the late 1990s as a spinoff from Acorn Computers, ARM has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Originally a supplier of desktop computers, a small team within Acorn took on the challenge of designing their own processor when they couldn't find a suitable product in the market. Their first prototype, the ARM1, ran code in April 1985. Since then, ARM has grown into a global company, with headquarters in Cambridge, England, and design centers all over the world.
ARM Limited: The Company
ARM Limited, the company behind the ARM architecture, is a pioneer in semiconductor intellectual property. Instead of manufacturing silicon, ARM focuses on licensing its technology to partners who produce a wide range of ARM-powered devices. This partnership-based approach has resulted in a globally connected community of over a thousand companies, including chip designers, software developers, and industry consortia. ARM's success is evident in the billions of ARM-based devices that have shipped worldwide.
The ARM Ecosystem
The ARM ecosystem is a vast network of partners and resources. ARM's website provides a wealth of information, including architecture reference manuals, knowledge articles, and developer guides. ARM also offers software tools, such as MDK for microcontrollers and DS-5 for Cortex-A and Cortex-R processors, as well as hardware development boards. ARM's commitment to education is evident through the ARM University Program, which offers teaching and training resources for various fields, including embedded systems, SOC design, and robotics.
ARM Processors and Architecture Profiles
ARM processors are available in different architecture profiles to cater to various performance and application needs. The three main profiles are ARMv7-A, ARMv7-R, and ARMv7-M.
The ARMv7-A profile is the highest capability and highest performance profile. It supports features like memory management units for virtual memory systems and trust zone security extensions for secure platforms. ARMv7-A processors are typically found in high-performance applications such as smartphones, tablets, and digital televisions.
The ARMv7-R profile, often called the Hidden architecture, is designed for deeply embedded applications requiring high-performance, predictable real-time behavior. ARMv7-R processors excel in applications like engine management systems and hard disk drive controllers.
The ARMv7-M profile is specifically tailored for cost-sensitive microcontroller applications. It offers low-gate-count implementations, resulting in low-cost devices with low power consumption. ARMv7-M processors have a fixed memory map and a Simplified exception handling model, making them ideal for a wide range of microcontroller applications.
Processor Modes and Register Organization
ARM processors operate in different modes, each with its own set of privileges and registers. For Cortex-A and Cortex-R processors, there are several privileged modes, such as IRQ mode and SVC mode, which handle specific types of exceptions and interrupts. Cortex-M processors, on the other hand, have a simplified mode structure with just two modes: thread mode and handler mode.
The register organization also varies between Cortex-A and Cortex-R processors and Cortex-M processors. Cortex-A and Cortex-R processors have a set of general-purpose registers and special-purpose registers, including stack pointers and the program counter. Cortex-M processors have a smaller set of general-purpose registers and fewer operating modes.
ARM Instruction Sets
ARM processors support multiple instruction sets, including the ARM instruction set, the Thumb instruction set, and Thumb-2 technology. The ARM instruction set consists of 32-bit instructions and allows for conditional execution, providing flexibility and code efficiency. The Thumb instruction set, with 16 and 32-bit instructions, offers improved code density at the expense of some performance. Thumb-2 extends Thumb to provide a mixed-length instruction set, combining ARM performance with Thumb code density.
Additionally, ARM processors may support other instruction sets like VFP (Vector Floating Point) and NEON (SIMD) technology, providing advanced floating-point and multimedia processing capabilities.
Exception Handling in ARM Architecture
Exception handling is a crucial aspect of ARM architecture, enabling efficient handling of interrupts and exceptions. Cortex-A and Cortex-R processors follow a similar exception handling model, where exceptions can be synchronous or asynchronous and are handled by switching to the appropriate exception mode. Cortex-M processors, however, have a different exception handling model tailored for microcontroller applications.
Security Extensions: TrustZone
ARM's TrustZone technology provides secure platforms through virtualization. By creating two virtual machines, the normal world and the secure world, and implementing secure attributes throughout the system, TrustZone enables the creation of secure peripherals and memory regions. A secure monitor program manages the transition between the normal and secure worlds, ensuring secure data processing and access control.
Hardware Virtualization: Hypervisor Mode
ARM processors also offer hardware virtualization capabilities through Hypervisor mode. This mode allows the implementation of a hypervisor, which sits between the hardware and guest operating systems. The hypervisor can trap and manage system events, enabling secure and efficient virtualization of resources for multiple guest operating systems.
ARM University Program
The ARM University Program provides resources for students and educators, enabling the teaching and learning of ARM technology in various fields. With complete teaching packages, hardware development boards, and access to ARM's ecosystem, the program helps students gain hands-on experience and knowledge of ARM architecture, embedded systems, SOC design, and more.
ARM Accredited Engineer Program
The ARM Accredited Engineer Program offers qualifications for professionals who wish to benchmark their knowledge of ARM technology. Through a computer-based testing scheme, individuals can obtain ARM accreditation and showcase their expertise in ARM-based systems.
Conclusion and Resources
In conclusion, the ARM architecture is a versatile and widely adopted embedded processing architecture. ARM Limited, the company behind the ARM architecture, fosters a thriving ecosystem of partners and resources. From ARM processors and architecture profiles to instruction sets, exception handling, and security extensions, ARM provides a comprehensive solution for a wide range of applications. The ARM University Program and ARM Accredited Engineer Program offer valuable resources and qualifications for students and professionals. For more information, visit the ARM website and explore the resources available.
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