1.

overview of fault exceptions in ARM Cortex-M

The overview of fault exceptions in ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers, highlighting how
external factors like power supply issues, electromagnetic interference, and
environmental extremes can lead to system faults. Key points include:
1. External Causes: Examples include unstable power supply, electrical
noise, EMI, and physical wear on components.
2. Detection Features: Microcontrollers often feature watchdog timers
and Brown-Out Detectors (BOD) to detect and respond to these faults.
3. Fault Exceptions in Cortex-M:
oHardFault (exception type #3): Available on all Cortex-M
processors.
oMemManage Fault (exception type #4): For memory
management issues.
oBus Fault (exception type #5): For faults related to memory
access.
oUsage Fault (exception type #6): For errors in processor
operations.
4. Fault Handling: When a fault is detected, processors execute
corresponding fault handlers to:
oSafely shut down the system.
oInform users or other systems of the fault.
oPerform a self-reset or restart tasks.
5. Fault Status Registers (FSRs): These registers help identify and
diagnose the type and source of faults, aiding in debugging.
2. 4 causes
The image details the causes and types of fault exceptions in ARM
Cortex-M microcontrollers, focusing on Memory Management
(MemManage) faults, Bus faults, Usage faults, and HardFaults.
1 Memory Management (MemManage) Faults:
● Causes: These faults occur due to violations of access rules defined
by the Memory Protection Unit (MPU).
o Unprivileged tasks accessing privileged memory.
o Access to undefined or restricted MPU regions.
 o Writing to read-only memory.
o Stack and unstacking errors during exception sequences.
o Execution in regions marked as eXecute Never (XN).
2 Bus Faults:
● Causes: Triggered by errors during memory access operations.
o Instruction fetch or data read/write errors.
o Accessing invalid memory locations or peripherals.
o Device not ready to accept a transfer.
o Bus slave errors during data transfer.
o Stacking/unstacking errors in the exception handling sequence.
o Bus faults can be precise (occurring immediately) or imprecise
(occurring after multiple instructions).
3 Usage Faults:
● Causes: Result from a variety of execution errors.
o Execution of undefined or illegal instructions.
o Invalid state or configuration.
o Unaligned memory access with multiple load/store instructions.
o Division by zero or other math-related errors.
o Execution with incorrect settings in the Configuration Control
Register (CCR).
4 HardFaults:
● Causes: HardFaults are triggered by the escalation of configurable
faults or other severe errors, such as:
o Bus errors during a vector fetch.
o Breakpoint execution when the debugger is detached.
o Invalid debug monitor exceptions.
Each type of fault is designed to help detect and correct errors in a
microcontroller's operation, ensuring system stability and safety.

3. Enabling fault handler

 4. outline 2 tools used for analyzing faults during software
development
Two tools commonly used for analyzing faults during software
development are:
1. Fault Status Registers (FSRs):
● Purpose: Fault Status Registers are used to record detailed
information about the fault that occurred, such as the type of fault, its
cause, and the memory address involved. This helps developers
identify the root cause of the fault.
● Usage:
o Fault Analysis: FSRs provide specific fault details, making it
easier to diagnose and debug the problem.
o Debugging: The information in FSRs can guide developers in
reproducing the issue and understanding the conditions under
which the fault occurs.
● Example: In an ARM Cortex-M processor, the FSRs help determine if
a fault was due to an invalid memory access, an undefined
instruction, or a stack corruption.

2. Fault Address Registers (FARs):

● Purpose: Fault Address Registers store the memory address
associated with a fault, particularly useful for memory-related faults
such as Bus or MemManage faults.
● Usage:
o Identifying Faulty Memory Access: FARs help pinpoint the exact
memory location that triggered the fault, which is crucial for
resolving issues related to invalid memory access.
o Debugging: By examining the FARs, developers can trace the
source of memory access errors, enabling more effective
debugging and resolution of faults.
● Example: If a bus fault occurs due to an invalid memory access, the
FAR will contain the address that was being accessed, enabling the
developer to identify and correct the faulty access in the code.

5. mention the registers for fault status and address information

The specific registers used for fault status and address information in
ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers are:
1. Fault Status Registers (FSRs):
● CFSR (Configurable Fault Status Register): This register contains
flags that indicate the type of fault that occurred. It is subdivided into
three parts:
o MMFSR (MemManage Fault Status Register): Indicates memory
management faults.
 o BFSR (Bus Fault Status Register): Indicates bus faults.
o UFSR (Usage Fault Status Register): Indicates usage faults.
2. Fault Address Registers (FARs):
● MMFAR (MemManage Fault Address Register): Stores the
memory address that caused a memory management fault.
● BFAR (Bus Fault Address Register): Stores the memory address
that caused a bus fault.
These registers are crucial for diagnosing and debugging faults by
providing detailed information about what caused the fault and
where it occurred.

6. exaplain how to locate the address of transfer that triggered the

fault in arm cortex m4
To locate the address of a memory transfer that triggered a fault in an ARM Cortex-
M4 microcontroller, you typically need to follow these steps:
1. Identify the Type of Fault:
● When a fault occurs, the microcontroller will enter a fault handler.
The type of fault is determined by checking specific bits in the
Configurable Fault Status Register (CFSR), which is located at the
SCB->CFSR address.
● The CFSR combines three separate fault status registers:
oMMFSR (MemManage Fault Status Register)
oBFSR (Bus Fault Status Register)
oUFSR (Usage Fault Status Register)
● If the fault is a Bus Fault or MemManage Fault, it is indicated by the
SCB->BFSR or SCB->MMFSR register, respectively.
2. Check the Fault Address Register:
● For Bus Faults:
oBus Fault Address Register (BFAR): If the PRECISERR or
IMPRECISERR bit in SCB->BFSR is set, it indicates a precise or
imprecise bus fault, respectively. The faulting address is stored
in the Bus Fault Address Register (SCB->BFAR).
oIf the BFARVALID bit in SCB->BFSR is set, the SCB->BFAR
 register contains the valid address that triggered the fault.
● For MemManage Faults:
oMemManage Fault Address Register (MMFAR): If the
MMARVALID bit in SCB->MMFSR is set, the MemManage Fault
Address Register (SCB->MMFAR) contains the valid address
that caused the fault.
3. Access the Fault Address Register:
● During the execution of the fault handler, you can read the fault
address directly from the BFAR or MMFAR register.
● Example:
uint32_t fault_address;

if (SCB->CFSR & SCB_CFSR_BFARVALID_Msk) {

fault_address = SCB->BFAR; // Address of the bus fault
}

if (SCB->CFSR & SCB_CFSR_MMARVALID_Msk) {

fault_address = SCB->MMFAR; // Address of the MemManage fault
}

4. Analyze the Fault Address:

● Once you have the fault address, you can analyze it to determine the
root cause of the fault. This may involve checking whether the
address is within a valid memory region, whether it violates access
permissions, or if it correlates with specific operations in your code
(e.g., pointer dereferencing or memory access).
5. Debug and Correct:
● Use the fault address and any additional fault status information to
debug your code. This might involve fixing incorrect memory
accesses, ensuring proper initialization, or adjusting MPU
configurations to prevent unauthorized access.
By carefully analyzing the fault status and address registers, you can effectively
locate and resolve issues that lead to faults in ARM Cortex-M4 microcontrollers.

7. What is the enhancement in the fault status register in ARM

Cortex M4 which allows the silicon designers to add their own fault
status information?
In the ARM Cortex-M4, the enhancement that allows silicon designers to
add their own fault status information is the Implementation Defined
Fault Status Register (IDFSR).
Implementation Defined Fault Status Register (IDFSR):
● The IDFSR is a customizable register that silicon designers can use
to include additional fault status information specific to their
implementation.
● This register is not defined by the ARM architecture itself, but
instead, it provides a mechanism for silicon vendors to implement
custom fault status indicators that might be specific to the hardware
design or additional features provided by the microcontroller.
Usage:
● The IDFSR allows designers to extend the fault reporting capabilities
of the Cortex-M4 processor, enabling them to provide more detailed
or proprietary fault information that goes beyond the standard fault
status registers like the CFSR, HFSR, MMFSR, BFSR, and UFSR.
● Developers using a microcontroller with an IDFSR would refer to the
specific microcontroller documentation provided by the silicon vendor
to understand how to interpret the additional fault information
available through this register.
This enhancement is particularly useful for custom or advanced fault
detection and diagnosis mechanisms that are specific to a particular
microcontroller design, allowing for more detailed and customized
debugging and fault management.
8. Name the register used in Cortex M4 processor to select
between sleep mode and deep sleep mode, explain its bit field.
The register used in the Cortex-M4 processor to select between sleep
mode and deep sleep mode is the System Control Register (SCR).
System Control Register (SCR)
● Address: The SCR is located at the address 0xE000ED10 in the
System Control Space (SCS).
● Purpose: The SCR controls power management features like sleep
modes, whether to use Sleep or Deep Sleep mode, and other system
behaviors during exception handling.
Key Bit Fields in SCR:
1. SLEEPONEXIT (Bit 1):
 o Description: When set, the processor enters sleep mode or deep
sleep mode as soon as it exits an exception handler. This
means that the processor will not return to the main application
code but will enter sleep mode immediately after the interrupt
service routine (ISR) completes.
o 0: The processor does not enter sleep mode on exception exit.
o 1: The processor enters sleep mode on exception exit.
2. SLEEPDEEP (Bit 2):
o Description: This bit selects between Sleep mode and Deep
Sleep mode.
o 0: The processor enters Sleep mode when the WFI (Wait For
Interrupt) or WFE (Wait For Event) instruction is executed.
Sleep mode is a low-power state where the processor clock is
gated but most peripherals remain active.
o 1: The processor enters Deep Sleep mode when the WFI or WFE
instruction is executed. Deep Sleep mode typically results in
greater power savings, as it may turn off more parts of the
system, such as the clock to the entire chip or certain
peripherals, depending on the microcontroller's configuration.
3. SEVONPEND (Bit 4):
o Description: This bit controls whether events are generated
when an interrupt is pending but not yet active.
o 0: Only enabled interrupts and events can wake up the processor
from sleep.
o 1: If an interrupt is pending, it will wake up the processor even if
the interrupt is not enabled.
Usage Example:
● To configure the processor to enter Deep Sleep mode upon
executing the WFI instruction:
SCB->SCR |= (1 << 2); // Set the SLEEPDEEP bit to 1
● To revert to Sleep mode:
SCB->SCR &= ~(1 << 2); // Clear the SLEEPDEEP bit to 0
 9. Elaborate the causes of MemManage Fault and Bus Fault
1. MemManage Fault (Memory Management Fault):
The MemManage fault in the ARM Cortex-M4 processor occurs due to
violations of the Memory Protection Unit (MPU) rules or errors related to
memory management. The MPU is used to protect critical memory
regions from unauthorized access and to ensure that the software
behaves as expected by controlling access rights. The MemManage
fault is triggered under the following conditions:
Causes of MemManage Fault:
● Access Violation by Unprivileged Code:
o Description: When an unprivileged task tries to access a memory
region that is reserved for privileged code only (such as kernel
code or certain protected memory regions), a MemManage fault
occurs.
o Example: A user-mode task attempting to modify a system
control register or access kernel memory would trigger this fault.
● Accessing Undefined MPU Regions:
o Description: If the code attempts to access a memory region
that is not defined by any of the MPU regions, a MemManage fault
will be triggered.
o Example: Attempting to read or write to a memory address that
does not fall within any defined MPU region.
● Writing to Read-Only Memory:
o Description: The fault is triggered when the code tries to write to
a memory region that has been configured as read-only by the
MPU.
o Example: Writing data to a flash memory area that is marked as
read-only.
● Execution from eXecute Never (XN) Regions:
o Description: The fault occurs when the processor attempts to
 execute code from a memory region marked as "Execute Never" (XN)
by the MPU.
o Example: Trying to execute code from a peripheral region or from
a memory-mapped I/O area where execution is not permitted.
● Stacking and Unstacking Errors:
o Description: Errors during the stacking (pushing) or unstacking
(popping) of registers in exception handling can also cause
MemManage faults.
o Example: If a stack push operation causes an access violation
due to an improper MPU configuration, the fault will be triggered.
2. Bus Fault:
Bus faults are triggered by errors related to memory access and data
transfers on the processor's bus. These faults can occur due to invalid
memory accesses, timing errors, or improper configurations of the
memory system. Bus faults can be categorized as precise or imprecise,
depending on when the fault is detected.
Causes of Bus Fault:
● Instruction Fetch Errors:
o Description: A bus fault can occur when an instruction fetch
attempts to access an invalid memory address, or if the memory
region is not accessible at the time of the fetch.
o Example: The processor tries to fetch an instruction from an
address in a memory region that is either not mapped or has been
disabled.
● Data Read/Write Errors:
o Description: Bus faults can happen during data read or write
operations when the target memory region is inaccessible or
protected.
o Example: Attempting to write data to a protected memory
region, or trying to read from a memory location that has not been
initialized.
● Unprivileged Access to Protected Memory:
o Description: A bus fault is triggered if unprivileged code tries to
access a memory region that is protected by the MPU and is
reserved for privileged access only.
o Example: A user-mode task trying to write to a system control
register or a protected peripheral register.
● Transfer Size or Type Mismatch:
o Description: A bus fault may occur if there is a mismatch in the
expected transfer size or type during a memory operation. For
example, if the transfer request is larger than what the receiving
device can handle, a bus fault might be triggered.
o Example: Trying to write a 32-bit word to a device that only
accepts 8-bit transfers.
● Bus Fault During Stacking or Unstacking:
o Description: Similar to MemManage faults, bus faults can also
occur during the stacking or unstacking of registers during
exception handling.
o Example: If a stack push or pop operation fails due to a bus error
(e.g., trying to access an invalid stack address), a bus fault is
triggered.
● Access to an Invalid Peripheral:
o Description: If the processor attempts to access a peripheral that
is not available or incorrectly configured, it might trigger a bus fault.
o Example: Accessing a peripheral register that is part of a module
not clocked or powered up.
● Imprecise Bus Faults:
o Description: These faults are more challenging to debug as they
are detected after the execution of the faulting instruction. This
typically occurs due to write buffers, where the processor
continues executing instructions while a write operation is
pending.
 o Example: A write operation causes a fault, but the processor
executes a few more instructions before the fault is actually
detected and reported.

10. Elaborate the causes of Hard Fault and Usage Fault

1. Hard Fault
A Hard Fault is a critical exception that occurs due to various severe
error conditions. It is an escalation of other fault types when the system
cannot handle them through their respective fault handlers. The Hard
Fault handler is invoked when no other specific fault handler can handle
the exception.
Common Causes of Hard Faults:
● Escalation from Other Faults:
o MemManage Faults or Bus Faults that occur and cannot be
handled by their respective handlers escalate to a Hard Fault.
o Usage Faults can also escalate to Hard Faults if they are not
enabled or cannot be handled.
● Bus Errors During Vector Table Fetch:
o If there is an error while fetching the exception vector during an
exception handling sequence, it results in a Hard Fault.
● Bus Errors During Stack Push/Pop Operations:
o Errors that occur while stacking (pushing registers onto the
stack) during the entry to an exception or unstacking (popping
registers from the stack) during the exit from an exception can
cause a Hard Fault.
● Execution of an Undefined Instruction:
o Attempting to execute an instruction that the processor cannot
decode or does not recognize can lead to a Hard Fault if not
handled by a Usage Fault handler.
● Breakpoint or Debug Events:
o A Breakpoint instruction (BKPT) or certain debug monitor
instructions can trigger a Hard Fault if not properly handled by
the debugger or if the debugger is not attached.
2. Usage Fault
A Usage Fault is a type of exception that occurs due to programmatic
errors such as execution of illegal instructions or operations that violate
usage constraints defined by the ARM architecture.
Common Causes of Usage Faults:
● Execution of Undefined Instructions:
o If the program attempts to execute an undefined instruction
(e.g., one that the processor cannot decode), a Usage Fault
occurs.
● Execution of Coprocessor Instructions:
o Cortex-M4 processors do not support coprocessor instructions.
Attempting to execute such instructions results in a Usage
Fault.
● Illegal Access to EPSR, EXC_RETURN, or CPSR:
o Attempting to write to the Program Status Registers (like EPSR
or CPSR) in an invalid way can cause a Usage Fault.
● Unaligned Memory Access:
o Accessing memory locations with unaligned addresses (not on
natural boundaries, e.g., trying to access a 4-byte word at a
non-4-byte-aligned address) can trigger a Usage Fault if the
processor does not support unaligned access.
● Divide-by-Zero Errors:
o If the program attempts to divide a number by zero, the
processor triggers a Usage Fault.
● Invalid Exception Return:
 o Returning from an exception with an invalid EXC_RETURN value
can cause a Usage Fault. For example, if the stack pointer is
corrupted or manipulated incorrectly, leading to invalid states.
● Access to xN (Execute Never) Regions:
o Attempting to execute instructions in regions marked as Execute
Never (XN) by the Memory Protection Unit (MPU) triggers a
Usage Fault.

11. Explain CFSR, HFSR, DFSR, AFSR, MMFAR and BFAR fault status/
address registers.

support fault handling. These features allow the processor to detect,

manage, and debug exceptions that occur due to various faults, such as
memory access violations, invalid instructions, and bus errors. The fault
handling support is critical for developing robust and reliable embedded
systems, as it provides detailed information about faults, enabling
developers to diagnose and correct issues effectively.
Fault Handling Support in ARM Cortex-M4:
1. Fault Status Registers
The Cortex-M4 processor includes several fault status registers that
record information about specific types of faults. These registers
provide detailed status information, helping developers identify the
cause and location of faults.
● CFSR (Configurable Fault Status Register):
o Address: 0xE000ED28
o Description: The CFSR is a composite register that provides
status information for three types of configurable faults:
Memory Management Faults (MMFSR), Bus Faults (BFSR), and
Usage Faults (UFSR).
 o Sub-registers:
● MMFSR (Memory Management Fault Status Register): Reports
memory management faults, such as access violations
to protected memory regions.
● BFSR (Bus Fault Status Register): Provides information about
bus-related errors, such as illegal memory accesses or
data transfer errors.
● UFSR (Usage Fault Status Register): Reports usage faults
related to incorrect program behavior, such as execution
of undefined instructions or divide-by-zero errors.
● HFSR (Hard Fault Status Register):
o Address: 0xE000ED2C
o Description: The HFSR records information about hard faults,
which are critical exceptions that escalate from other faults or
occur due to severe issues like bus errors during vector fetch or
unhandled faults.
● DFSR (Debug Fault Status Register):
o Address: 0xE000ED30
o Description: The DFSR provides status information related to
debug events, such as breakpoints, watchpoints, and other
debug-related exceptions.
● AFSR (Auxiliary Fault Status Register):
o Address: 0xE000ED3C
o Description: The AFSR records implementation-specific
information about faults. Silicon designers can use this register
to provide additional fault status information that may be
unique to a particular microcontroller implementation.
● MMFAR (Memory Management Fault Address Register):
o Address: 0xE000ED34
o Description: The MMFAR holds the address of the memory
 location that caused a memory management fault, enabling
developers to identify the precise memory access that led to
the fault.
● BFAR (Bus Fault Address Register):
o Address: 0xE000ED38
o Description: The BFAR contains the address of the memory
location that caused a bus fault. This register is essential for
diagnosing and correcting issues related to illegal memory
accesses or data transfer errors.
2. Exception Mechanism
● Vector Table: The Cortex-M4 processor uses a vector table to
manage exceptions and faults. Each entry in the vector table
corresponds to a specific exception or fault handler, allowing the
processor to quickly determine the appropriate response to an
exception.
● Priority Levels: Faults and exceptions in Cortex-M4 have
configurable priority levels. Higher-priority exceptions can preempt
lower-priority ones, enabling the system to respond to critical faults
immediately.
3. Fault Handling Process
● Fault Escalation: When a fault occurs, the processor checks whether
the fault is enabled and whether its priority is higher than the
currently executing code. If these conditions are met, the
corresponding fault handler is invoked. If the fault cannot be handled,
it may escalate to a Hard Fault.
● Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller (NVIC): The NVIC manages the
priorities of exceptions and interrupts, ensuring that the highest
priority fault is handled first. The NVIC also supports tail-chaining,
where the processor can directly switch from one exception handler
to another without returning to the main application code, improving
efficiency.
4. Debugging Support
● Fault Status Registers: The fault status registers (CFSR, HFSR,
DFSR, AFSR) provide detailed information about the type and cause
of faults, which is crucial for debugging and resolving issues.
● Fault Address Registers: The MMFAR and BFAR registers capture
the addresses that caused memory management and bus faults,
respectively. This information is critical for identifying problematic
memory accesses.
● Vector Catch: The Cortex-M4 supports vector catch functionality,
allowing the debugger to catch exceptions as they occur. This feature
is particularly useful for debugging hard-to-trace faults.
● Breakpoint and Watchpoint Support: The Cortex-M4 supports
hardware breakpoints and watchpoints, allowing developers to set
breakpoints on specific instructions or watchpoints on memory
accesses. This feature helps in identifying and resolving issues that
cause faults.

12. List and very briefly provide the low power features of ARM
Cortex M4.
The ARM Cortex-M4 processor offers several low-power features
designed to reduce energy consumption, making it ideal for embedded
systems where power efficiency is crucial. Here are the key low-power
features:
1. Sleep Modes:
o Sleep Mode: The processor clock is stopped, but peripheral
clocks continue to run. This reduces power consumption while
maintaining peripheral operations.
o Deep Sleep Mode: Both the processor and most of the
peripherals are powered down. Only essential functions like the
system clock or a few selected peripherals may remain active,
significantly reducing power usage.
2. Wake-Up Interrupt Controller (WIC):
o Allows the processor to be in a deep sleep mode while still being
 able to wake up in response to interrupts. This feature helps reduce
power consumption when the system is idle but needs to
respond to events quickly.
3. Dynamic Frequency Scaling:
o The processor can adjust its clock frequency based on the
required performance level, enabling it to save power during
periods of low computational demand.
4. Clock Gating:
o The Cortex-M4 can disable the clock to specific parts of the
processor or peripherals when they are not in use, reducing
power consumption by turning off parts of the chip that aren't
needed at the moment.
5. Low-Power Tickless Mode:
o This mode allows the system to enter a deep sleep state without
the need for periodic timer interrupts. The system only wakes
up when an event occurs, conserving power during periods of
inactivity.
6. Voltage Scaling:
o The operating voltage can be reduced to lower levels when the
processor is running at a reduced clock speed, which further
decreases power consumption.
These features help the ARM Cortex-M4 achieve a balance between
performance and energy efficiency, making it suitable for battery-
powered and energy-sensitive applications.