UESTC 2004: Embedded Processor

Dr. Yao Sun

University of Glasgow
 Review of Lecture 1

What have we learned from the last lecture?

 Course Outline
 Overview of Embedded System
 Refresher of
 Computer Architecture
 Bus
 Bitwise Operations

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Course Schedule

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Course Schedule

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 Course Assessments

There will be 3 assessments: 

1. Continuous assessment. A mini project in designing and implementing a small
embedded system. Students will submit a demo video showing the working system
and a written technical report. The whole continuous assessment is worth 10% of the
total mark.
2. Lab work. Lab assessment will be carried out based on the successful demonstration
and reflection on the lab tasks completed during the lab allocated time. It will be
worth 15% of the total mark. (N.B. The 4 labs will help the students work towards a
mini project which is done for the Written Assignment as explained in point 1 above.)
3. Final Examination. There will be an end of course final examination worth 75% of the
total mark.  

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 Overview of Embedded System

What is an embedded system? 😵

😁“special purpose computer” whose purpose is very

specific to serve a particular function.

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 Overview of Embedded System

Hardware: microprocessors/microcontrollers, also include memory,

bus, Input/Output, controller
Software: embedded operating systems, different applications and
device drivers. 7
 Lesson Plan – Lecture 2

• ARM processor
Aim • Mbed NUCLEO L432KC

By the end of this lesson you will be able to:

Learning • Learn the concept and history of the ARM processor
Objectives • Know the structure and memory mapping of Mbed
NUCLEO L432KC

Assumed
Previous • Microelectronics

Knowledge
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 Outline of Lecture 2

 ARM Processor
 Concept
 History
 Comparisons
 Mbed NUCLEO L432KC
 Internal structure
 Memory mapping
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 Outline of Lecture 2

 ARM Processor
 Concept
 History
 Comparisons
 Mbed NUCLEO L432KC
 Internal structure
 Memory mapping
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 ARM Processor - Concept

Instruction Set Architecture

• Definition: An Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) is part of the abstract model
of a computer that defines how the CPU is controlled by the software.
• Explanations
 Low-level structure What does this mean? 😵
 Low level
List of language:CPU
instructions machine-like,
will performcommands or functions that are
 structurally
Registers similar to processor's instructions, "close to the hardware"
 High level
I/O and language:
memory brain- like, easy to read, write, and maintain,
interfaces
 needs a complier,
Connection "close
between to the software"
hardware and software

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 ARM Processor - Concept

Instruction Set Architecture

• Instruction Set Architecture(ISA) – a specific collection of instructions
supported by a common set of processors

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 ARM Processor - Concept

Instruction Set Architecture

Instruction Set Architecture

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 ARM Processor - Concept

ARM – Supported by a kind of ISA (keep in mind)

ARM – Advanced RISC Machine

What is the RISC?

RISC - Reduced Instruction Set Computer/Computing �

�

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 ARM Processor - Concept
Comparison
RISC - Reduced Instruction Set Computer/Computing
 A kind of ISA
CISC - Complex Instruction Set Computer/Computing
 A kind of ISA
RISC:
Simpler
More suitable
for embedded
systems

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 ARM Processor - Concept

Let’s go back to ARM (Advanced RISC Machine)

What is the meaning?

Features of RISC Architecture
 Large uniform register file
 Load/store
 Simple address
 Uniform and fixed bit-length of instructions
Advanced?
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 ARM Processor - Concept

ARM (Advanced RISC Machine)

Features of RISC Architecture
 Large uniform register file
 Load/store
 Simple address
 Uniform and fixed bit-length of instructions
Advanced
 Load/store  Multiple load/store & conditional execution
 Simple address  Auto Increment & Decrement addressing mode
 Each instruction controls ALU and shifter
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 ARM Processor - Concept

 Features of ARM Architecture

 Large uniform register file
 Multiple load/store & conditional execution
 Auto Increment & Decrement addressing mode
 Uniform and fixed bit-length of instructions
 Each instruction controls ALU and shifter

 Conclusions
 ARM architecture is a kind of ISA with the above features
 ARM processor is a machine running such the ISA
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 Outline of Lecture 2

 ARM Processor
 Concept
 History
 Comparisons
 Mbed NUCLEO L432KC
 Internal structure
 Memory mapping
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 ARM Processor - History

 ARM company was founded in Nov. 1990.

 A joint venture between Acorn Computers, Apple Computer (now Apple

Inc.) and VLSI Technology.

 ARM company only sells licenses for core architecture design (no
manufacture but IP (Intellectual property) transfer)

 Many ARM architecture versions have been proposed with the time
being

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 ARM Processor - History
ARM architecture versions

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 ARM Processor - History
ARM architecture versions cont’d

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 ARM Processor - History
ARM architecture versions cont’d
 ARM v7
• Thumb-2 extension (with 32-bit instructions)
• Jazelle-RCT (Runtime Compiler Target) – provides support for
interpreted languages
• Architecture Profile ARM Cortex Processors
 V7-A: Applications  Cortex A
 V7-M: Microcontroller  Cortex M
 Cortex R
 V7-R: Real-time

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 ARM Processor - History
ARM architecture versions cont’d
 ARM v8

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 ARM Processor - History
ARM architecture versions cont’d
 ARM v8

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 ARM Processor - History
ARM architecture versions summary

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 ARM Processor - History

ARM architecture versions summary

Our focus

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 Outline of Lecture 2

 ARM Processor
 Concept
 History
 Comparisons
 Mbed NUCLEO L432KC
 Internal structure
 Memory mapping
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 ARM Processor - Comparisons

Intel company Designed and introduced by MIPS

Design and manufacture Technologies
Design: ARM company
Manufacture: Qualcomm,
Samsung, MediaTek, etc.
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 ARM Processor - Comparisons
ARM vs. x86
 Silicon space Conclusion:
ARM: small x86: large x86 traditionally targets
 Power/energy consumption peak performance, Arm
ARM: low x86: high targets energy efficiency
 Battery life Applications:
ARM: long x86: short
Arm is more suitable for an
 Performance embedded system
ARM: low x86: high
x86 is more likely for general
 ISA purpose computers
ARM: RISC x86: CISC 30
 ARM Processor - Comparisons

ARM vs. MIPS

 Two different ISAs in the family of RISC.
 ARM has only 16 registers while MIPS has 32 registers.
 ARM has a high throughput and a great efficiency because of supporting 64-bit
data buses.
 MIPS has no equivalent instruction to the ARM MOV instruction.
 Other differences

Conclusion:
 MIPS is implemented primarily in embedded systems.
 At present, ARM is more popular in the industry than MIPS
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 Outline of Lecture 2

 ARM Processor
 Concept
 History
 Comparisons
 Mbed NUCLEO L432KC
 Internal structure
 Memory mapping
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 NUCLEO L432KC – Internal Structure

Three kinds of boards

Design and prototype Key function evaluation with

Full evaluation
ideas very quickly necessary components
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 NUCLEO L432KC – Internal Structure

Structure of Nucleo Board - L432KC

PC Connection Processor

User LED

Reset Button
Integrated Simulator:
ST-LINK/V2-1  User LED
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NUCLEO L432KC – Internal Structure

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 NUCLEO L432KC – Internal Structure
PIN Diagram Arduino Connection

Arduino Connection Arduino Connector

Interfaces

Interfaces 36
NUCLEO L432KC – Internal Structure
ST-Link COM LED State
1. Blinking Red
First USB enumeration with PC taking place
2. Red
Communication between PC and ST-LINK is
established (end of enumeration)

3. Blinking Green & Red Alternately

Data is being exchanged between the PC and target

4. Green
Last communication has been successful

5. Orange
Last communication was failed
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NUCLEO L432KC – Internal Structure

The Processor

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 NUCLEO L432KC – Internal Structure

Features of Nucleo Board L432KC

 STM32L432KC Microcontroller  Timers (4)

 ARM®32-bit Cortex®-M4 CPU  I2C (2)
 80 MHz max CPU frequency  USART (2)
 256 KB Flash  SPI (2)
 64 KB SRAM
 GPIO (20) with external interrupt capability
 12-bit ADC with 12 channels

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 Outline of Lecture 2

 ARM Processor
 Concept
 History
 Comparisons
 Mbed NUCLEO L432KC
 Internal structure
 Memory mapping
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 Memory Mapping

What are the memory requirements in embedded systems?

 Program Memory
 Data Memory
• Constants
• Global Variables
• Temporary Variables, Run-time stack, Heap
 I/O Memory

Memory is essential for embedded systems!

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 Memory Mapping

0.5 GB System System Timer, System Control Block,

NVIC, etc.
0xE0000000
External
1 GB RAM Off-chip memory for data
Static Random
0xA0000000
Access Memory External
1 GB
device Such as SD card
0x60000000
0.5 GB Peripheral AHB&APB, such timers, GPIOs
0x40000000
0.5 GB SRAM On-chip RAM for heap, stack & code
0x20000000
0.5 GB Code On-chip flash for code & data

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 Memory Mapping

Conclusion:
 Basically, there are 4 GB size with 6 memory regions/sections;
 Code region – 0.5 GB
 SRAM – 0.5 GB
 Peripheral – 0.5 GB
 External Devices – 1 GB
 External RAM – 1 GB
 System – 0.5 GB
 The memory mapping can be different for the different
processor serials
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 Summary
 ARM Processor
• Concept
• History
• Comparisons
 Mbed NUCLEO L432KC
• Internal structure
• Memory mapping

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 In the Next Lesson:

Introduction to Interfacing
• Embedded Systems Programming
• Interfacing techniques

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