ARM Cortex-M7 Software Design

Software engineers writing application and system software for platforms using the ARM Cortex-M7 processor core.

• Some knowledge of embedded systems
• Basic awareness of ARM is useful but not essential
• Knowledge of programming in C
• Experience of assembler programming is not required but would be beneficial

This class uses training materials developed by Arm® and is complemented by Doulos' own lecture and laboratory material. This offers the students a well rounded and practical view of the topics covering both the Processor's features along with how to program it.

Day 1

Introduction to ARM

ARM as a company • Processor portfolio • Supported architectures • Processor profiles 

Cortex-M7 Overview

Block diagram • Architectural features • Instruction set • Programmer's model • Memory map • Memory interfaces • Caches • Exception handing • Memory protection • Power management • Implementation options 

ARMv7-M Programmers’ Model

Data types • Core registers • Modes, privileges and stack • Exceptions • Instruction set overview 

Tools Overview for ARM Microcontrollers

Keil MDK • ULINK/DSTREAM debug adapters • Development boards • DS-5 

CMSIS Overview

CMSIS-Core • CMSIS-DSP • CMSIS-RTOS • CMSIS-SVD • CMSIS-DAP 

Day 2

ARMv7-M Assembly Programming

Data processing instructions • Load/Store instructions • Flow control • Miscellaneous instructions 

ARMv7-M Memory Model

Memory address space • Memory types and attributes • Alignment and endianness • Barriers 

Cortex-M7 Level 1 Sub-Systems

Caches • Tightly coupled memory (TCM) • System considerations 

Day 3

ARMv7-M Exception Handling

Exception Model • Interrupts • Writing the vector table and interrupt handlers • Internal exceptions and RTOS support • Fault exception 

ARMv7-M Compiler Hints & Tips

Basic Compilation • Compiler optimisations • Coding considerations • Mixing C/C++ and assembly • Local and global data issues 

ARMv7-M Linker and Libraries Hints & Tips

Linking basics • System and user libraries • Veneers • Stack issues • Linker optimisations and diagnostics • ARM supplied libraries 

Day 4

ARMv7-M Synchronization

Introduction to synchronization and semaphores • Exclusive accesses • Bit-banding 

Embedded Software Development

Default compilation behavior • System startup • Tailoring the image memory map to a device • Post startup initialization • Tailoring the C library to a device • Building and debugging an image 

ARMv7-M Debug

Coresight and debug access port DAP • Debug event and reset • Flash patch and breakpoint unit (FPB) • Data watch point and trace unit (DWT) • Instrumentation trace macrocell (ITM) • Embedded trace macrocell (ETM) • Trace port interface unit (TPIU) • Implementation details 

ARMv7-M Memory Protection

Memory protection overview • Regions overview • Regions overlapping • Setting up the MPU 

Exercises

Keil MDK Introductory Workbook • ARMv6-M and ARMv7-M Assembly Language Workbook • ARM Compiler and Linker Workbook • Embedded Software Development Workbook 

ARM® and Cortex® are registered trade marks of ARM Holdings Plc.

The learning is reinforced with practical exercises using the GCC software development tool-chain and covers advanced topics such as Arm/Thumb2 assembly, writing low level device drivers, exception handlers and linker scripts.