User guide

Introduction

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• each top-level section in this reference material might correspond to a

chapter in the User Guide.

However, ARM partners can organize this material in any way, subject to the

conditions of the licence agreement under which ARM supplied the material.

1.5.2 Design Flow

The processor is delivered as synthesizable RTL. Before it can be used in a product, it must go

through the following process:

Implementation

The implementer configures the RTL and may synthesize it to produce a hard

macrocell or may synthesize the whole design after implementation.

Integration The integrator connects the implemented design into a SoC. This includes

connecting it to a memory system and peripherals.

Programming

The system programmer develops the software required to configure and

initialize the processor, and tests the required application software.

Each stage in the process can be performed by a different party. Implementation and integration

choices affect the behavior and features of the processor.

For MCUs, often a single design team integrates the processor before synthesizing the complete

design. Alternatively, the team can synthesise the processor on its own or partially integrated,

to produce a macrocell that is then integrated, possibly by a separate team.

The operation of the final device depends on:

Build configuration

The implementer chooses the options that affect how the RTL source files are

pre-processed. These options usually include or exclude logic that affects one or

more of the area, maximum frequency, and features of the resulting macrocell.

Configuration inputs

The integrator configures some features of the processor by tying inputs to

specific values. These configurations affect the start-up behavior before any

software configuration is made. They can also limit the options available to the

software.

Software configuration

The programmer configures the processor by programming particular values into

registers. This affects the behavior of the processor.

Note

This manual refers to implementation-defined features that are applicable to build configuration

options. Reference to a feature that is included means that the appropriate build and pin

configuration options are selected. Reference to an enabled feature means one that has also been

configured by software.

1.5.3 Architecture and protocol information

The processor complies with, or implements, the specifications described in:

• ARM architecture on page 1-8