ARM7TDMI Architecture

The ARM7 TDMI architecture is a popular version of the ARM architecture, based on the
ARM7 core with enhancements that make it suitable for embedded systems. It is a 32-bit
RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) microprocessor architecture, and it’s widely used
in various devices, including mobile phones, embedded systems, and other consumer
electronics.

ARM7 TDMI Architecture Overview

ARM7 TDMI stands for:

• ARM7: The 7th version of the ARM processor core.

• T: Thumb instruction set, a 16-bit compressed version of ARM instructions to reduce

memory usage.

• D: Debugging features, which provide support for debugging tools.

• M: Multiplication instructions, allowing efficient handling of multiplication

operations.

Key Features of ARM7 TDMI

1. 32-bit RISC architecture:

o ARM7 TDMI is based on the ARM architecture, which uses a reduced

instruction set for fast execution. It simplifies instructions and uses less power
compared to complex instruction set computers (CISC).

2. Pipeline Architecture:

o ARM7 uses a 3-stage pipeline (fetch, decode, and execute), improving

performance by allowing the processor to process multiple instructions
simultaneously. It performs instruction fetch, decoding, and execution in
parallel for faster throughput.

3. Thumb Mode:

o The ARM7 supports Thumb mode, where instructions are encoded in 16-bits
instead of the typical 32-bits. This effectively reduces code size by about 30-
40% while maintaining almost the same performance as ARM mode. This
mode is particularly useful in memory-constrained environments.

o ARM mode: Full 32-bit instruction set for higher performance.

o Thumb mode: 16-bit compressed instructions for reduced code size.

4. Multiplication and Division:

 o ARM7 TDMI includes a hardware multiplier, which allows fast multiplication
(and some support for division) compared to software-based multiplication. It
significantly reduces the time required for multiplication tasks.

5. Low Power Consumption:

o ARM7 cores are designed for low power consumption, which is important for
battery-operated and portable devices. The architecture can be optimized for
power-saving modes like idle, sleep, and clock gating.

6. Memory Management:

o The ARM7 TDMI architecture supports 32-bit addressing, allowing it to

address a 4GB memory space. In embedded systems, this is typically
configured to work with smaller memory footprints.

o It also features a Memory Protection Unit (MPU), which helps ensure the
isolation of code and data regions for more secure and robust systems.

7. Interrupt Handling:

o ARM7 provides an efficient interrupt handling system, allowing the processor

to respond to hardware and software interrupts with minimal overhead. It
supports a vectored interrupt controller (VIC) for managing multiple interrupt
sources efficiently.

8. Conditional Execution:

o A unique feature of ARM instructions is that they can be conditionally

executed based on the current state of the processor's flags. This reduces the
need for branches, which in turn improves execution speed and reduces
instruction cache misses.

9. Debugging Support:

o The ARM7 TDMI includes debugging features, such as support for breakpoints
and watchpoints, to aid in development and troubleshooting. It can
communicate with a debugger over a debug interface, which is crucial in
embedded systems design.

10. Coprocessor Interface:

o The architecture supports coprocessors, enabling the integration of additional

custom processing units to extend the processor's functionality. These
coprocessors can be used for tasks like floating-point operations, signal
processing, etc.
ARM7 TDMI Functional Blocks

The ARM7 TDMI processor is structured into different functional blocks:

1. Core (CPU):

o This block handles the execution of instructions. It implements the ARM and
Thumb instruction sets and performs the core operations (arithmetic, logic,
data access).

2. Pipeline:

o The ARM7 uses a 3-stage pipeline, which includes:

▪ Instruction Fetch (IF): Retrieves instructions from memory.

▪ Instruction Decode (ID): Decodes the instruction and reads operands.

▪ Execute (EX): Executes the instruction or performs the memory

access.

3. Registers:

o ARM7 TDMI has 37 general-purpose 32-bit registers, which include:

▪ R0 to R12: General-purpose registers used by the processor.

▪ R13 (SP): Stack Pointer.

▪ R14 (LR): Link Register, used to store the return address for function
calls.

▪ R15 (PC): Program Counter, holds the address of the next instruction
to be executed.

▪ CPSR: Current Program Status Register, which holds the flags and
status bits (condition flags, interrupt enable, etc.).

▪ SPSR: Saved Program Status Register, used to store the state when
entering an interrupt or exception.

4. ALU (Arithmetic Logic Unit):

o The ALU handles the arithmetic and logic operations, such as addition,
subtraction, bitwise operations, etc.

5. Multiplexer:

o A multiplexer helps in selecting the correct instruction flow from various

stages of the pipeline or in handling different types of operations (data load,
control instructions, etc.).
 6. Memory Interface:

o ARM7 TDMI supports interfacing with external memory and peripherals. The
memory interface allows access to data stored in the RAM, Flash, or
peripheral registers.

7. Interrupt Controller:

o The ARM7 TDMI has a Vectored Interrupt Controller (VIC), which efficiently
handles multiple interrupts, providing quick responses to hardware events.

8. Coprocessor Interface:

o The ARM7 TDMI allows integration of additional coprocessors for performing

specific tasks like floating-point math, cryptography, or signal processing.

ARM7 TDMI Modes of Operation

1. ARM Mode:

o In ARM mode, the processor executes 32-bit instructions. This mode is

typically used for high-performance operations.

2. Thumb Mode:

o In Thumb mode, the processor executes 16-bit instructions, reducing code

size while still performing reasonably well. It is used for low-memory
applications where code density is a priority.

3. Supervisor Mode (SVC):

o This mode is used when the processor enters a privileged mode (typically for
operating system functions or during exception handling).

4. IRQ Mode:

o When an interrupt request is triggered, the processor enters the IRQ mode,
enabling it to handle interrupts.

5. FIQ Mode:

o The FIQ (Fast Interrupt Request) mode is used for fast handling of high-
priority interrupts, providing a separate register bank for faster context
switching.

6. Abort Mode:

o The Abort mode is triggered by memory access errors (like data aborts),
where the processor can take corrective action or handle the exception.

ARM7 TDMI Instruction Set

The ARM7 TDMI architecture supports two major instruction sets:

1. ARM Instruction Set: A 32-bit instruction set that provides high performance.

2. Thumb Instruction Set: A 16-bit instruction set that reduces memory usage by
approximately 30-40%, suitable for embedded systems with limited memory.

The ARM7 TDMI processor can switch between ARM and Thumb modes dynamically,
allowing software to choose the appropriate mode based on the available memory or
performance requirements.

Summary of ARM7 TDMI Architecture

• 32-bit RISC processor with efficient 3-stage pipeline.

• Support for Thumb mode (16-bit instructions) for reduced memory footprint.

• Low power consumption, making it ideal for embedded systems.

• Debugging and interrupt handling support, essential for embedded system

development.

• Support for coprocessors to extend the functionality of the core.

• ARM7 TDMI is widely used in applications requiring low power and small memory
size, such as mobile phones, embedded systems, and consumer electronics.

This architecture was one of the pioneering designs for low-cost, energy-efficient embedded
systems and remains widely used in various industries today.
CPSR instruction format in arm7

The CPSR (Current Program Status Register) in ARM7 is a 32-bit register that holds various
control bits and flags that determine the current state of the processor. It is crucial for
managing the processor's operational modes, interrupt status, and the results of operations.

CPSR Register Overview

The CPSR is divided into several fields, each serving a specific purpose. Here's the
breakdown of its structure:

Bit
Field Name Description
Range

31 - 28 M[4:0] Processor Mode (5 bits)

27 T Thumb state bit (1 bit)

26 F Fast Interrupt (FIQ) disable (1 bit)

25 I Interrupt (IRQ) disable (1 bit)

24 A Asynchronous Abort disable (1 bit)

23 - 19 E Execution state (0 = ARM, 1 = Thumb) (1 bit)

Greater-than or Equal (GTE) flags, used for SIMD instructions (4

18 - 16 GE[3:0]
bits)

Condition NZCV flags (4 bits) for Negative (N), Zero (Z), Carry (C), and
15 - 10
Flags Overflow (V)

9 Q Overflow condition flag (1 bit)

8 V Overflow flag (1 bit)

7 C Carry flag (1 bit)

6 Z Zero flag (1 bit)

5 N Negative flag (1 bit)

Detailed Breakdown of CPSR Fields

1. M[4:0] (Mode bits) (Bits 31-28)

o These 5 bits define the processor's current operating mode. The processor
can be in different modes, such as User mode, Supervisor mode, IRQ mode,
FIQ mode, and others. These modes are used to handle different processor
states, especially for interrupts and exceptions.

Mode Description

0x10 User mode

0x11 FIQ mode

0x12 IRQ mode

0x13 Supervisor mode

0x17 Abort mode

0x1F System mode

2. T (Thumb state bit) (Bit 27)

o This bit indicates whether the processor is currently in ARM mode or Thumb
mode.

▪ T = 0: The processor is in ARM mode (32-bit instructions).

▪ T = 1: The processor is in Thumb mode (16-bit instructions).

3. F (Fast Interrupt disable) (Bit 26)

o When this bit is set to 1, it disables the FIQ (Fast Interrupt Request)
processing.

▪ F = 0: FIQ is enabled.

▪ F = 1: FIQ is disabled.

4. I (Interrupt disable) (Bit 25)

o This bit controls the ability to process interrupts in general. When set to 1,
IRQ (Interrupt Request) processing is disabled.

▪ I = 0: IRQ is enabled.

▪ I = 1: IRQ is disabled.

5. A (Asynchronous Abort disable) (Bit 24)

 o When set to 1, this bit disables asynchronous abort exceptions.

▪ A = 0: Asynchronous abort is enabled.

▪ A = 1: Asynchronous abort is disabled.

6. E (Execution state bit) (Bits 23-19)

o This field is used for execution state, determining whether the processor is
operating in ARM mode or Thumb mode.

▪ E = 0: ARM mode.

▪ E = 1: Thumb mode.

7. GE[3:0] (Greater-than or Equal flags) (Bits 19-16)

o These flags are used for SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) instructions.
The GE field stores the results of comparisons for vector operations.

o Note: The GE field is typically used for advanced operations related to SIMD
processing and is not commonly used in standard ARM7 operations.

8. Condition Flags (NZCV) (Bits 15-10)

o These are the condition flags, reflecting the results of the most recent
arithmetic or logical operation:

▪ N: Negative flag, set if the result of the operation was negative.

▪ Z: Zero flag, set if the result was zero.

▪ C: Carry flag, set if the operation generated a carry (for addition) or

borrow (for subtraction).

▪ V: Overflow flag, set if the operation caused an overflow (signed

arithmetic overflow).

9. Q (Overflow condition flag) (Bit 9)

o The Q flag is set when a saturation arithmetic condition occurs (used in some
arithmetic instructions).

10. V (Overflow flag) (Bit 8)

o The V flag is set when an arithmetic operation causes an overflow, which

happens if the result exceeds the range representable by the signed result.

o V = 1: An overflow occurred in the last operation.

o V = 0: No overflow.
11. C (Carry flag) (Bit 7)

o The C flag is set when a carry is generated (in addition) or when there is no
borrow (in subtraction).

o C = 1: A carry/borrow occurred.

o C = 0: No carry/borrow occurred.

12. Z (Zero flag) (Bit 6)

o The Z flag is set when the result of an operation is zero.

o Z = 1: The result of the last operation was zero.

o Z = 0: The result was non-zero.

13. N (Negative flag) (Bit 5)

o The N flag is set when the result of the last operation is negative (i.e., the sign
bit is set).

o N = 1: The result of the last operation was negative.

o N = 0: The result was non-negative.