Features of
ARM Cortex M0 processor core
ARM processor cores are widely used in many application
specific standard IC products. They are heavily used in
ICs for mobile device applications. For use in microncontroller
chips, ARM has exclusively launched M-series which includes
M0, M3, and M4. M0 is very basic and is good for embedded
system learners.
The Cortex-M0 processor is a very low gate count, highly
energy efficient processor that is intended for microcontroller
and deeply embedded applications that require an area optimized
processor. The Cortex-M0 processor consumes around16µW/MHz
(90LP process, minimal configuration) in an area of under
12 K gates.
The configurable, multistage, 32-bit RISC processor ARM
Cortex-M0 processor consumes small silicon area and low
power and also minimal code footprint. Due to all these,
developers can achieve higher performance than old 8-bit
micro controllers.
The processor features of ARM Cortex M0 includes:
ARM cortex M0 features Integrated Nested Vectored Interrupt
Controller (NVIC) for interrupt handling.
H/W stacking ensures deterministic Interrupt Service Routine
(ISR) entry.
Features sleep mode, power down mode and deep power down
mode.
No assembler code required for ISR etc..
Thumb-2 offers ARM performance at Thumb code density resulting
in enhanced instruction performance with reduced code size.
Thumb-2 offers 25% more performance than Thumb,
Application porting is made easy due to NVIC, SysTick &
Memory Map defined CMSIS Compatible.
ARM Cortex operated upto a frequency of 50 MHz.
Features hardware multiplier
Serial Wire Debug reduces the number of pins required for
debugging.
Flexibility of shedding size and performance: ARM Cortex
M0 is code compatible with other improved version M3 and
M4.
Simplicity: Its stated in ARM's website "with just
56 instructions, it is possible to master quickly the entire
Cortex-M0 instruction and its C friendly architecture, making
development simple and fast. The option for fully deterministic
instruction and interrupt timing makes it easy to calculate
response times."
Optimized connectivity: Support low power connectivity such
as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), IEEE 802.15 and Z-wave.
The Cortex-M0 has an AMBA AHB-Lite interface and includes
an NVIC component.
To learn more on ARM Cortex M0 visit the below urls:
http://www.arm.com/products/processors/cortex-m/cortex-m0.php
One of the best presentation on ARM Cortex M0 is available
at:
http://web.mit.edu/clarkds/www/Files/slides1.pdf
The technical reference manual of ARM Cortex M0 processor
core is available at :
http://infocenter.arm.com/help/index.jsp?topic=/com.arm.doc.ddi0432c/CJHGJEBC.html
Comparison of ARM 7TDMI to ARM Cortex M0 is presented at:
http://www.arm.com/products/processors/classic/arm7/index.php
In this embedded systems course we have used ARM Cortex
M0 powered microcontrollers: LPC1100 from NXP Semiconductor
and STM32F051R8T6 from ST Microelectronics.
More on LPC1100 can be learned at: http://www.nxp.com/products/microcontrollers/cortex_m0/lpc1100_x_l/
More on STM32F051R8T6 can be learned at:
http://www.st.com/internet/mcu/product/251901.jsp