2 ARM Cortex-M3 Processor Core
The ARM Cortex-M3 processor provides the core for a high-performance, low-cost platform that
meets the needs of minimal memory implementation, reduced pin count, and low power consumption,
while delivering outstanding computational performance and exceptional system response to
interrupts. Features include:
■ Compact core.
■ Thumb-2 instruction set, delivering the high-performance expected of an ARM core in the memory
size usually associated with 8- and 16-bit devices; typically in the range of a few kilobytes of
memory for microcontroller class applications.
■ Rapid application execution through Harvard architecture characterized by separate buses for
instruction and data.
■ Exceptional interrupt handling, by implementing the register manipulations required for handling
an interrupt in hardware.
■ Deterministic, fast interrupt processing: always 12 cycles, or just 6 cycles with tail-chaining
■ Memory protection unit (MPU) to provide a privileged mode of operation for complex applications.
■ Migration from the ARM7™ processor family for better performance and power efficiency.
■ Full-featured debug solution
– Serial Wire JTAG Debug Port (SWJ-DP)
– Flash Patch and Breakpoint (FPB) unit for implementing breakpoints
– Data Watchpoint and Trigger (DWT) unit for implementing watchpoints, trigger resources,
and system profiling
– Instrumentation Trace Macrocell (ITM) for support of printf style debugging
– Trace Port Interface Unit (TPIU) for bridging to a Trace Port Analyzer
■ Optimized for single-cycle flash usage
■ Three sleep modes with clock gating for low power
■ Single-cycle multiply instruction and hardware divide
■ Atomic operations
■ ARM Thumb2 mixed 16-/32-bit instruction set
■ 1.25 DMIPS/MHz
The Stellaris
®
family of microcontrollers builds on this core to bring high-performance 32-bit computing
to cost-sensitive embedded microcontroller applications, such as factory automation and control,
industrial control power devices, building and home automation, and stepper motors.
June 22, 201040
Texas Instruments-Production Data
ARM Cortex-M3 Processor Core
