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PIP-AMBA Platform IP for ARM AMBA AHB and APB Buses

On this page: Description | Features | Applications | Block Diagram | Functional Description | Support | Verification | Deliverables

The PIP-AMBA provides the essential IP cores and infrastructure software needed for systems using a microprocessor from the ARM 7 or 9 families with the AMBA bus, a de fact, open standard. Ready for software development out of the box but also easy to customize and extend, it serves as a basic platform for the rapid development of a variety of system-on-chip (SOC) applications.

The platform is well suited to a variety of AMBA-based SoC designs. It includes the multi-master and arbitration features of the high-performance AHB bus, and a bridge to the slower APB peripherals bus. The architecture makes it straightforward to add additional IP cores or custom logic to either bus.

The platform includes synthesizable HDL cores for the AHB and APB buses, plus various timers, controllers, interface functions, communications functions, and an internal SRAM block. (FPGA netlist versions are also available.) Generous standard deliverables include device drivers, boot code, and support for an embedded real-time operating system (RTOS). The included SOC test and validation suite features a bus functional model of the ARM7.

Features

• Integrated IP cores and software subsystem provides basic infrastructure for many SoC applications
• Platform saves significant time over acquiring and integrating separate elements
• Works with low-power, 32-bit ARM 7 and 9 processor families
• Built on AMBA standard bus for broad applicability
• Enables both the high-performance AHB and the APB peripherals buses
• Easily add custom logic or additional IP cores to tailor or expand the system
• Immediately begin software development and test
• Supports ARM® RealView® development tools

Complete infrastructure includes essential hardware and software:

• IP cores:
  • AHB to TDMI interface
  • AHB Arbiter
  • APB Bridge
  • Watchdog Timer
  • Two Timers
  • Scalable Interrupt Controller
  • Two 16550 UARTs with FIFOs
  • General Purpose I/O (GPIO)
  • Internal SRAM
  • External Bus Interface and SDRAM controller
• Plug-in architecture for user-defined custom IP blocks
• Software device drivers and boot code
• Support for real-time operating system (RTOS) such as ATI’s Nucleus Plus
• Comprehensive SOC test and validation suite, including:
  • ARM7 bus functional model with support for interrupts and subroutines
  • Sophisticated HDL Testbench with external models and interfaces
  • Simulations scripts, vectors, expected results, and comparison utilities
• Complete user documentation

Applications

The platform is suitable for small microcontrollers and mixed-signal controllers for a variety of applications, including factory automation, automotive systems, hand-held devices, motor controls, and intelligent toys.

Block Diagram

Functional Description

The PIP-AMBA is a completely integrated and tested platform, including the bus system, memory system, and peripherals. It includes two AMBA-standard buses: AHB for high-speed transactions such as local memory access or DMA operations, and APB for slower transactions with peripherals such as UARTS and the GPIO. Users can readily add their own custom logic or other IP cores. The included cores are as follows.

AHB Interface

Communicates between the AHB bus within the platform and the ARM processor native TDMI bus.

AHB Arbiter

The AHB may have multiple masters, and if it does then each master must arbitrate for the bus. This AHB Arbiter block can take up to eight bus masters, and arbitrates for the bus using a configurable priority scheme.

APB Bridge

Serves as an interface between the AHB and APB buses, and is a slave to the AHB. Transactions targeted at slow peripherals on the APB are initiated on the AHB, translated to APB bus cycles, and returned to the AHB via handshaking signals.

Watchdog Timer

Issues warning alerts in the event of software failures. Each warning generates an interrupt to the Interrupt Controller and a reset to the system. The Watchdog Timer is a 16-bit down counter with a selectable prescaler, watchdog reset, warning interrupt, and reset controller. The selectable rescale values are 1, 16 and 256.

Timers

The 16-bit counter/timers are necessary for any RTOS needing a timebase and scheduling. They are fully programmable and include selectable prescale values of 1, 16. and 256. The prescaler extends the Timer’s range at the expense of precision. Two modes of operation provide a free running value and also periodic interrupts.

Interrupt Controller

Manages processor attention requests for the RTOS. Fully scalable to support from one to 32 interrupt sources, and provides a programmable register used when generating an interrupt under software control.

UARTs

Two 16450/16550 compatible Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitters. Each contains a baud rate generator that can be configured for a wide range of baud rates depending on the system clock frequency and the programmable divisor. Includes 16-byte internal FIFOs for both receive and transmit modes.

GPIO

Configurable, General Purpose I/O module with a scalable set of up to 32 I/O lines. Each line can be configured independently of the others, with any combination of inputs and outputs or as an interrupt source, detecting level- or edge-triggered interrupts. Useful for a wide variety of applications where simple I/O control is needed.

SRAM Controller and SRAM

The Internal SRAM Controller provides a method of communicating with an integrated Synchronous Static Random Access Memory (SSRAM). The SSRAM array comes in byte, half-word (double byte), and word (four bytes) widths and various depths. The default configuration is two kilowords, where each word is 32 bits wide (2K x 32). The memory interface allows word, half-word, or byte wide addressing.

External Bus Interface (EBI) and SDRAM Controller

A configurable module interfacing the ARM7TDMI Native Bus to up to four external devices. The devices may be external SRAM, Flash, or memory-mapped peripherals. The proper number of read and write wait states and the memory size are programmable to allow proper communication. The EBI is flexible enough to work with 32-bit, 16-bit, and 8-bit external devices using word, half-word, and byte addressing.

Support

The platform as delivered is warranted against defects for ninety days from purchase. Thirty days of phone and email technical support are included, starting with the first interaction. Additional maintenance and support options are available.

Verification

The platform has been verified through extensive simulation and rigorous code coverage measurements. It is in use for several customer applications, and is a part of the SwifTrax™ co-development systems sold by Avnet Design Services.

Deliverables

The core includes everything required for successful implementation:

• HDL RTL source code for the included cores (post-synthesis EDIF netlists for FPGAs are also available)
• Essential software, including boot code and device drivers
• An ARM7 Bus Functional Model
• Sophisticated HDL Testbench, including external models and interfaces
• Simulation script, vectors, expected results, and comparison utility
• Synthesis script (ASICs) or place and route script (FPGAs)
• Comprehensive user documentation, including detailed specifications and a system integration guide

On this page: Description | Features | Applications | Block Diagram | Functional Description | Support | Verification | Deliverables

 This core developed by the ARM experts at SoC Solutions LLC.