Course

An Introduction to Embedded Processors. RISC versus CISC. CPU Performance Metrics. Benchmark. RISC processor design. Pipelined data path design. Pipeline Hazards. Memory system design – Memory Management unit – Cache Memory – Virtual Memory. Introduction to ARM processors. Evolution. Advanced ARM Architecture. Core Architecture, Processor, Programmers Model, Interrupt & Exception Model, Memory Model, Instruction Set, and Addressing modes. Assembly Language Programming. Introduction to ARM-based Microcontrollers. Architecture. Peripherals – Ports, Timers, PWM, ADC, UART, SPI, I2C. Application development – Bare-metal Programming, Rapid Prototyping with libraries. Case studies with real-world automation applications.

Pre-requisite: Nil  

Course Objectives: 

• To understand the architecture and performance characteristics of embedded processors, with emphasis on RISC-based systems.
• To gain comprehensive knowledge of ARM architecture, programming models, instruction set, and exception handling.
• To develop practical skills in programming ARM-based microcontrollers and applying them in real-world embedded systems.

Course Outcomes: 

• CO1: Explain the architecture, pipelining, memory systems, and performance metrics of embedded processors. 
• CO2: Describe the ARM processor architecture, instruction set, addressing modes, and programming model. 
• CO3: Illustrate the architecture and peripheral features of ARM-based microcontrollers. 
• CO4: Design and develop embedded applications using ARM microcontrollers for real-world use cases. 

CO-PO Mapping:

1. Steve Furber, “ARM System-on-Chip Architecture”, Pearson India, 2015. 
2. Joseph Yiu, “The Definitive Guide to ARM® Cortex®-M3 and Cortex®-M4 Processors”, Third Edition, Newnes, 2013. 
3. Cem Ünsalan , Hüseyin Deniz Gürhan, Mehmet Erkin Yücel, “Embedded System Design with ARM Cortex-M Microcontrollers: Applications with C, C++ and MicroPython”, Springer Cham, 2022. 
4. Yifeng Zhu, Embedded Systems with Arm Cortex-M Microcontrollers in Assembly Language and C, E-Man Press LLC, Fourth Edition, 2023.
5. David A. Patterson, John L. Hennessy, “Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface”, 5th Edition, Morgan Kaufmann, 2014. ARM Microcontroller User Manual.