ARM7 is a group of
32-bit
In computer architecture, 32-bit computing refers to computer systems with a processor, memory, and other major system components that operate on data in 32-bit units. Compared to smaller bit widths, 32-bit computers can perform large calculation ...
RISC
In computer engineering, a reduced instruction set computer (RISC) is a computer designed to simplify the individual instructions given to the computer to accomplish tasks. Compared to the instructions given to a complex instruction set comput ...
ARM processor cores licensed by
ARM Holdings
Arm is a British semiconductor and software design company based in Cambridge, England.
Its primary business is in the design of ARM processors (CPUs). It also designs other chips, provides software development tools under the DS-5, RealView an ...
for
microcontroller
A microcontroller (MCU for ''microcontroller unit'', often also MC, UC, or μC) is a small computer on a single VLSI integrated circuit (IC) chip. A microcontroller contains one or more CPUs (processor cores) along with memory and programmable i ...
use.
[ARM7 Family Webpage; ARM Holdings.](_blank)
/ref> The ARM7 core family consists of ARM700, ARM710, ARM7DI, ARM710a, ARM720T, ARM740T, ARM710T, ARM7TDMI, ARM7TDMI-S, ARM7EJ-S. The ARM7TDMI and ARM7TDMI-S were the most popular cores of the family.
Since ARM7 cores were released from 1993 to 2001, they are no longer recommended for new IC designs; instead ARM Cortex-M or ARM Cortex-R cores are preferred.
Overview
This generation introduced the Thumb 16-bit instruction set providing improved code density compared to previous designs. The most widely used ARM7 designs implement the ARMv4T architecture, but some implement ARMv3 or ARMv5TEJ. ARM7TDMI has 37 registers (31 GPR and 6 SPR). All these designs use a Von Neumann architecture, thus the few versions containing a cache do not separate data and instruction caches.
Some ARM7 cores are obsolete. One historically significant model, the ARM7DI["ARM7DI Data Sheet"; Document Number ARM DDI 0027D; Issued: December 1994.] is notable for having introduced JTAG
JTAG (named after the Joint Test Action Group which codified it) is an Technical standard, industry standard for verifying designs and testing printed circuit boards after manufacture.
JTAG implements standards for on-chip instrumentation in ele ...
based on-chip debugging; the preceding ARM6 cores did not support it. The "D" represented a JTAG TAP for debugging; the "I" denoted an ICEBreaker debug module supporting hardware breakpoints and watchpoints, and letting the system be stalled for debugging. Subsequent cores included and enhanced this support.
It is a versatile processor designed for mobile devices and other low power electronics. This processor architecture is capable of up to 130 MIPS on a typical 0.13 μm process. The ARM7TDMI processor core implements ARM architecture
ARM (stylised in lowercase as arm, formerly an acronym for Advanced RISC Machines and originally Acorn RISC Machine) is a family of reduced instruction set computer (RISC) instruction set architectures for computer processors, configured ...
v4T. The processor supports both 32-bit and 16-bit instructions via the ARM and Thumb instruction sets.
ARM licenses the processor to various semiconductor companies, which design full chips based on the ARM processor architecture.
ARM license
ARM Holdings neither manufactures nor sells CPU devices based on its own designs, but rather licenses the processor architecture to interested parties. ARM offers a variety of licensing terms, varying in cost and deliverables. To all licensees, ARM provides an integratable hardware description of the ARM core, as well as complete software development toolset and the right to sell manufactured silicon containing the ARM CPU.
Silicon customization
Integrated device manufacturers (IDM) receive the ARM Processor IP as synthesizable RTL (written in Verilog). In this form, they have the ability to perform architectural level optimizations and extensions. This allows the manufacturer to achieve custom design goals, such as higher clock speed, very low power consumption, instruction set extensions, optimizations for size, debug support, etc. To determine which components have been included in a particular ARM CPU chip, consult the manufacturer datasheet and related documentation.
Cores
The original ARM7 was based on the earlier ARM6 design and used the same ARMv3 instruction set. The ARM710 variant was used in a CPU module for the Acorn Risc PC
The Risc PC is Acorn Computers's RISC OS/ Acorn RISC Machine computer, launched on 15 April 1994, which superseded the Acorn Archimedes. The Acorn PC card and software allows PC compatible software to be run.
Like the Archimedes, the Risc P ...
, and the first ARM based System on a Chip
A system on a chip or system-on-chip (SoC ; pl. ''SoCs'' ) is an integrated circuit that integrates most or all components of a computer or other electronic system. These components almost always include a central processing unit (CPU), memory ...
designs ARM7100 and ARM7500 used this core.
ARM7TDMI
The ARM7TDMI (ARM7 + 16 bit Thumb + JTAG
JTAG (named after the Joint Test Action Group which codified it) is an Technical standard, industry standard for verifying designs and testing printed circuit boards after manufacture.
JTAG implements standards for on-chip instrumentation in ele ...
Debug + fast Multiplier + enhanced ICE) processor implements the ARMv4 instruction set. It was licensed for manufacture by an array of semiconductor companies. In 2009, it was one of the most widely used ARM cores, and is found in numerous deeply embedded system designs.
Texas Instruments licensed the ARM7TDMI, which was designed into the Nokia 6110, the first ARM-powered GSM phone. This led to the popular series of Nokia phones using the processor, including the 3210 and 3310.
The ARM7TDMI-S variant is the synthesizable core.
ARM7EJ-S
The ARM7EJ-S (ARM7 + Enhanced + Jazelle - Synthesizable) is a version of the ARM7 implementing the ARMv5TE instruction set originally introduced with the more powerful ARM9E core.
Chips
ARM7TDMI or ARM7TDMI-S core
* Analog Devices
Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI), also known simply as Analog, is an American multinational semiconductor company specializing in data conversion, signal processing and power management technology, headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts.
The co ...
AD6720 (used in LG KG130/150), AD6724 (used in LG KP130/135), AD6726 (used in LG KP170/175)
* Atmel
Atmel Corporation was a creator and manufacturer of semiconductors before being subsumed by Microchip Technology in 2016. Atmel was founded in 1984. The company focused on embedded systems built around microcontrollers. Its products included micr ...
AT91M,[Atmel Legacy ARM-Based Solutions; Atmel.](_blank)
/ref> AT91R, AT91SAM7L, AT91SAM7S/SE, AT91SAM7X/XC (see AT91SAM7)
* STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics N.V. commonly referred as ST or STMicro is a Dutch multinational corporation and technology company of French-Italian origin headquartered in Plan-les-Ouates near Geneva, Switzerland and listed on the French stock market. ST ...
STR7
*Alcatel Microelectronics (STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics N.V. commonly referred as ST or STMicro is a Dutch multinational corporation and technology company of French-Italian origin headquartered in Plan-les-Ouates near Geneva, Switzerland and listed on the French stock market. ST ...
) ALCATEL 2840 (MTC-20276 INTQ, MTC-20277 INTT); used in Alcatel One Touch 30x (BE4)
* PortalPlayer PP5002, PP5022 (used in iPods)
* NXP LPC2100, LPC2200, LPC2300, LPC2400
Unreferenced ARM7 core
* ADMtek ADM8628
* Atmel AT91CAP7
* Cirrus Logic CL-PS7110
* Mediatek MT2502 (ARM7 EJ-STM)
* NetSilicon NS7520
* Nuvoton NUC500, NUC700
* LH7
* PortalPlayer 5002, 5003, 5020, 5021-TDF, 5022, 5024 SOCs (dual ARM7TDI cores)
* Samsung S3C46Q0X01-EE8X, S3C44B0X
* Yamaha AICA (ARM7DI) – sound processor with DSP
Notable uses
* Nokia 6110 – first GSM phone to use an ARM processor
* Dreamcast – home video game console (audio coprocessor)
* PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...
- home video game console (security handler)
* Game Boy Advance – handheld video game console
** Nintendo DS
The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens working in tan ...
– successor to the Game Boy Advance
* Zune HD – portable media player
* Roomba
Roomba is a series of autonomous robotic vacuum cleaners made by the company iRobot. Introduced in September 2002, they have a set of sensors that enable them to navigate the floor area of a home. These sensors can detect the presence of obstac ...
– robotic vacuum cleaner
* Lego Mindstorms NXT - 2nd generation robotics toy line from Lego
* iPod
The iPod is a discontinued series of portable media players and multi-purpose mobile devices designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The first version was released on October 23, 2001, about months after the Macintosh version of iTunes ...
– the first 5 generations of the iPod Classic as well as the Mini and first Nano used dual-core ARM7TDMI processors.
See also
* ARM architecture
ARM (stylised in lowercase as arm, formerly an acronym for Advanced RISC Machines and originally Acorn RISC Machine) is a family of reduced instruction set computer (RISC) instruction set architectures for computer processors, configured ...
* List of ARM microarchitectures
* JTAG
JTAG (named after the Joint Test Action Group which codified it) is an Technical standard, industry standard for verifying designs and testing printed circuit boards after manufacture.
JTAG implements standards for on-chip instrumentation in ele ...
* Real-time operating system, Comparison of real-time operating systems
References
External links
*
* Architecture Reference Manual
ARMv4/5/6
* Core Reference Manuals
ARM7DI
http://infocenter.arm.com/help/topic/com.arm.doc.ddi0214b/DDI0214.boom.pdf ARM7EJ-S
ARM7TDMIARM7TDMI-SARM710a
ARM710TARM720TARM740T
* Instructions: Thumb
1
, ARM and Thumb-2
2
, Vector Floating Point
3
* Opcodes: Thumb
1
2
, ARM
3
4
, GNU Assembler Directive
5
Differences between ARM7TDMI and ARM7TDMI-S
A starter's tutorial on ARM assembly
ARM7TDMI Microcontroller Development Resources
- schematics, CAD files, header files
{{Clear
ARM cores
ARMv5 microarchitectures