Memory Interface
3-6
Copyright © 2001, 2004 ARM Limited. All rights reserved.
ARM DDI 0210C
Figure 3-2 Nonsequential memory cycle
The ARM7TDMI processor can perform back-to-back, nonsequential memory cycles.
This happens, for example, when an
STR
instruction is executed. If you are designing a
memory controller for the ARM7TDMI core, and your memory system is unable to
cope with this case, use the
nWAIT
signal to extend the bus cycle to allow sufficient
cycles for the memory system. See
Stretching access times
on page 3-29.
3.3.2
Sequential cycles
Sequential cycles are used to perform burst transfers on the bus. This information can
be used to optimize the design of a memory controller interfacing to a burst memory
device, such as a DRAM.
During a sequential cycle, the ARM7TDMI processor requests a memory location that
is part of a sequential burst. For the first cycle in the burst, the address can be the same
as the previous internal cycle. Otherwise the address is incremented from the previous
cycle:
•
for a burst of word accesses, the address is incremented by 4 bytes
•
for a burst of halfword accesses, the address is incremented by 2 bytes.
Bursts of byte accesses are not possible.
A burst always starts with an N-cycle or a merged IS-cycle (see
Nonsequential cycles
on page 3-5), and continues with S-cycles. A burst comprises transfers of the same type.
The
A[31:0]
signal increments during the burst. The other address class signals are
unaffected by a burst.
N-cycle
S-cycle
a
a+4
MCLK
A[31:0]
nMREQ
SEQ
nRAS
nCAS
D[31:0]
Summary of Contents for ARM7TDMI
Page 6: ...Contents vi Copyright 2001 2004 ARM Limited All rights reserved ARM DDI 0210C ...
Page 10: ...List of Tables x Copyright 2001 2004 ARM Limited All rights reserved ARM DDI 0210C ...
Page 14: ...List of Figures xiv Copyright 2001 2004 ARM Limited All rights reserved ARM DDI 0210C ...
Page 46: ...Introduction 1 26 Copyright 2001 2004 ARM Limited All rights reserved ARM DDI 0210C ...
Page 120: ...Coprocessor Interface 4 18 Copyright 2001 2004 ARM Limited All rights reserved ARM DDI 0210C ...
Page 142: ...Debug Interface 5 22 Copyright 2001 2004 ARM Limited All rights reserved ARM DDI 0210C ...
Page 282: ...Glossary Glossary 6 Copyright 2001 2004 ARM Limited All rights reserved ARM DDI 0210C ...