ARM System-on-Chip Architecture (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

by Steve Furber (Author)
Key Phrases: processor design, memory hierarchy, assembly language programming, Hello World, Bluetooth Baseband Controller, Project Manager (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The future of the computer and communications industries is converging on mobile information appliances - phones, PDAs, laptops and other devices. The ARM is at the heart of this trend, leading the way in system-on-chip (SoC) development and becoming the processor core of choice for many embedded applications. System-on-chip technology is changing the way we use computers, but it also sets designers the very challenging problem of getting a complex SoC design right first time. ARM System-on-Chip Architecture introduces the concepts and methodologies employed in designing a system-on-chip based around a microprocessor core, and in designing the core itself. Extensive illustrations, based on the ARM, give practical substance to the design principles set out in the book, reinforcing the reader's understanding of how and why SoCs and microprocessors are designed as they are.

ARM System-on-Chip Architecture: · presents and discusses the major issues of system-on-chip design, including memory hierarchy, caches, memory management, on-chip buses, on-chip debug and production test · provides an overview of the ARM processor family, enabling the reader to decide which ARM is best for the job in hand · describes the ARM and Thumb programming models, enabling the designer to begin to develop applications · covers all the latest ARM products and developments, including StrongARM, the ARM9 and ARM10 series of cores, and the ARM-based SoC components at the heart of Ericsson's Bluetooth technology, the Psion Series 5 PDA and Samsung's SGH2400 GSM handset · includes details on the AMULET asynchronous ARM cores and the AMULET3H asynchronous SoC subsystem

ARM System-on-Chip Architecture is an essential handbook for system-on-chip designers using ARM processor cores and engineers working with the ARM. It can also be used as a course text for undergraduate and masters students of computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering.

From the Author
This book was written for professional engineers who need to get up to speed on the ARM microprocessor quickly, and for students who need a reference text for a course on ARM architecture and/or programming.

It complements the ARM datasheets and other technical documentation by providing more context and explanatory material - the datasheets give the 'what' and 'how' of the ARM technology, whereas this book explains 'why' the technology is as it is.

The ARM is widely used in system-on-chip designs as the processing 'engine' at the heart of the system. It is at the forefront of the new wave of mobile systems (mobile phones, personal organisers, digital cameras, MP3 players...) and industrial demand for people with experience in ARM-based hardware and software design experience is very high.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional; 2 edition (August 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201675196
• ISBN-13: 978-0201675191
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #219,486 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #26 in

  Books > Computers & Internet > Hardware > Microprocessors & System Design > Microprocessor Design

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding collection of ARM knowledge!, September 9, 2000

By	Chris C. Kraemer "Kraemer" (Worcester, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is an excellent overall compendium for the ARM processor core. This book is a must for anyone doing embedded design work that has never worked with an ARM core previously. Steve Furber presents the information in a very readable format, but technical enough to capture the important details. The book covers the basic design decisions that went into the ARM originally, the entire ARM family, and then goes on to explain how ARM cores get built into ASICs, and the tools and features of the ARM that make it one of the most powerful embedded cores in the biz.

Other topics include: ARM architecture, complete assembly language listing with explanations and bit encodings, organizational considerations like the ARM 3 and 5 stage instruction pipe-lines, the Thumb instruction set (ARM's answer to CISC code density advantage), peripheral memory and on-board cache considerations (like tuning the system clock to your RAM speed for optimal performance), and others. The book is worth every penny!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent introduction to the ARM, May 8, 2002

By	Dennis Munsie (Woburn, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This is an excellent introductory book for the budding ARM programmer. I bought it because I am trying to learn more about programming for the GameBoy Advance, but that is only one of the many different devices that use the ARM.

For those who are scared by assembly language and the low-level details, this book is a good way to learn without being tossed into the fire.

If you already consider yourself an assembly wizz on another CPU, this book will give you a lot of the details that you might miss otherwise. For example, while the ARM can be coded for in a way similar to the popular x86 line, doing so can lead to very poor code.

The ARM chip is also RISC based, and in the past, RISC meant programmer unfriendly. This book shows you the insides of the most programmer friendly RISC chip you'll ever find.

I say that if you have any interest in programming for an ARM device (and believe me, there are plenty to program for), this should be on your shelf, right next to the documentation from the ARM web site.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect introductory book, January 21, 2001

By	Andrew Swartzbaugh "swartzbaugh" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

I am trying to understand the eCos (embeddable Configurable OS by Red Hat) source code for the Cirruslogic edb7212 development board and this book was the perfect book to read. I'm slowly making headway into the code but without this book, it would have been much slower and much more painful. This book gave me a very good understanding of embedded systems - not just the processor but all the components in an embedded system.

One pleasant surprise was how few mistakes were in the book. I really grinded through the text and found very few mistakes.