LM3S9792 Datasheet, PDF (212/1279 Pages) Texas Instruments – Stellaris® LM3S9792 Microcontroller

Internal Memory
7.2.2.4
7.2.3
7.2.3.1
7.2.3.2
Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) Error Detection
The CRC technique can be used to validate correct receipt of messages (nothing lost or modified
in transit), to validate data after decompression, to validate that Flash memory contents have not
been changed, and for other cases where the data needs to be validated. A CRC is preferred over
a simple checksum (e.g. XOR all bits) because it catches changes more readily. See the Stellaris®
ROM User’s Guide for more information on CRC.
Flash Memory
At system clock speeds of 50 MHz and below, the Flash memory is read in a single cycle. The Flash
memory is organized as a set of 1-KB blocks that can be individually erased. An individual 32-bit
word can be programmed to change bits from 1 to 0. In addition, a write buffer provides the ability
to concurrently program 32 continuous words in Flash memory. Erasing a block causes the entire
contents of the block to be reset to all 1s. The 1-KB blocks are paired into sets of 2-KB blocks that
can be individually protected. The protection allows blocks to be marked as read-only or execute-only,
providing different levels of code protection. Read-only blocks cannot be erased or programmed,
protecting the contents of those blocks from being modified. Execute-only blocks cannot be erased
or programmed and can only be read by the controller instruction fetch mechanism, protecting the
contents of those blocks from being read by either the controller or by a debugger.
Caution – In systems where the microcontroller is frequently powered for less than five minutes, power
should be removed from the microcontroller in a controlled manner to ensure proper operation. Software
should request permission to power down the part using the USDREQ bit in the Flash Control (FCTL)
register and wait to receive an acknowledge from the USDACK bit prior to removing power.
Prefetch Buffer
The Flash memory controller has a prefetch buffer that is automatically used when the CPU frequency
is greater than 50 MHz. In this mode, the Flash memory operates at half of the system clock. The
prefetch buffer fetches two 32-bit words per clock allowing instructions to be fetched with no wait
states while code is executing linearly. The fetch buffer includes a branch speculation mechanism
that recognizes a branch and avoids extra wait states by not reading the next word pair. Also, short
loop branches often stay in the buffer. As a result, some branches can be executed with no wait
states. Other branches incur a single wait state.
Flash Memory Protection
The user is provided two forms of Flash memory protection per 2-KB Flash memory block in two
pairs of 32-bit wide registers. The policy for each protection form is controlled by individual bits (per
policy per block) in the FMPPEn and FMPREn registers.
■ Flash Memory Protection Program Enable (FMPPEn): If a bit is set, the corresponding block
may be programmed (written) or erased. If a bit is cleared, the corresponding block may not be
changed.
■ Flash Memory Protection Read Enable (FMPREn): If a bit is set, the corresponding block may
be executed or read by software or debuggers. If a bit is cleared, the corresponding block may
only be executed, and contents of the memory block are prohibited from being read as data.
The policies may be combined as shown in Table 7-1 on page 213.
212
June 14, 2010
Texas Instruments-Advance Information