LM3S9B92_11 Datasheet, PDF (306/1386 Pages) Texas Instruments – Stellaris LM3S9B92 Microcontroller

Internal Memory
6.2.3.1
6.2.3.2
6.2.3.3
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 four
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 6-1 on page 306.
Table 6-1. Flash Memory Protection Policy Combinations
FMPPEn
0
1
0
1
FMPREn
0
0
1
1
Protection
Execute-only protection. The block may only be executed and may not be written or erased.
This mode is used to protect code.
The block may be written, erased or executed, but not read. This combination is unlikely to
be used.
Read-only protection. The block may be read or executed but may not be written or erased.
This mode is used to lock the block from further modification while allowing any read or
execute access.
No protection. The block may be written, erased, executed or read.
A Flash memory access that attempts to read a read-protected block (FMPREn bit is set) is prohibited
and generates a bus fault. A Flash memory access that attempts to program or erase a
program-protected block (FMPPEn bit is set) is prohibited and can optionally generate an interrupt
(by setting the AMASK bit in the Flash Controller Interrupt Mask (FCIM) register) to alert software
developers of poorly behaving software during the development and debug phases.
The factory settings for the FMPREn and FMPPEn registers are a value of 1 for all implemented
banks. These settings create a policy of open access and programmability. The register bits may
be changed by clearing the specific register bit. The changes are not permanent until the register
is committed (saved), at which point the bit change is permanent. If a bit is changed from a 1 to a
0 and not committed, it may be restored by executing a power-on reset sequence. The changes
are committed using the Flash Memory Control (FMC) register. Details on programming these bits
are discussed in “Nonvolatile Register Programming” on page 309.
Interrupts
The Flash memory controller can generate interrupts when the following conditions are observed:
306
March 19, 2011
Texas Instruments-Advance Information