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STUDY OF ARM-2378 EVALUATION BOARD

EXPT 1
ARM-2378 DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Introduction

ARM is a 32-bit RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) processor architecture

developed by ARM Corporation. It was previously known as Advanced RISC Machines and
prior to that Acorn RISC Machines. The ARM architecture is licensed to companies that want to
manufacture ARM-based CPUs or system-on-a-chip products. This enables the licensees to
develop their own processors compliant with the ARM instruction set architecture. For
example, the device we are using (LPC21XX) is ARM architecture based SOC product
developed by NXP semiconductors, similarly all major semiconductor manufacturers like
Atmel, Samsung, TI they all make ARM based SOCs. So learning about ARM is pretty cool as
once you are familiar to ARM instruction set you can easily switch between various ARM
based SOCs available in market.

Fig.1. Block Diagram of ARM 7 Microcontroller

LPC-2378 is an ARM-based microcontroller for applications requiring serial

communications for a variety of purposes. This microcontroller incorporate a 10/100 Ethernet
MAC, USB 2.0 Full Speed interface, four UARTs, two CAN channels, an SPI interface, two
Synchronous Serial Ports (SSP), three I2C interfaces, an I2S interface, and a Mini Bus. It has 8bit data/16-bit address parallel bus is available.

Fig.2. Block Diagram of ARM Core CORTEX M3

LPC2378 Micro-controller is based on a 32/16 Bit ARM7TDMI-s CPU with real time
Emulation and Embedded Trace support that combines with the microcontroller with embedded
high-speed 512KB flash memory. It can work with 16-bit Thumb Mode. The ARM7TDMI-S is
a general- purpose 32-bit microprocessor, which offers high performance and very low power
consumption. The ARM architecture is based on Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC)
principles.
The LPC2377/78 microcontrollers are based on a 16-bit/32-bit ARM7TDMI-S CPU with
real-time emulation that combines the microcontroller with 512 kB of embedded high-speed
flash memory. A 128-bit wide memory interface and a unique accelerator architecture enable
32-bit code execution at the maximum clock rate. For critical performance in interrupt service
routines and DSP algorithms, this increases performance up to 30 % over Thumb mode. For
critical code size applications, the alternative 16-bit Thumb mode reduces code by more than 30
% with minimal performance penalty.
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LPC2377/78 is ideal for multi-purpose serial communication applications. It incorporates

a 10/100 Ethernet Media Access Controller (MAC), USB full speed device with 4 kB of
endpoint RAM (LPC2378 only), four UARTs, two CAN channels (LPC2378 only), an SPI
interface, two Synchronous Serial Ports (SSP), three I2C-bus interfaces, an I 2S-bus interface,
and an External Memory Controller (EMC). This blend of serial communications interfaces
combined with an on-chip 4 MHz internal oscillator, SRAM of 32 kB, 16 kB SRAM for
Ethernet, 8 kB SRAM for USB and general purpose use, together with 2 kB battery powered
SRAM make this device suited for communication gateways and protocol converters. Various
32-bit timers, an improved 10-bit ADC, 10-bit DAC, PWM unit, a CAN control unit, and up to
104 fast GPIO lines with up to 50 edge and up to four level sensitive external interrupt pins
make these microcontrollers suitable for industrial control and medical systems.
Features of ARM Processor:
ARM7TDMI-S processor, running at up to 72 MHz.
Up to 512kB on-chip Flash Program Memory with In-System Programming (ISP) and
In-Application Programming (IAP) capabilities. Single Flash sector or full chip erase in
400ms and 256 bytes programming in 1ms. Flash program memory is on the ARM local
bus for high performance CPU access.
Up to 32KB of SRAM on the ARM local bus for high performance CPU access.
16KB Static RAM for Ethernet interface. CAN also be used as general purpose SRAM.
8KB Static RAM for USB interface. CAN also be used as general purpose SRAM.
Dual AHB system that provides for simultaneous Ethernet DMA, USB DMA, and
program execution from on-chip Flash with no contention between those functions. A
bus bridge allows the Ethernet DMA to access the other AHB subsystem.
External memory controller that supports static devices such as Flash and SRAM.
Advanced Vectored Interrupt Controller, supporting up to 32 vectored interrupts.
General Purpose AHB DMA controller (GPDMA) that can be used with the SSP serial
interfaces, the I2S port, and the SD/MMC card port, as well as for memory-to-memory
transfers.
Processor Range:
ARM offers a wide range of processor cores based on a common architecture, that
deliver high performance together with low power consumption and system cost .

The ARM processor range provides solutions for:

Open platforms running complex operating systems for wireless, consumer and imaging
applications.
Embedded real-time systems for mass storage, automotive, industrial and networking
applications.
Secure applications including smart cards and SIMs.
Applications of ARM 2378
With Useful Implemented peripherals, and a broad set of additional on board Peripherals
various applications are possible such as 10/100Mbps Ethernet, MMC/SD, ADC, DAC, RTC,
USB etc.,.
ViARM-2378 Development Board Parts Details
1. NXP LPC2378 Micro controller (TQFP-64 Packaging).
2. Power supply section.
3. UART.
4. CAN Port.
5. Stepper Motor.
6. Relay.
7. USB 2.0 Device Controller.
8. 10/100 Base T Ethernet Connectivity.
9. PS2- Keyboard connector.
10. USB Audio Device.
11. Prog/Exec Switch.
12. Joystick.
13. Accelerometer.
14. 4 x 4 Matrix Keypad.
15. 8 Way DIP switch.
16. LED.
17. SD Card Socket.
18. Analog input Trimmer.
19. 128 x 64 Pixels Graphics LCD
20. J-Tag Connector.
21. ADC, DAC and PWM Expansion slot.
22. 50Pin Expansion Header.
23. J-Trace.
24. Seven Segment Display.
25. Serial EEPROM
26. RTC.

RESULT:

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