CHAPTER 15 - Debug Architecture

Abstract

The chapter describes how the Cortex™-M3 processor provides a comprehensive debugging environment. Based on the nature of operations, the debugging features are classified. A number of debugging components are included in the Cortex-M3 processor. The CoreSight Technology System Design Guide is a useful document for getting an overview of the architecture. However, the debugging system is based on the CoreSight debug architecture, allowing a standardized solution to access debugging controls, gather trace information, and detect debugging system configuration. The CoreSight debug architecture covers a wide area, including the debugging interface protocol, debugging bus protocol, control of debugging components, security features, trace data interface, and more. In addition, a number of sections in the Cortex-M3 Technical Reference Manual are descriptions of the debugging components in Cortex-M3 design. These components are normally used only by debugger software, not by application code. Therefore, brief review these items are useful to have a better understanding of how the debugging system works.