| General information | |
|---|---|
| Designed by | ARM Holdings |
| Architecture and classification | |
| Instruction set | ARM (32-bit) (ARMv3) |
| Architecture and classification | |
|---|---|
| Instruction set | ARM (32-bit), Thumb (16-bit) (ARMv4T) |
 | |
| Architecture and classification | |
|---|---|
| Instruction set | ARM (32-bit), Thumb (16-bit), Jazelle (8-bit) (ARMv5TEJ) |
ARM7 is a group of32-bitRISCARM processor cores licensed byARM Holdings formicrocontroller use.[1] The ARM7 core family consists of ARM700, ARM710, ARM7DI, ARM710a, ARM720T, ARM740T, ARM710T, ARM7TDMI, ARM7TDMI-S, ARM7EJ-S. The ARM7TDMI and ARM7TDMI-S were the most popular cores of the family.
ARM7 cores were released from 1993 to 2001.[1]
This generation introduced the Thumb 16-bit instruction set providing improved code density compared to previous designs. The most widely used ARM7 designs implement the ARMv4T architecture, but some implement ARMv3 or ARMv5TEJ. ARM7TDMI has 37 registers (31 GPR and 6 SPR). All these designs use aVon Neumann architecture,[citation needed] thus the few versions containing a cache do not separate data and instruction caches.
Some ARM7 cores are obsolete. One historically significant model, theARM7DI[2] is notable for having introducedJTAG based on-chip debugging; the preceding ARM6 cores did not support it. The "D" represented a JTAG TAP for debugging; the "I" denoted an ICEBreaker debug module supporting hardware breakpoints and watchpoints, and letting the system be stalled for debugging. Subsequent cores included and enhanced this support.
It is a versatile processor designed for mobile devices and other low power electronics. This processor architecture is capable of up to 130MIPS on a typical0.13 μm process. The ARM7TDMI processor core implementsARM architecturev4T. The processor supports both 32-bit and 16-bit instructions via the ARM and Thumb instruction sets.
ARM licenses the processor to various semiconductor companies, which design full chips based on the ARM processor architecture.
ARM Holdings neither manufactures nor sells CPU devices based on its own designs, but rather licenses the processor architecture to interested parties. ARM offers a variety of licensing terms, varying in cost and deliverables. To all licensees, ARM provides an integratable hardware description of the ARM core, as well as complete software development toolset and the right to sell manufacturedsilicon containing the ARM CPU.
Integrated device manufacturers (IDM) receive the ARM ProcessorIP assynthesizableRTL (written inVerilog). In this form, they have the ability to perform architectural level optimizations and extensions. This allows the manufacturer to achieve custom design goals, such as higher clock speed, very low power consumption, instruction set extensions, optimizations for size, debug support, etc. To determine which components have been included in a particular ARM CPU chip, consult the manufacturer datasheet and related documentation.
| Year | ARM7 Cores |
|---|---|
| 1993 | ARM700 |
| 1994 | ARM710 |
| 1994 | ARM7DI |
| 1994 | ARM7TDMI |
| 1995 | ARM710a |
| 1997 | ARM710T |
| 1997 | ARM720T |
| 1997 | ARM740T |
| 2001 | ARM7TDMI-S |
| 2001 | ARM7EJ-S |
The original ARM7 was based on the earlier ARM6 design and used the same ARMv3 instruction set. The ARM710 variant was used in a CPU module for the AcornRisc PC, and the first ARM basedSystem on a Chip designs ARM7100 and ARM7500 used this core.
The ARM7TDMI (ARM7 +16 bitThumb +JTAGDebug + fastMultiplier + enhancedICE) processor implements the ARMv4 instruction set. It was licensed for manufacture by an array ofsemiconductor companies. In 2009, it was one of the most widely used ARM cores, and is found in numerous deeply embedded system designs. It was used in the popular video game consoleGame Boy Advance.
Texas Instruments licensed the ARM7TDMI, which was designed into theNokia 6110, the first ARM-powered GSM phone.[3] This led to the popular series of Nokia phones using the processor, including the3210 and3310.[4]
TheARM7TDMI-S variant is thesynthesizable core.
The ARM7EJ-S (ARM7 +Enhanced +Jazelle -Synthesizable) is a version of the ARM7 implementing the ARMv5TE instruction set originally introduced with the more powerful ARM9E core.
[...] the ARM7-TDMI was licensed by Texas Instruments and designed into the Nokia 6110, which was the first ARM-powered GSM phone.
