ARM Cortex-A15 MPCore Processor Technical Reference Manual

IntroductionThe ARM product deliverables include reference scripts and information aboutusing them to implement your design. Reference methodology flows supplied byARM are example reference implementations. For EDA tool support, contactyour EDA vendor.The CSG is a confidential book that is only available to licensees.1.6.2 Design flowThe Cortex-A15 MPCore processor is delivered as synthesizable RTL. Before the processor canbe used in a product, it must go through the following process:ImplementationThe implementer configures and synthesizes the RTL to produce a hardmacrocell. This might include integrating the cache RAMs into the design.Integration The integrator connects the configured design into a SoC. This includesconnecting it to a memory system and peripherals.ProgrammingThis is the last process. The system programmer develops the SoC:• Software required to configure the Cortex-A15 MPCore processor.• Software required to initialize the Cortex-A15 MPCore processor.• Application software and the SoC tests.Each process:• Can be performed by a different party.• Can include implementation and integration choices that affect the behavior and featuresof the Cortex-A15 MPCore processor.The operation of the final device depends on:Build configurationThe implementer chooses the options that affect how the RTL source files arepre-processed. These options usually include or exclude logic that can affect oneor more of the area, maximum frequency, and features of the resulting macrocell.Configuration inputsThe integrator configures some features of the Cortex-A15 MPCore processor bytying inputs to specific values. These configurations affect the start-up behaviorbefore any software configuration is made. They can also limit the optionsavailable to the software.Software configurationThe programmer configures the Cortex-A15 MPCore processor by programmingparticular values into registers. This affects the behavior of the Cortex-A15MPCore processor.NoteThis manual refers to implementation-defined features that apply to build configuration options.Reference to a feature that is included means that the appropriate build and pin configurationoptions have been selected. Reference to an enabled feature means that the feature has also beenconfigured by software.ARM DDI 0438I Copyright © 2011-2013 ARM. All rights reserved. 1-10ID062913Non-Confidential