Time Processing Unit (TPU) Microcode Programming

 Dates Offered:
No open Class is planned at this time,
PLEASE CONTACT ARNEWSH INC. FOR ONSITE TRAINING

Description: This is a 3-day course covering the features, operation and microcode programming of the Time Processing Unit (TPU), which is an embedded peripheral in a number of Freescale Semiconductor's microcontrollers. The class consists of lecture, in-class exercises, and labs.

Course topics include: TPU Overview, Host Interface, Microcode Overview, Microcode Entry Points, Parameter RAM, Channel Control, TPU Execution Unit, Microengine Sequencing, and the TPU Scheduler. Throughout the course, in-class exercises are presented to reinforce the subject material. During the lab sessions, students gain experience with the development process by writing microcode routines that configure TPU channels to control match events or monitor capture events. Each derived solution is downloaded, executed and debugged to ensure that the program's operation meets stated timing requirements.

Objectives:
  • Obtain essential knowledge of the function and operation of each subsystem within the TPU.
  • Briefly review each of the TPUs standard built-in time primitives.
  • Understand how the TPU emulation mode works.
  • Learn how the TPU channel hardware generates match events and captures transition events.
  • Know how to utilize each of the registers and Parameter RAM in the Host Interface Unit.
  • Understand the purpose and operation of each register within the Execution Unit.
  • Become familiar with the TPU microcode instruction formats, addressing modes, and instruction set.
  • Discover how the TPU obtains the microcode starting address via the entry point table.
  • Learn how the scheduler uses a two-stage priority mechanism to sequence channel service requests.
  • Know how to calculate and analyze worst-case service latencies within the TPU.
  • Create, execute and debug microcode to generate output waveforms and measure input periods or frequencies.
Prerequisites: It is strongly recommended that students have a basic understanding of microcontroller operations. Prior knowledge of MCU architecture, advanced MCU concepts and semi-autonomous peripherals would be helpful. Although not required, it also would be beneficial if students possess previous MCU design experience and familiarity with assembly level programming.

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