SCC.131: Digital Systems - Memory Layout on nRF52833

Flashcards covering memory layout, debugging, and key components of the nRF52833 SoC used in micro:bit, based on lecture notes.

What is the nRF52833 processor built around?

A 64-MHz 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 processor with a Floating-Point Unit (FPU).

How much Flash and RAM memory is the nRF52833 equipped with?

512 KB Flash memory and 128 KB RAM memory.

What is Flash memory?

Non-volatile memory that retains information when power is off, slower than RAM but faster than hard disks.

What is Random Access Memory (RAM)?

Volatile memory that can be static (SRAM) or dynamic (DRAM).

What memory area is used for peripherals and devices (GPIOs)?

Memory shared between the microcontroller and on-board peripherals or external devices.

What is memory mapped IO?

The process that allows the microcontroller to interact with GPIOs by reading from and writing to predefined memory addresses.

What is NOINIT memory?

Memory area that persists across micro:bit resets.

What is UICR?

User Information Configuration Register (reserved).

What is the Storage area used for?

Long term non-volatile data, e.g., calibration data for the sensors.

What is MBR?

Master Boot Record.

What does SD refer to in the memory map?

Memory area that holds information about the Bluetooth low energy (BLE) protocol.

What type of addresses are used by the micro:bit debugger?

Addresses shown by the debugger of a process running on micro:bit.

What is the purpose of the Open On-Chip Debugger (OpenOCD)?

Allows on-chip debugging via the SWD hardware interface of micro:bit.

What is the Cortex debug?

A VS Code extension that offers debugging support for ARM Cortex-M MCUs.

What is the info stack command used for in GDB?

GDB command to examine the stack.

What does the program counter (pc) indicate in the stack frame?

The address that the frame will return to when operation of a function resumes.

What is the function printf used for?

The standard C library function used to output formatted text to the serial port.