Amba 3 APB Protocol: Specification

AMBA 3 APB Protocol
v1.0
Specification
Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved.

ARM IHI 0024B
AMBA 3 APB Protocol
Specification
Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved.

Release Information
Change history
Date Issue Change
25 September 2003 A First release for v1.0
17 August 2004 B Second release for v1.0
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ii Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. ARM IHI 0024B
Confidentiality Status
This document is Open Access. This document has no restriction on distribution.
Product Status
The information in this document is final, that is for a developed product.
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http://www.arm.com
ARM IHI 0024B Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. iii
iv Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. ARM IHI 0024B
Contents
AMBA 3 APB Protocol Specification
Preface
About this specification .................................................................................. x
Feedback ..................................................................................................... xiii
Chapter 1 Introduction
1.1 About the AMBA 3 APB .............................................................................. 1-2
1.2 Changes for AMBA 3 APB Protocol Specification v1.0 ............................... 1-3
Chapter 2 Transfers
2.1 Write transfers ............................................................................................. 2-2
2.2 Read transfers ............................................................................................ 2-4
2.3 Error response ............................................................................................ 2-6
Chapter 3 Operating States

3.1 Operating states .......................................................................................... 3-2
Chapter 4 Signal Descriptions

4.1 AMBA 3 APB signals .................................................................................. 4-2
ARM IHI 0024B Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. v
Contents
vi Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. ARM IHI 0024B
List of Figures
AMBA 3 APB Protocol Specification
Key to timing diagram conventions .............................................................................. xi

Figure 2-1 Write transfer with no wait states .............................................................................. 2-2
Figure 2-2 Write transfer with wait states ................................................................................... 2-3
Figure 2-3 Read transfer with no wait states .............................................................................. 2-4
Figure 2-4 Read transfer with wait states ................................................................................... 2-5
Figure 2-5 Example failing write transfer .................................................................................... 2-6
Figure 2-6 Example failing read transfer .................................................................................... 2-7
Figure 3-1 State diagram ............................................................................................................ 3-2
ARM IHI 0024B Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. vii
List of Figures
viii Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. ARM IHI 0024B
Preface
This preface introduces the Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture (AMBA) 3

Advanced Peripheral Bus (APB) protocol specification. It contains the following
sections:
• About this specification on page x
• Feedback on page xiii.
ARM IHI 0024B Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. ix
Preface
About this specification

This is the specification for the AMBA 3 APB protocol. All references to APB in this
manual refer to AMBA 3 (not AMBA 2 or earlier versions).
Intended audience
This specification is written to help hardware and software engineers to design systems
and modules that are compatible with the APB protocol.
Using this specification
This specification is organized into the following chapters:
Chapter 1 Introduction
Read this chapter for an overview of the APB protocol.
Chapter 2 Transfers
Read this chapter for information about the different types of APB
transfer.
Chapter 3 Operating States

Read this chapter for descriptions of the APB operating states.
Chapter 4 Signal Descriptions

Read this chapter for descriptions of the APB signals.
Conventions
This section describes the conventions that this specification uses:

• Typographical
• Timing diagrams on page xi
• Signals on page xii.
Typographical
This specification uses the following typographical conventions:
italic Highlights important notes, introduces special terminology,

denotes internal cross-references, and citations.
bold Highlights interface elements, such as menu names. Denotes
ARM processor signal names. Also used for terms in descriptive
lists, where appropriate.
x Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. ARM IHI 0024B
Preface
monospace Denotes text that you can enter at the keyboard, such as
commands, file and program names, and source code.
monospace Denotes a permitted abbreviation for a command or option. You

can enter the underlined text instead of the full command or option
name.
monospace italic Denotes arguments to monospace text where the argument is to be

replaced by a specific value.
monospace bold denotes language keywords when used outside example code.
< and > Angle brackets enclose replaceable terms for assembler syntax
where they appear in code or code fragments. They appear in
normal font in running text. For example:
• MRC p15, 0 <Rd>, <CRn>, <CRm>, <Opcode_2>
• The Opcode_2 value selects which register is accessed.
Timing diagrams
The figure named Key to timing diagram conventions explains the components used in
timing diagrams. Variations, when they occur, have clear labels. You must not assume
any timing information that is not explicit in the diagrams.
Shaded bus and signal areas are undefined, so the bus or signal can assume any value
within the shaded area at that time. The actual level is unimportant and does not affect
normal operation.
Clock
HIGH to LOW
Transient
HIGH/LOW to HIGH
Bus stable
Bus to high impedance
Bus change
High impedance to stable bus
Key to timing diagram conventions
ARM IHI 0024B Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. xi
Preface
Signals
The signal conventions are:
Signal level The level of an asserted signal depends on whether the signal is
active-HIGH or active-LOW. Asserted means HIGH for
active-HIGH signals and LOW for active-LOW signals.
Prefix P Denotes AMBA 3 APB signals.
Suffix n Denotes AXI, AHB, and AMBA 3 APB reset signals.
Further reading
This section lists publications that provide additional information about the AMBA 3
protocol family.
ARM periodically provides updates and corrections to its documentation. See

http://www.arm.com for current errata sheets, addenda, and the Frequently Asked
Questions list.
This document contains information that is specific to the APB interface. See the
following documents for other relevant information:
• AMBA AXI Protocol Specification (ARM IHI 0022).
xii Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. ARM IHI 0024B
Preface
Feedback
ARM Limited welcomes feedback on the APB protocol and its documentation.
Feedback on the product
If you have any comments or suggestions about this product, contact your supplier
giving:
• the product name
• a concise explanation of your comments.
Feedback on this specification

If you have any comments on this specification, send email to [email protected] giving:
• the title
• the number
• the relevant page number(s) to which your comments apply
• a concise explanation of your comments.
ARM Limited also welcomes general suggestions for additions and improvements.
ARM IHI 0024B Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. xiii
Preface
xiv Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. ARM IHI 0024B
Chapter 1
Introduction
This chapter provides an overview of the AMBA 3 APB. It contains the following
section:
• About the AMBA 3 APB on page 1-2
• Changes for AMBA 3 APB Protocol Specification v1.0 on page 1-3.
ARM IHI 0024B Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. 1-1
Introduction
1.1 About the AMBA 3 APB

The APB is part of the AMBA 3 protocol family. It provides a low-cost interface that is
optimized for minimal power consumption and reduced interface complexity.
The APB interfaces to any peripherals that are low-bandwidth and do not require the
high performance of a pipelined bus interface. The APB has unpipelined protocol.
All signal transitions are only related to the rising edge of the clock to enable the
integration of APB peripherals easily into any design flow. Every transfer takes at least
two cycles.
The APB can interface with the AMBA Advanced High-performance Bus Lite
(AHB-Lite) and AMBA Advanced Extensible Interface (AXI). You can use it to provide
access to the programmable control registers of peripheral devices.
1-2 Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. ARM IHI 0024B
Introduction
1.2 Changes for AMBA 3 APB Protocol Specification v1.0

This version includes:
• A ready signal, PREADY, to extend an APB transfer. See Chapter 2 Transfers.

• An error signal, PSLVERR, to indicate the failure of a transfer. See Error
response on page 2-6.
Introduction
Chapter 2
Transfers
This chapter describes typical AMBA 3 APB write and read transfers, and the error
response. It contains the following sections:
• Write transfers on page 2-2
• Read transfers on page 2-4
• Error response on page 2-6.
Transfers
2.1 Write transfers

Two types of write transfer are described in this section:
• With no wait states
• With wait states.
2.1.1 With no wait states

Figure 2-1 shows a basic write transfer with no wait states.
T0 T1 T2 T3 T4
PCLK
PADDR Addr 1
PWRITE
PSEL
PENABLE
PWDATA Data 1
PREADY
Figure 2-1 Write transfer with no wait states
The write transfer starts with the address, write data, write signal and select signal all
changing after the rising edge of the clock. The first clock cycle of the transfer is called
the Setup phase. After the following clock edge the enable signal is asserted,
PENABLE, and this indicates that the Access phase is taking place. The address, data
and control signals all remain valid throughout the Access phase. The transfer
completes at the end of this cycle.
The enable signal, PENABLE, is deasserted at the end of the transfer. The select signal,
PSELx, also goes LOW unless the transfer is to be followed immediately by another
transfer to the same peripheral.
2.1.2 With wait states
Figure 2-2 on page 2-3 shows how the PREADY signal from the slave can extend the
transfer. During an Access phase, when PENABLE is HIGH, the transfer can be
extended by driving PREADY LOW. The following signals remain unchanged for the
additional cycles:
• address, PADDR
• write signal, PWRITE
Transfers
• select signal, PSEL

• enable signal, PENABLE
• write data, PWDATA.
T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
PCLK
PADDR Addr 1
PWRITE
PSEL
PENABLE
PWDATA Data 1
PREADY
Figure 2-2 Write transfer with wait states
PREADY can take any value when PENABLE is LOW. This ensures that peripherals
that have a fixed two cycle access can tie PREADY HIGH.
Note
It is recommended that the address and write signals are not changed immediately after
a transfer but remain stable until another access occurs. This reduces power
consumption.
Transfers
2.2 Read transfers

Two types of read transfer are described in this section:
• With no wait states
• With wait states.
2.2.1 With no wait states

Figure 2-3 shows a read transfer. The timing of the address, write, select, and enable
signals are as described in Write transfers on page 2-2. The slave must provide the data
before the end of the read transfer.
T0 T1 T2 T3 T4
PCLK
PADDR Addr 1
PWRITE
PSEL
PENABLE
PRDATA Data 1
PREADY
Figure 2-3 Read transfer with no wait states
2.2.2 With wait states
Figure 2-4 on page 2-5 shows how the PREADY signal can extend the transfer. The
transfer is extended if PREADY is driven LOW during an Access phase. The protocol
ensures that the following remain unchanged for the additional cycles:
• address, PADDR
• write signal, PWRITE
• select signal, PSEL
• enable signal, PENABLE.
Figure 2-4 on page 2-5 shows that two cycles are added using the PREADY signal.
However, you can add any number of additional cycles, from zero upwards.
Transfers
T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
PCLK
PADDR Addr 1
PWRITE
PSEL
PENABLE
PRDATA Data 1
PREADY
Figure 2-4 Read transfer with wait states
Transfers
2.3 Error response

You can use PSLVERR to indicate an error condition on an APB transfer. Error
conditions can occur on both read and write transactions.
PSLVERR is only considered valid during the last cycle of an APB transfer, when
PSEL, PENABLE, and PREADY are all HIGH.
It is recommended, but not mandatory, that you drive PSLVERR LOW when it is not
being sampled. That is, when any of PSEL, PENABLE, or PREADY are LOW.
Transactions that receive an error, might or might not have changed the state of the
peripheral. This is peripheral-specific and either is acceptable. When a write transaction
receives an error this does not mean that the register within the peripheral has not been
updated. Read transactions that receive an error can return invalid data. There is no
requirement for the peripheral to drive the data bus to all 0s for a read error.
APB peripherals are not required to support the PSLVERR pin. This is true for both
existing and new APB peripheral designs. Where a peripheral does not include this pin
then the appropriate input to the APB bridge is tied LOW.
2.3.1 Write transfer
Figure 2-5 shows an example of a failing write transfer that completes with an error.
T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5
PCLK
PADDR Addr 1
PWRITE
PSEL
PENABLE
PWDATA Data 1
PREADY
PSLVERR
Figure 2-5 Example failing write transfer
Transfers
2.3.2 Read transfer

A read transfer can also complete with an error response, indicating that there is no valid
read data available. Figure 2-6 on page 2-7 shows a read transfer completing with an
error response.
T0 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
PCLK
PADDR Addr 1
PWRITE
PSEL
PENABLE
PRDATA
PREADY
PSLVERR
Figure 2-6 Example failing read transfer
2.3.3 Mapping of PSLVERR
When bridging:
From AXI to APB An APB error is mapped back to RRESP/BRESP = SLVERR.
This is achieved by mapping PSLVERR to the AXI signals
RRESP[1] for reads and BRESP[1] for writes.
From AHB to APB PSLVERR is mapped back to HRESP = ERROR for both reads
and writes. This is achieved by mapping PSLVERR to the AHB
signal HRESP[0].
Transfers
Chapter 3
Operating States
This chapter describes the AMBA 3 APB operating states. It contains the following
section:
• Operating states on page 3-2.
Operating States
3.1 Operating states

Figure 3-1 shows the operational activity of the APB.
No transfer
IDLE
PSELx = 0
PENABLE = 0
Transfer
PREADY = 1 SETUP
and no PSELx = 1
transfer PENABLE = 0
PREADY = 1
and transfer
PREADY = 0
ACCESS
PSELx = 1
PENABLE = 1
Figure 3-1 State diagram
The state machine operates through the following states:
IDLE This is the default state of the APB.
SETUP When a transfer is required the bus moves into the SETUP state, where
the appropriate select signal, PSELx, is asserted. The bus only remains
in the SETUP state for one clock cycle and always moves to the ACCESS
state on the next rising edge of the clock.
ACCESS The enable signal, PENABLE, is asserted in the ACCESS state. The
address, write, select, and write data signals must remain stable during
the transition from the SETUP to ACCESS state.
Exit from the ACCESS state is controlled by the PREADY signal from
the slave:
• If PREADY is held LOW by the slave then the peripheral bus
remains in the ACCESS state.
Operating States
• If PREADY is driven HIGH by the slave then the ACCESS state is

exited and the bus returns to the IDLE state if no more transfers are
required. Alternatively, the bus moves directly to the SETUP state
if another transfer follows.
Operating States
Chapter 4
Signal Descriptions
This chapter describes the AMBA 3 APB signals. It contains the following section:
• AMBA 3 APB signals on page 4-2.
Signal Descriptions
4.1 AMBA 3 APB signals

Table 4-1 lists the APB signal descriptions.
Table 4-1 APB signal descriptions
Signal Source Description
PCLK Clock source Clock. The rising edge of PCLK times all transfers on the APB.
PRESETn System bus equivalent Reset. The APB reset signal is active LOW. This signal is normally connected
directly to the system bus reset signal.
PADDR APB bridge Address. This is the APB address bus. It can be up to 32 bits wide and is driven
by the peripheral bus bridge unit.
PSELx APB bridge Select. The APB bridge unit generates this signal to each peripheral bus slave.
It indicates that the slave device is selected and that a data transfer is required.
There is a PSELx signal for each slave.
PENABLE APB bridge Enable. This signal indicates the second and subsequent cycles of an APB
transfer.
PWRITE APB bridge Direction. This signal indicates an APB write access when HIGH and an APB
read access when LOW.
PWDATA APB bridge Write data. This bus is driven by the peripheral bus bridge unit during write
cycles when PWRITE is HIGH. This bus can be up to 32 bits wide.
PREADY Slave interface Ready. The slave uses this signal to extend an APB transfer.
PRDATA Slave interface Read Data. The selected slave drives this bus during read cycles when
PWRITE is LOW. This bus can be up to 32-bits wide.
PSLVERR Slave interface This signal indicates a transfer failure. APB peripherals are not required to
support the PSLVERR pin. This is true for both existing and new APB
peripheral designs. Where a peripheral does not include this pin then the
appropriate input to the APB bridge is tied LOW.
Index
The items in this index are listed in alphabetical order, with symbols and numerics appearing at the end. The
references given are to page numbers.
A I P
ACCESS 3-2 IDLE 3-2 PADDR 4-2
PCLK 4-2
PENABLE 4-2
C N PRDATA 4-2
PREADY 4-2
Changes for this version 1-3 No wait states PRESETn 4-2
Conventions read 2-4 PSELx 4-2
signal naming xii write 2-2 PSLVERR 4-2
timing diagram xi PWDATA 4-2
typographical x PWRITE 4-2
O
E Operating states 3-2 R
ACCESS 3-2
Error response 2-6 diagram 3-2 Read errors 2-7
Error response, read transfer 2-7 IDLE 3-2 Read transfers
Error response, write transfer 2-6 SETUP 3-2 with no wait states 2-4
Errors, mapping 2-7 Overview 1-2 with wait states 2-4
ARM IHI 0024B Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. Index-1
Index
S
SETUP 3-2
Signal descriptions 4-2
Signal naming conventions xii
State machine 3-2
T
Timing diagram conventions xi
Typographical conventions x
W
Wait states
read 2-4
write 2-2
Write errors 2-6
Write transfers
with no wait states 2-2
with wait states 2-2
Index-2 Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved. ARM IHI 0024B

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AMBA 3 APB Protocol

Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2003, 2004. ARM Limited. All rights reserved.

Date Issue Change

25 September 2003 A First release for v1.0

17 August 2004 B Second release for v1.0

AMBA Specification License

This document is Open Access. This document has no restriction on distribution.

The information in this document is final, that is for a developed product.

Chapter 3 Operating States

Chapter 4 Signal Descriptions

Key to timing diagram conventions .............................................................................. xi

This preface introduces the Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture (AMBA) 3

About this specification

Using this specification

This specification is organized into the following chapters:

Chapter 3 Operating States

Chapter 4 Signal Descriptions

This section describes the conventions that this specification uses:

This specification uses the following typographical conventions:

italic Highlights important notes, introduces special terminology,

monospace Denotes a permitted abbreviation for a command or option. You

monospace italic Denotes arguments to monospace text where the argument is to be

Bus to high impedance

High impedance to stable bus

Key to timing diagram conventions

Prefix P Denotes AMBA 3 APB signals.

Suffix n Denotes AXI, AHB, and AMBA 3 APB reset signals.

ARM periodically provides updates and corrections to its documentation. See

Feedback on the product

Feedback on this specification

1.1 About the AMBA 3 APB

1.2 Changes for AMBA 3 APB Protocol Specification v1.0

• A ready signal, PREADY, to extend an APB transfer. See Chapter 2 Transfers.

2.1 Write transfers

2.1.1 With no wait states

Figure 2-1 Write transfer with no wait states

2.1.2 With wait states

• select signal, PSEL

Figure 2-2 Write transfer with wait states

2.2 Read transfers

2.2.1 With no wait states

Figure 2-3 Read transfer with no wait states

2.2.2 With wait states

Figure 2-4 Read transfer with wait states

2.3 Error response

2.3.1 Write transfer

Figure 2-5 Example failing write transfer

2.3.2 Read transfer

Figure 2-6 Example failing read transfer

2.3.3 Mapping of PSLVERR

3.1 Operating states

Figure 3-1 State diagram

The state machine operates through the following states:

IDLE This is the default state of the APB.

• If PREADY is driven HIGH by the slave then the ACCESS state is

4.1 AMBA 3 APB signals

Table 4-1 APB signal descriptions

Signal Source Description