10.1.1 System Level Interface

The Cortex-M4 processor provides multiple interfaces using AMBA technology to provide high-speed, low-latency memory accesses. It supports unaligned data accesses and implements atomic bit manipulation that enables faster peripheral controls, system spinlocks and thread-safe Boolean data handling.

The Cortex-M4 processor has a memory protection unit (MPU) that provides fine grain memory control, enabling applications to utilize multiple privilege levels, separating and protecting code, data and stack on a task-by-task basis. Such requirements are becoming critical in many embedded applications such as automotive.