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Getting started with ARM hardware development.

Liam Dale
Note: This was originally posted on 28th June 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

I have been spending a lot of time in the last two years learning to use arm devices, writing code for them etc.

I have built various little projects which use arm SOC to finish projects.

However, I have reached a point where I would like to start from scratch with hardware development. What I would like is if someone could point me to a book or online reference which is an introduction to building my own ARM devices, and how I hook the chip up to other components etc.

I am sure someone here will know where I should go for this as we all have to start somewhere. I am not Naive, I don't intend on trying to create the next major piece of hardware on the market, I just want to be able to do this as I see it as a skill that I would love to have. Eventually I would really like to be able to build something that I can run a version of android on, just to see how these systems work etc.

Thanks in advance.
  • Note: This was originally posted on 28th June 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

    Hi LDale and welcome!
    What kind of ARM SoC did you work on? Microcontrollers (ARM Cortex-M) or more applications processors (Cortex-A, Cortex-R)
    I believe the problem you're most likely to encounter with apps processors is the cost/difficulty to assemble the board. I mean routing and putting a 300+ BGA package on a PCB is not the easiest :)
    Cheers,
    Alban
  • Note: This was originally posted on 28th June 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

    I have used all of these but on pre built dev boards, I would like to be able to start looking at the process involved in building my own, as I feel this is my next step in developing my skills. The development on the software side is something I have experience with, but I would like to read up on the hardware development side of things here.

    Is there any literature available?
  • Note: This was originally posted on 29th June 2012 at http://forums.arm.com

    Hello,
    If you wish to develop hardware for the first time, my personal advice would be to start with "through" components which are easier to solder.
    The device manufacturer would give you examples in the form of schematics/layout suggestion for power supplies and oscillator, some reference designs for an application.
    I believe Texas Instruments Stellaris® and NXP LPC families have Cortex-M microcontrollers available in DIP. These microcontrollers would run limited Linux (ie. ucLinux), not a full Android.
    Finally, what I feel would be a good place to start is take a look at the schematics of the boards you currently use. It will give you examples on how to interface with I/Os, how to interface a screen and how to do power supplies too. But to understand the schematics, you would probably need some hardware electronics background.
    Kindly, Alban