CMSIS tools for KEIL - Diversant Software

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CMSIS tools for KEIL

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CMSIS - Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard
The ARM® Cortex™ Microcontroller Software Interface Standard (CMSIS) is a vendor-independent hardware abstraction layer for the Cortex-M processor series. The CMSIS enables consistent and simple software interfaces to the processor and the peripherals, simplifying software re-use, reducing the learning curve for new microcontroller developers and reducing the time to market for new devices.
Creation of software is a major cost factor in the embedded industry. By standardizing the software interfaces across all Cortex-M silicon vendor products, especially when creating new projects or migrating existing software to a new device, means significant cost reductions.

CMSIS diagram
CMSIS diagram

CMSIS defines for a Cortex-M series processor-based system standard software interfaces that provide the following functionality:  
• The CMSIS-CORE defines an API for a complete system and supports all Cortex-M series processors (Cortex-M0, Cortex-M3, Cortex-M4, SC000, andSC300). It provides a system start-up method and functions to access specific processor features and core peripherals. It includes helper functions for print-style output via the CoreSight™ debug unit and defines a debug channel for RTOS kernel-awareness.Each peripheral has a consistent structure that defines the peripheral registers and all interrupts of a device consistently across CMSIS compliant devices.  
• The CMSIS-DSP library includes vector operations, matrix computing, complex arithmetic, filter functions, control functions, PID controller, Fourier transforms and many other frequently used DSP algorithms.  Most algorithms are available in floating-point and various fixed-point formats and are optimized for the Cortex-M series processors.  The Cortex-M4 processor implementation uses the ARM DSP SIMD (Single Instruction Multiple Data) instruction set and floating-point hardware to enable fully the capabilities of the Cortex-M4 processor for signal processing algorithms. The CMSIS-DSP library, written entirely in C and delivered with source code, enables software programmers to adapt algorithms for specific application requirements.
• The CMSIS-RTOS API standardizes the interface to real-time operating systems and extends the benefits of the CMSIS for software components that require RTOS functionality. The unified feature set of the CMSIS-RTOS API simplifies sharing of software components that require a real-time operating system. Middleware, libraries, and other software components that use the CMSIS-RTOS API are RTOS agnostic and are easier to combine and to adapt.
• The CMSIS-SVD System View Description XML specification describes the programmer's view of the microcontroller system including the peripheral registers. SVD files can create the CMSIS-CORE header files that include peripheral register and interrupt definitions. Another use-case is to create peripheral awareness dialogs for debuggers. SVD files for many devices are available for downloaded under the CMSIS-SVD tab.

CMSIS diagram

The CMSIS specification is available for free download. CMSIS documentation and maintenance of the software templates and the DSP Library is provided by ARM.  
CMSIS-RTOS implementations are currently available from:  

  • Keil/ARM provides the RTX Kernel with a CMSIS-RTOS interface under a open-source BSD license. The kernel is adapted for ARMCC, GCC, and IAR compilers.

  • Embed includes the CMSIS-RTOS functionality and even provides a C++ encapsulation of several RTOS functions.    

It is expected that more RTOS vendors will provide CMSIS-RTOS implementations within the next few months.


Download CMSIS RTX Kernel



CMSIS - Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard
The ARM® Cortex™ Microcontroller Software Interface Standard (CMSIS) is a vendor-independent hardware abstraction layer for the Cortex-M processor series. The CMSIS enables consistent and simple software interfaces to the processor and the peripherals, simplifying software re-use, reducing the learning curve for new microcontroller developers and reducing the time to market for new devices.
Creation of software is a major cost factor in the embedded industry. By standardizing the software interfaces across all Cortex-M silicon vendor products, especially when creating new projects or migrating existing software to a new device, means significant cost reductions.

CMSIS Structure

  • Software Layers

  • Download CMSIS

  • CMSIS-SVD

  • CMSIS Partners


The CMSIS consists of the following components:

  • CMSIS-CORE: provides an interface to Cortex-M0, Cortex-M3, Cortex-M4, SC000, and SC300 processors and peripheral registers  

  • CMSIS-DSP: DSP library with over 60 functions in fixed-point (fractional q7, q15, q31) and single precision floating-point (32-bit) implementation

  • CMSIS-RTOS API: standardized programming interface for real-time operating systems for thread control, resource, and time management

  • CMSIS-SVD: System View Description XML files that contain the programmer's view of a complete microcontroller system including peripherals  


The standard is fully scalable to ensure that it is suitable for all Cortex-M processor series microcontrollers. That is everything from the smallest 8 KB device up to devices with sophisticated communication peripherals such as Ethernet or USB. (The memory requirement for the Core Peripheral Functions is less than 1 KB code, less than 10 Bytes RAM).

Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS)

All major vendors of Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) support ARM architecture.
Many embedded systems require software to respond to inputs and events within a defined short period. Such systems can be categorized as hard real-time, where missing a response deadline is unacceptable (for example an anti-lock braking system), and soft real-time, where hitting a deadline is desirable but not critical. In both types of system, a degree of determinism is important.
RTOS is designed to control an embedded system and deliver the real-time responsiveness and determinism required by the controlled device. Applications run under the control of the RTOS, which schedules allocated CPU time.
In modern systems, a RTOS consists not only of a real-time kernel, but also higher-level functions such as device management (USB, UART, Ethernet, LCD, etc.), file systems, protocol stacks (CAN, TCP/IP, HTTP, etc.) and graphical user interfaces (GUI).
See the "RTOS vendors" tab below to see a table of ARM Connected Community Partners whose RTOS support the ARM architecture.

Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS)
Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) Image (View Larger Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) Image)
All major vendors of Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) support ARM architecture.

Many embedded systems require software to respond to inputs and events within a defined short period. Such systems can be categorized as hard real-time, where missing a response deadline is unacceptable (for example an anti-lock braking system), and soft real-time, where hitting a deadline is desirable but not critical. In both types of system, a degree of determinism is important.

RTOS is designed to control an embedded system and deliver the real-time responsiveness and determinism required by the controlled device. Applications run under the control of the RTOS, which schedules allocated CPU time.
In modern systems, a RTOS consists not only of a real-time kernel, but also higher-level functions such as device management (USB, UART, Ethernet, LCD, etc.), file systems, protocol stacks (CAN, TCP/IP, HTTP, etc.) and graphical user interfaces (GUI).

The ARM architecture is particularly well suited to the real-time and deterministic requirements of embedded systems, and the implementation of RTOS running on those systems:

  • Small code footprint, allowing an RTOS to run from onboard memory

  • Fast interrupt response to reduce context switching overhead

  • Semaphore support via exclusive load-and-store instructions

  • SVC instructions and exceptions to support privileged state operation for the RTOS kernel

  • Separate stack pointers for each processor mode for easier memory management

  • Sleep modes to minimize power consumption

Whatever your application, you are sure to find a comprehensive list of RTOS vendors who support the ARM architecture.

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