Applications:

i) Low-cost microcontrollers:

The cortex M3 processor is ideally suited for low-cost micro controllers, which are commonly used in consumer products. Low power, high performance, ease-of-use are the advantages.

ii) Automotive:

The cortex M3 has high performance efficiency and low interrupt latency, allowing to be used in real time systems.

iii) Data communication:

The processor’s low power and high efficiency, coupled with Thumb-2 instructions, make cortex M3 ideal for many communication applications. (Bluetooth, Zigbee)

iv) Industrial control:

In industrial control applications simplicity, fast response and reliability are key factors. Cortex M3 has low interrupt latency so is best suited.

v) Consumer products:

The cortex M3 is a small processor and is highly efficient and low in power and supports an MPU enabling complex software to execute while providing robust memory protection.

Advantages:

• Many instructions are single cycle.
• Simultaneous data and instruction access can be performed.
• Faster time to market and easier code maintenance.
• Higher code density and reduced memory requirements.
• Instruction fetches are 32bit. More bandwidth is available for data transfer.
• It has advanced interrupt handling features.