Datasheet

Table Of Contents
311
ATmega640/V-1280/V-1281/V-2560/V-2561/V [DATASHEET]
2549Q–AVR–02/2014
When erasing or writing a page located inside the NRWW section, the CPU is halted during the entire
operation
Note that the user software can never read any code that is located inside the RWW section during a Boot Loader
software operation. The syntax “Read-While-Write section” refers to which section that is being programmed
(erased or written), not which section that actually is being read during a Boot Loader software update.
29.3.1 RWW – Read-While-Write Section
If a Boot Loader software update is programming a page inside the RWW section, it is possible to read code from
the Flash, but only code that is located in the NRWW section. During an on-going programming, the software must
ensure that the RWW section never is being read. If the user software is trying to read code that is located inside
the RWW section (that is, by load program memory, call, or jump instructions or an interrupt) during programming,
the software might end up in an unknown state. To avoid this, the interrupts should either be disabled or moved to
the Boot Loader section. The Boot Loader section is always located in the NRWW section. The RWW Section Busy
bit (RWWSB) in the Store Program Memory Control and Status Register (SPMCSR) will be read as logical one as
long as the RWW section is blocked for reading. After a programming is completed, the RWWSB must be cleared
by software before reading code located in the RWW section. See “SPMCSR – Store Program Memory Control
and Status Register” on page 323. for details on how to clear RWWSB.
29.3.2 NRWW – No Read-While-Write Section
The code located in the NRWW section can be read when the Boot Loader software is updating a page in the
RWW section. When the Boot Loader code updates the NRWW section, the CPU is halted during the entire Page
Erase or Page Write operation.
Figure 29-1. Read-While-Write vs. No Read-While-Write
Table 29-1. Read-While-Write Features
Which Section does the Z-pointer
Address during the Programming?
Which Section can be
Read during Programming? CPU Halted?
Read-While-Write
Supported?
RWW Section NRWW Section NoYes
NRWW Section None Yes No
Read-While-Write
(RWW) Section
No Read-While-Write
(NRWW) Section
Z-pointer
Addresses RWW
Section
Z-pointer
Addresses NRWW
Section
CPU is Halted
During the Operation
Code Located in
NRWW Section
Can be Read During
the Operation