Introduction

This application note describes the error correction code (ECC) management and implementation on STM32 microcontrollers.

This document presents both the hardware and software aspects linked to the ECC mechanism used to protect the content of

internal memories. ECC protection with external memories is possible, however, its implementation is out of the scope of this

document.

This document presents: general information about ECC protection, detailed hardware ECC fault management, and details of

how ECC is implemented, with special focus on the STM32H5 and STM32H7 series microcontrollers. This document proposes

a specific implementation of the software part of the safety solution.

This document complements the reference documents, available on www.st.com.

Table 1. Applicable products

Type Products

Microcontroller STM32H5 series, STM32H7 series, STM32U5 series

Error correction code (ECC) management for internal memories protection on

STM32 microcontrollers

AN5342

Application note

AN5342 - Rev 4 - February 2023

For further information contact your local STMicroelectronics sales office.

www.st.com

1 General information

This document applies to STM32H5 series and STM32H7 series microcontrollers, which are Arm

‑based devices.

Note: Arm is a registered trademark of Arm Limited (or its subsidiaries) in the US and/or elsewhere.

Table 2. Acronyms and terms

Acronym Definition

ECC Error correction code

CPU Central processing unit (part of the MCU)

CRC Cyclic redundancy check

DED Double-error detection

DTCM Data-tightly coupled memory

FAR Falling address register

ISR Interrupt service routine

ITCM Instruction tightly coupled memory

MCU Microcontroller unit

MDMA Master direct-memory access

POR Power-on reset

RAM Random access memory

SEC Single-error correction

SRAM Static RAM

Reference documents

[1]

Reference manual STM32H503 Arm

-based 32-bit MCUs (RM0492)

[2]

Reference manual STM32H563/H573 and STM32H562 Arm

-based 32-bit MCUs (RM0481)

[3]

Reference manual STM32H7A3/7B3 and STM32H7B0 Value line advanced Arm

-based 32-bit MCUs (RM0455)

[4]

Reference manual STM32H745/755 and STM32H747/757 advanced Arm

-based 32-bit MCUs (RM0399)

[5]

Reference manual STM32H723/733, STM32H725/735, and STM32H730 Value line advanced Arm

-based 32-bit

MCUs (RM0468)

[6]

Reference manual STM32U5 Series Arm

-based 32-bit MCUs (RM0456)

[7] User manual STM32H7 dual-core safety manual (UM2840)

AN5342

General information

AN5342 - Rev 4

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