Direct Memory Access (DMA)

In this chapter, we will explore Direct Memory Access (DMA), a powerful feature in microcontrollers that allows peripherals to transfer data to and from memory without involving the CPU. This functionality is critical for improving data throughput and freeing up the CPU to handle other tasks, making it fundamental to high-performance embedded system development.

We will begin by understanding the basic principles of DMA and its significance in embedded systems. We will then delve into the specifics of the DMA controller in STM32F4 microcontrollers, examining its structure and features and how it manages data transfers. Following this, we will apply this theoretical knowledge to develop practical DMA drivers for various use cases, including memory-to-memory transfers, Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) data transfers, and Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter (UART) communications.

In this chapter, we will cover the following main topics:

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