Note that the user software can never read any code that is located inside the RWW section dur-
ing 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.
24.3.1
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 (i.e., by a
call/jmp/lpm 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 sec-
tion. 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 com-
pleted, the RWWSB must be cleared by software before reading code located in the RWW
section. See “Store Program Memory Control and Status Register – SPMCSR” on page 270. for
details on how to clear RWWSB.
24.3.2
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.
Table 24-1. Read-While-Write Features
Which Section Can
Which Section does the Z-pointer
Address During the Programming?
be Read During
Programming?
Is the CPU
Halted?
Read-While-Write
Supported?
RWW Section
NRWW Section
None
No
Yes
No
NRWW Section
Yes
266
AT90PWM2/3/2B/3B
4317J–AVR–08/10
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
