25.3 Read-While-Write and No Read-While-Write Flash Sections
Whether the CPU supports Read-While-Write or if the CPU is halted during a Boot Loader soft-
ware update is dependent on which address that is being programmed. In addition to the two
sections that are configurable by the BOOTSZ Fuses as described above, the Flash is also
divided into two fixed sections, the Read-While-Write (RWW) section and the No Read-While-
Write (NRWW) section. The limit between the RWW- and NRWW sections is given in Table 25-
7 on page 292 and Figure 25-2 on page 282. The main difference between the two sections is:
• When erasing or writing a page located inside the RWW section, the NRWW section can be
read during the operation.
• 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 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.
25.3.1
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 ”SPMCSR – Store Program Memory Control and Status Register” on page 293. for
details on how to clear RWWSB.
25.3.2
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 25-1. Read-While-Write Features
Which Section does the Z-pointer
Address During the Programming?
Which Section Can be
Read During Programming?
Is the
CPU Halted?
Read-While-Write
Supported?
RWW Section
NRWW Section
None
No
Yes
No
NRWW Section
Yes
280
ATmega169P
8018A–AVR–03/06
ATMEL [ ATMEL ]
