8-3
INTERRUPT CONTROL UNIT
8.2.1.1
Interrupt Masking
There are circumstances in which a programmer may need to disable an interrupt source tempo-
rarily (for example, while executing a time-critical section of code or servicing a high-priority
task). This temporary disabling is called interrupt masking. All interrupts from the Interrupt Con-
trol Unit can be masked either globally or individually.
The Interrupt Enable bit in the Processor Status Word globally enables or disables the maskable
interrupt request from the Interrupt Control Unit. The programmer controls the Interrupt Enable
bit with the STI (set interrupt) and CLI (clear interrupt) instructions.
Besides being globally enabled or disabled by the Interrupt Enable bit, each interrupt source can
be individually enabled or disabled. The Interrupt Mask register has a single bit for each interrupt
source. The programming can selectively mask (disable) or unmask (enable) each interrupt
source by setting or clearing the corresponding bit in the Interrupt Mask register.
8.2.1.2
Interrupt Priority
One critical function of the Interrupt Control Unit is to prioritize interrupt requests. When multi-
ple interrupts are pending, priority determines which interrupt request is serviced first. In many
systems, an interrupt handler may itself be interrupted by another interrupt source. This is known
as interrupt nesting. With interrupt nesting, priority determines whether an interrupt source can
preempt an interrupt handler that is currently executing.
Each interrupt source is assigned a priority between zero (highest) and seven (lowest). After reset,
the interrupts default to the priorities shown in Table 8-1. Because the timers share an interrupt
source, they also share a priority. Within the assigned priority, each has a relative priority (Timer
0 has the highest relative priority and Timer 2 has the lowest).
Table 8-1. Default Interrupt Priorities
Interrupt Name
Relative Priority
Timer 0
0 (a)
Timer 1
0 (b)
Timer 2
0 (c)
DMA0
1
DMA1
2
INT0
3
INT1
4
INT2
5
INT3
6
Summary of Contents for 80C186XL
Page 1: ...80C186XL 80C188XL Microprocessor User s Manual...
Page 2: ...80C186XL 80C188XL Microprocessor User s Manual 1995...
Page 18: ...1 Introduction...
Page 19: ......
Page 27: ......
Page 28: ...2 Overview of the 80C186 Family Architecture...
Page 29: ......
Page 79: ......
Page 80: ...3 Bus Interface Unit...
Page 81: ......
Page 127: ......
Page 128: ...4 Peripheral Control Block...
Page 129: ......
Page 137: ......
Page 138: ...5 ClockGenerationand Power Management...
Page 139: ......
Page 154: ...6 Chip Select Unit...
Page 155: ......
Page 178: ...7 Refresh Control Unit...
Page 179: ......
Page 193: ......
Page 194: ...8 Interrupt Control Unit...
Page 195: ......
Page 227: ......
Page 228: ...9 Timer Counter Unit...
Page 229: ......
Page 253: ......
Page 254: ...10 Direct Memory Access Unit...
Page 255: ......
Page 283: ......
Page 284: ...11 Math Coprocessing...
Page 285: ......
Page 302: ...12 ONCE Mode...
Page 303: ......
Page 306: ...A 80C186 Instruction Set Additions and Extensions...
Page 307: ......
Page 318: ...B Input Synchronization...
Page 319: ......
Page 322: ...C Instruction Set Descriptions...
Page 323: ......
Page 371: ......
Page 372: ...D Instruction Set Opcodes and Clock Cycles...
Page 373: ......
Page 396: ...Index...
Page 397: ......