Interrupt Handle An interrupt handle is a special program segment stored in memory that is called whenever an interrupt occurs. It acts as a mediator bet...
An interrupt handle is a special program segment stored in memory that is called whenever an interrupt occurs. It acts as a mediator between the hardware and the software, allowing the software to be notified of an interrupt and take appropriate action.
Key characteristics of an interrupt handle:
It is a software location that the processor sets up to be called when an interrupt occurs.
It is usually stored in a specific memory location based on the microprocessor architecture.
It contains the address of the interrupt service routine (ISR).
When an interrupt occurs, the processor sets the interrupt flag in the processor's status register.
The processor then calls the ISR to handle the interrupt.
Examples of interrupt handles:
In the 8085 architecture, the interrupt handler is stored at address 20h.
When an interrupt occurs on a timer interrupt, the ISR address stored in the TLSR (Timer 0 Interrupt Status Register) is loaded into the PC.
The ISR then jumps to the address specified in the TLSR.
Benefits of using interrupt handles:
Efficient communication: Interrupt handles allow the software to be notified of an interrupt quickly and efficiently, minimizing processor overhead.
Flexibility: Different interrupt handlers can be assigned to handle different interrupt sources.
Protection: Interrupt handlers can be used to protect the processor and memory from unauthorized access during an interrupt.
Note: In addition to storing the ISR address, interrupt handles can also contain other information such as interrupt enable flags, flags for specific interrupt sources, and status flags for active interrupts