Interrupt

Handling on the
8051

Submitted to:- Mrs SARIKA MAM

SUBMITTED BY:-JATIN AGARWAL
What is microcontroller 8051 ?

A microcontroller is a compact integrated

circuit that combines a processor (CPU),
memory, input/output peripherals, and
timers on a single chip. It is designed for
specific tasks and is commonly used in
embedded systems, where it performs
dedicated functions
Introduction of interrupts :-

Interrupts are crucial mechanisms in

microcontroller-based systems that allow
the microcontroller to respond swiftly to
external events or internal conditions.
They serve as a way to temporarily
interrupt the execution of the main
program and divert the processor's
attention to handle a specific task or
event.
 Structure of interrupts :-
•the five interrupt sources in the 8051:
External Interrupt 0 (INT0)
External Interrupt 1 (INT1)
Timer 0 Overflow Interrupt
Timer 1 Overflow Interrupt
Serial Communication Interrupt (RI/TI)
 Structure of interrupts :-
•Interrupt Sources:
• These are events or conditions that trigger interrupts. Examples include external hardware signals (e.g., button presses, sensor inputs), internal events (e.g., timer overflows, serial data
reception), and software-generated interrupts.
•Interrupt Vector Table:
• An interrupt vector table is a data structure that maps each interrupt source to a specific memory address where the corresponding interrupt service routine (ISR) is located.
• When an interrupt occurs, the microcontroller consults this table to determine which ISR to execute.
•Control Registers:
• Control registers are used to enable or disable interrupts, set interrupt priorities, and configure interrupt-related settings.
• Common control registers include:
• Interrupt Enable Register (IE): Used to enable or disable specific interrupt sources.
• Interrupt Priority Register (IP): Assigns priority levels to interrupts.
• Global Interrupt Enable (GIE) Bit: Enables or disables all interrupts at once.
•Interrupt Service Routines (ISRs):
• ISRs are the actual code that gets executed in response to an interrupt.
• Each interrupt source has its associated ISR, which handles the specific event or condition.
• ISRs should be short, efficient, and focused on the task at hand, as they run in response to real-time events.
•Interrupt Handling Mechanism:
• The microcontroller's CPU has an interrupt handling mechanism that temporarily suspends the execution of the main program to process an interrupt.
• When an interrupt occurs, the processor saves its current state (context), jumps to the address specified in the interrupt vector table, executes the corresponding ISR, and then returns to
the main program.
•Priority Levels:
• Some microcontrollers support prioritizing interrupts. This means that, in case multiple interrupts occur simultaneously, the one with the highest priority gets processed first.
• Prioritization is often determined using control registers like IP, where higher values indicate higher priority.
•Nesting of Interrupts:
• Some microcontrollers support nesting of interrupts, allowing a higher-priority interrupt to preempt a lower-priority interrupt, even if it's already in the process of handling another
interrupt.
•Error Handling:
• The interrupt structure also plays a role in error handling, as it allows the microcontroller to respond to and recover from errors in real-time
 TYPES OF INTERRUPTS :-
1. External Interrupt 0 (INT0):
INT0 is generated by external hardware.
1. It's triggered by a low-to-high transition on the INT0 (P3.2) pin or can be configured to respond to a falling edge.
2. Often used to detect external events, such as button presses or sensor inputs.
2. External Interrupt 1 (INT1):
1. INT1 is another external hardware interrupt.
2. It's triggered by a low-to-high transition on the INT1 (P3.3) pin or can be configured to respond to a falling edge.
3. Like INT0, INT1 is used to detect external events or conditions.
3. Timer 0 Overflow Interrupt:
1. Timer 0 is one of the two timers available in the 8051 microcontroller.
2. This interrupt is generated when Timer 0 overflows from 0xFF to 0x00.
3. It's useful for time-keeping and timing-related tasks.
4. Timer 1 Overflow Interrupt:
1. Timer 1 is the second timer available in the 8051.
2. Similar to the Timer 0 overflow interrupt, this is generated when Timer 1 overflows.
3. Timer 1 can be used for different timing and counting purposes.
5. Serial Communication Interrupt (RI/TI):
1. The 8051 microcontroller has a built-in UART for serial communication.
2. It supports two interrupts related to serial communication:
1. Receiver Interrupt (RI): This interrupt is set when data has been received and is available for reading.
2. Transmitter Interrupt (TI): TI is set when the UART is ready to transmit data.
3. These interrupts are crucial for efficient serial data communication
 WHAT IS ISR AND HOW TO WRITE IT?

An ISR, or Interrupt Service Routine, is a block of code that is executed in response to a specific interrupt event in a microcontroller or computer system. Interrupts are used to
handle time-sensitive or external events, such as hardware signals, and provide a way to respond to these events without constantly polling for them. ISRs are typically written
in assembly language or a high-level programming language like C, depending on the platform and the development environment.
Here's a general process for writing an ISR:
Select the Appropriate Interrupt Source:
Identify the specific event or condition that you want to respond to with an interrupt.
Determine which interrupt source is associated with that event. This may be an external hardware pin, a timer overflow, a serial communication event, or some other source.
Define the ISR:
In your code, define a function or routine that will serve as the ISR. The ISR should have a specific name and should be marked as an interrupt service routine based on the
programming language and platform. For example, in C for an AVR microcontroller, you can use the ISR() macro.
Write the ISR Code:
Inside the ISR, write the code to handle the specific event or condition. This code should be concise, efficient, and tailored to the interrupt source. It should perform the
necessary actions or computations associated with the event.
Enable the Interrupt:
In the setup phase of your program, configure the microcontroller or system to enable the specific interrupt source. This typically involves setting the appropriate control
registers, enabling global interrupts (if supported), and configuring any interrupt priorities.
Save and Restore Context (if necessary):
In some cases, you may need to save and restore the context of the main program before and after the ISR execution. This includes preserving the state of registers and
memory locations that may be altered by the ISR. Not all ISRs require this step.
Return from Interrupt:
End the ISR with an appropriate instruction that indicates the completion of the ISR. The specific instruction can vary depending on the platform, but common ones include
RETI (Return from Interrupt) in assembly language or return; in C.
Integrate with the Main Program:
Make sure that your main program runs continuously, and the ISR is executed when the associated interrupt event occurs. The microcontroller's hardware will automatically
invoke the ISR when the interrupt source is triggered.
Testing and Debugging:
Thoroughly test the ISR to ensure that it responds correctly to the interrupt events. Debugging tools and techniques can be used to identify and fix any issues.
• What are the importance of interrupts?

Real-time Responsiveness: Interrupts enable microcontrollers to respond to time-sensitive events in real-time.

For example, they can quickly react to sensor input changes or external signals, making them ideal for applications
where timing is critical.
Efficiency: Instead of continuously polling input signals or status flags, interrupts allow the microcontroller to
conserve processing power by only executing code when an event occurs. This efficiency is essential for energy-
constrained applications.
Multi-Tasking: Interrupts facilitate multitasking within a microcontroller. By handling various tasks through
interrupts, the microcontroller can efficiently manage multiple operations simultaneously.
Modularity: Interrupts help in breaking down complex tasks into manageable pieces of code. Each interrupt
service routine (ISR) can be designed to handle a specific event or condition, improving code modularity and
maintainability.
Error Handling: They are essential for error detection and recovery. Interrupts can be used to detect and respond
to hardware or software errors promptly.
Focus on 8051 Microcontroller: In this presentation, we will delve deeper into the concept of interrupts, focusing
specifically on how interrupts work in the 8051 microcontroller. We will explore the interrupt structure of the 8051,
the types of interrupts it supports, how to enable and disable interrupts, and the steps involved in handling
interrupts effectively. Understanding interrupts in the context of the 8051 microcontroller is fundamental for
embedded systems development and real-time applications.
Advantages:
Real-time Responsiveness: Interrupts enable immediate
response to external events or conditions. This real-time
behavior is essential for applications like data acquisition, control
systems, and communication.
Efficiency: Rather than continuously polling inputs or status
flags, interrupts allow a microcontroller to remain in a low-power
state until an event occurs. This results in efficient power
consumption.
Multi-Tasking: Interrupts enable multitasking by allowing the
microcontroller to handle various tasks simultaneously. This is
particularly useful in systems that require simultaneous
monitoring of different inputs or sensors.
Modularity: Interrupts help break complex tasks into
manageable sections. Each interrupt service routine (ISR) can
focus on a specific event or condition, improving code
modularity and maintainability.
Error Handling: Interrupts are crucial for error detection and
recovery. They enable immediate responses to error conditions,
which is vital for safety-critical applications.
Synchronization: Interrupts can facilitate synchronization in
systems where different tasks or devices need to work together.
For example, they can be used to ensure data is available before
a device processes it.
Disadvantages:
Complexity: Handling interrupts adds complexity to code. The
need to manage context switching and potential race conditions
can make software more challenging to develop and debug.
Resource Consumption: Interrupt handling consumes
system resources like CPU cycles and memory, which may
affect overall system performance and resource availability for
other tasks.
Prioritization Challenges: When multiple interrupts occur
simultaneously, prioritizing them correctly can be complex.
Poorly managed priorities can lead to critical tasks being
delayed.
Race Conditions: Race conditions may occur when multiple
interrupts affect the same resource concurrently. Careful
synchronization mechanisms are required to prevent data
corruption or incorrect results.
Debugging and Testing: Debugging interrupt-driven code
can be challenging because it's challenging to predict when an
interrupt will occur. This can make it more challenging to
reproduce and trace bugs.
Code Size: Implementing interrupt handling in some
microcontrollers may lead to an increase in code size, which
can be a concern in memory-constrained applications.
 Interrupt Handling Process

The interrupt hand l ing process involves several

steps: interrupt detection, interrupt
acknowledgment, context saving, ISR
execution, a n d context restoration. Each step
plays a vital role in ensuring efficient interrupt
hand l ing a n d m i n i m i z i n g the i m p a c t o n the
m a i n p ro g ra m execution.
 Conclusion
In conclusion, efficient interrupt handling is crucial for
maximizing microcontroller efficiency. By understanding the
intricacies of interrupt handling on the 8051 microcontroller
and implementing optimization techniques, we can
significantly enhance the performance and responsiveness of
our embedded systems.
Thanks!