The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 1982
Filed:
Apr. 02, 1980
Thomas G Gunter, Austin, TX (US);
John E Zolnowsky, Austin, TX (US);
Lester M Crudele, Austin, TX (US);
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Abstract
An integrated circuit data processor receives interrupt level signals from external circuitry which represent a priority level associated with the external circuitry. These signals are compared with signals representing the current operating level of the processor, and an interrupt pending output is generated if (1) the priority level is higher than the operating level; or (2) a maximum priority level is received. Upon the occurrence of the interrupt pending output, the current instruction program is interrupted, and an instruction program associated with the external circuitry is executed. The processor transmits a signal back to the external circuitry indicating that the interrupt request has been granted and receives a vector number from the external circuitry. A first acknowledgment signal from the external circuitry causes the vector number to be latched in the processor. A second acknowledgment signal from the external circuitry causes a vector to be internally generated. Error circuitry is provided to detect spurious interrupts.