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:
Feb. 27, 1996
Filed:
Jun. 14, 1994
Michael D Henry, Southampton, GB;
David Leaver, Hassocks, GB;
Neil Wright-Boulton, Ayrshire, GB;
Mark W Hare, Renfrewshire, GB;
Frederick Jackson, Glasgow, GB;
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
An interrupt-driven processor system comprising a processor connected via a plurality of processor input and output lines to a keypad or keyboard. Actuation of one of the keys of the keypad or keyboard generates an interrupt signal on one of the input lines which invokes an interrupt service routine in the processor. A secondary interrupt source can be attached via an interrupt line to each of the input lines with the interrupt service routine being designed to discriminate between an interrupt signal generated by actuation of a key and an interrupt signal generated by a secondary source. Using this technique, further interrupts can be added to an off-the-shelf processor including keypad interrupts without the need for additional interrupt controlling hardware. Furthermore, a custom-built microprocessor can be designed with fewer interrupt pins.