77
ATmega8515(L)
2512K–AVR–01/10
External Interrupts
The External Interrupts are triggered by the INT0, INT1, and INT2 pins. Observe that, if
enabled, the interrupts will trigger even if the INT0..2 pins are configured as outputs.
This feature provides a way of generating a software interrupt. The External Interrupts
can be triggered by a falling or rising edge or a low level (INT2 is only an edge triggered
interrupt). This is set up as indicated in the specification for the MCU Control Register –
MCUCR and Extended MCU Control Register – EMCUCR. When the External Interrupt
is enabled and is configured as level triggered (only INT0/INT1), the interrupt will trigger
as long as the pin is held low. Note that recognition of falling or rising edge interrupts on
on INT2 are detected asynchronously. This implies that these interrupts can be used for
waking the part also from sleep modes other than Idle mode. The I/O clock is halted in
all sleep modes except Idle mode.
Note that if a level triggered interrupt is used for wake-up from Power-down mode, the
changed level must be held for some time to wake up the MCU. This makes the MCU
less sensitive to noise. The changed level is sampled twice by the Watchdog Oscillator
clock. The period of the Watchdog Oscillator is 1 s (nominal) at 5.0V and 25
°C. The
frequency of the Watchdog Oscillator is voltage dependent as shown in
“Electrical Char-this sampling or if it is held until the end of the start-up time. The start-up time is defined
level is sampled twice by the Watchdog Oscillator clock but disappears before the end
of the start-up time, the MCU will still wake up, but no interrupt will be generated. The
required level must be held long enough for the MCU to complete the wake up to trigger
the level interrupt.
MCU Control Register –
MCUCR
The MCU Control Register contains control bits for interrupt sense control and general
MCU functions.
Bit 3, 2 – ISC11, ISC10: Interrupt Sense Control 1 Bit 1 and Bit 0
The External Interrupt 1 is activated by the external pin INT1 if the SREG I-bit and the
corresponding interrupt mask in the GICR are set. The level and edges on the external
INT1 pin that activate the interrupt are defined in
Table 40. The value on the INT1 pin is
sampled before detecting edges. If edge or toggle interrupt is selected, pulses that last
longer than one clock period will generate an interrupt. Shorter pulses are not guaran-
teed to generate an interrupt. If low level interrupt is selected, the low level must be held
until the completion of the currently executing instruction to generate an interrupt.
Bit 1, 0 – ISC01, ISC00: Interrupt Sense Control 0 Bit 1 and Bit 0
Bit
7654
321
0
SRE
SRW10
SE
SM1
ISC11
ISC10
ISC01
ISC00
MCUCR
Read/Write
R/W
Initial Value
0000
000
0
Table 40. Interrupt 1 Sense Control
ISC11
ISC10
Description
0
The low level of INT1 generates an interrupt request.
0
1
Any logical change on INT1 generates an interrupt request.
1
0
The falling edge of INT1 generates an interrupt request.
1
The rising edge of INT1 generates an interrupt request.