SAM7X256_14 Datasheet, PDF (143/662 Pages) ATMEL Corporation – ARM-based Flash MCU

23. Advanced Interrupt Controller (AIC)
23.1 Overview
The Advanced Interrupt Controller (AIC) is an 8-level priority, individually maskable, vectored interrupt controller,
providing handling of up to thirty-two interrupt sources. It is designed to substantially reduce the software and real-time
overhead in handling internal and external interrupts.
The AIC drives the nFIQ (fast interrupt request) and the nIRQ (standard interrupt request) inputs of an ARM processor.
Inputs of the AIC are either internal peripheral interrupts or external interrupts coming from the product's pins.
The 8-level Priority Controller allows the user to define the priority for each interrupt source, thus permitting higher priority
interrupts to be serviced even if a lower priority interrupt is being treated.
Internal interrupt sources can be programmed to be level sensitive or edge triggered. External interrupt sources can be
programmed to be positive-edge or negative-edge triggered or high-level or low-level sensitive.
The fast forcing feature redirects any internal or external interrupt source to provide a fast interrupt rather than a normal
interrupt.
23.2 Block Diagram
Figure 23-1. Block Diagram
FIQ
IRQ0-IRQn
Embedded
Pe_Erip_mh_be_era_dlE_dE_ed
P_Eer_mip_bhe_er_da_dl _ed
Peripheral
AIC
Up to
Thirty-two
Sources
ARM
Processor
nFIQ
nIRQ
APB
SAM7X Series [DATASHEET]
6120K–ATARM–11-Feb-14
143