Computer Interfacing

4 Interrupts

A computer can only perform a useful function by inter-

acting with the real world around it, which really means

with its peripherals. To perform this process of interac-

tion it must be able to communicate with these

peripherals, either to know when they need attention or

to pass data to them. A common way of establishing this

necessary means of communication is by the method of

interrupts. The interrupt technique forces the compu-

ter to respond to a request from a peripheral, at a specific

time,

whether because the particular peripheral needs

to pass data to the computer or requires data from it. To

see more clearly how interrupt ...