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NVIC Controller

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Alejandro Nuñez Velasquez
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28 views2 pages

NVIC Controller

Uploaded by

Alejandro Nuñez Velasquez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The NVIC (Nested Vectored Interrupt Controller) is a key component in ARM Cortex-M

microcontrollers, designed to manage interrupts and facilitate efficient handling


of interrupt requests. It helps ensure that critical tasks are addressed promptly
while allowing lower-priority tasks to be deferred or managed effectively.

### Overview of the NVIC Controller

1. **Purpose**:
- **Interrupt Management**: The NVIC handles the prioritization, routing, and
management of interrupt requests (IRQs) to the CPU. It allows for efficient
response to external events and peripheral signals by the microcontroller.
- **Prioritization**: It supports prioritization of multiple interrupts,
enabling the system to handle more critical tasks before less critical ones.

2. **Key Features**:
- **Vector Table**: NVIC uses a vector table that contains the addresses of
interrupt service routines (ISRs). Each entry in the vector table corresponds to a
different interrupt source.
- **Nested Interrupts**: Allows higher-priority interrupts to preempt lower-
priority ones, enabling the system to respond to critical events more quickly.
- **Interrupt Priorities**: Supports multiple levels of priority for interrupts,
enabling fine-grained control over how interrupts are handled.
- **Preemption and Sub-priorities**: Interrupts can be preempted based on their
priority levels. Some NVIC implementations also support sub-priorities within each
priority level.

3. **Operation**:
- **Interrupt Request**: When a peripheral or external source generates an
interrupt request, the NVIC checks its priority and decides if it should be handled
immediately or deferred.
- **ISR Execution**: The NVIC directs the CPU to the appropriate ISR based on
the interrupt request and its priority. The ISR executes and performs the necessary
operations.
- **Return from ISR**: After handling the interrupt, the NVIC ensures that the
CPU returns to the previously executing task or continues with the next highest-
priority task.

4. **Benefits**:
- **Efficient Handling**: The NVIC allows for fast and efficient handling of
interrupts by managing their priorities and ensuring that critical tasks are
addressed promptly.
- **Flexibility**: Provides flexible interrupt management, including the ability
to dynamically adjust interrupt priorities and enable or disable specific
interrupts.
- **Reduced Latency**: By managing interrupts efficiently, NVIC reduces the
latency between an interrupt request and its handling.

5. **Programming and Configuration**:


- **Interrupt Vector Table**: Developers need to set up the vector table with
the addresses of ISRs. This is usually done in the startup code or linker script.
- **Priority Configuration**: NVIC allows configuration of interrupt priorities
via specific registers. Developers can set the priority levels for each interrupt
source according to the needs of their application.
- **Enable/Disable Interrupts**: Interrupts can be enabled or disabled using
NVIC registers. Developers configure these settings to control which interrupts are
active and how they are handled.

6. **Applications**:
- **Real-Time Systems**: Essential in real-time systems where timely responses
to events are critical. NVIC ensures that high-priority events are handled with
minimal delay.
- **Multitasking**: Facilitates multitasking by allowing different tasks to be
interrupted and managed based on priority levels.
- **Peripheral Management**: Used extensively to handle interrupts generated by
peripherals such as timers, ADCs, and communication interfaces.

### Example Registers and Configuration

- **NVIC_ISER**: Interrupt Set-Enable Register – Used to enable specific


interrupts.
- **NVIC_ICER**: Interrupt Clear-Enable Register – Used to disable specific
interrupts.
- **NVIC_IPR**: Interrupt Priority Register – Configures the priority levels of
interrupts.

In summary, the NVIC controller in ARM Cortex-M microcontrollers is a vital


component for managing interrupts efficiently. It supports prioritized, nested
interrupt handling, which helps ensure that critical events are processed quickly
while allowing lower-priority tasks to be managed effectively. This capability is
crucial for real-time and performance-sensitive applications.

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