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Interrupts (Windows Embedded CE 6.0)

1/6/2010

Most peripheral devices can generate interrupts in order to receive service from the operating system (OS). Some examples of devices that can use interrupts are PC cards, onboard timers, audio input devices, keyboards, touch screens, and pointing devices. Nearly any type of peripheral device might use interrupts as the principle method of initiating servicing actions by the OS. Because these peripheral devices can cause or signal interrupts, their device drivers must process interrupts in order to service their devices. Physical interrupts (IRQs) are hardware lines over which devices can send interrupt signals to the microprocessor. Logical interrupts (SYSINTRs) are a mapping of the IRQ, which the OAL specifies.

Note

Some peripheral devices do not generate interrupts to the microprocessor. In this case, the peripheral device's controller processes the interrupts.

In This Section

  • Interrupt Service Routines
    Describes interrupt service routines (ISRs) and installable ISRs and how they interact with interrupt service threads (ISTs).
  • Real-Time Priority System
    Describes the real-time priority system, the priority levels associated with various operating system threads, and the thread priority levels available for other threads.

See Also

Concepts

Device Driver Development Concepts