9. Interrupt Mechanisms

Try these first

1. 1.

   What is an interrupt?

   Hint

   Think about how signals inform the CPU when to stop and start tasks.

2. 2.

   What are maskable interrupts?

   Hint

   Consider which interrupts might not need immediate attention.

3. 3.

   What is the purpose of an interrupt?

   • To ignore peripheral signals
   • To allow immediate CPU response to urgent tasks
   • To create new software commands

   Hint

   Think about what happens when a hardware signal requests CPU's immediate attention.

4. 4.

   True or False: Non-maskable interrupts can be ignored by the CPU.

   • True
   • False

   Hint

   Consider the name 'non-maskable'.

5. 5.

   Assess the impact of interrupt prioritization in a system with various I/O operations and how it affects real-time performance.

   Hint

   Consider how prioritizing tasks affects system responsiveness.

6. 6.

   Design an efficient ISR for a hardware interrupt triggered by an external sensor that requires fast processing without causing significant CPU latency.

   Hint

   Think about what the ISR needs to accomplish versus what can wait.