International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 888) Volume 48 No.

6, June 2012

FPGA Implementation of Interrupt Controller (8259) by using Verilog HDL

L. Padma Sree, PhD.
Professor Department of ECE,VNR VJIET Hyderabad, India

Bekkam Satheesh
M.Tech, VLSI Department of ECE,VNR VJIET Hyderabad, India

N. Dhanalakshmi
Associate Professor Department of ECE,VNR VJIET Hyderabad, India

ABSTRACT
A Priority Interrupt Controller is a hardware designed chip which acts as an overall system manager to efficiently handle the multiple interrupts that tend to occur from the varied number of peripheral devices. Hence, it relieves the systems CPU from the task of polling in a multilevel priority system. This paper deals with implementation of a Priority Interrupt Controller using Verilog language. During the implementation, the Verilog code has been written for all the internal registers of the Priority Interrupt Controller so that it can accomplish its task of prioritizing the various interrupts and thereby increasing the efficiency of the processor. In this paper the entire functional block was sub divided into various modules like vector address module, command register module, mask register module and finally it was integrated into a single unit to accomplish specified tasks. In the present work the Priority Interrupt Controller was made to operate in three different modes-Fully Nested Mode, Rotating Priority Mode, and Special Mask Mode.

2. IMPLEMENTATION
The Priority Interrupt Controller 82C59A is divided into various modules like Vector Address Module, Mask Register Sub module, Mask Register Module, Command Register Module, Interrupt Modes Module. All the codes of the modules are integrated using a Top Module and waveforms for various modes - Fully Nested Mode, Rotating Priority Mode, and Special Mask Mode have been obtained. The powerful features of the 82C59A in a microcomputer system are its programmability and the interrupt routine addressing capability. The latter allows direct or indirect jumping to the specified interrupt routine requested without any polling of the interrupting devices. The normal sequence of events during an interrupt depends on the type of CPU being used.

2.1 Top Module

The Fig 1: shows the top module of The Priority Interrupt Controller 82C59A.

Keywords
FPGA, Fully Nested Mode, Interrupt Controller, Rotating Priority Mode, Special Mask Mode.

1. INTRODUCTION
The Programmable Interrupt Controller functions as an overall manager in an Interrupt-Driven system. It accept requests from the peripheral equipment, determines which of the incoming requests is of the highest priority, ascertains whether the incoming request has a higher priority value than the level currently being serviced, and issues an interrupt to the CPU based on this determination. Each peripheral device or structure usually has a special program or routine that is associated with its specific functional or operational requirements; this is referred to as a service routine. The Priority Interrupt Controller, after issuing an interrupt to the CPU, must some how input information into the CPU that can point the Program Counter to the service routine associa ted with the requesting device. This pointer is an address in a vectoring table and is referred to as vectoring data. This Priority Interrupt Controller is a device specifically designed for use in real time, interrupt driven microcomputer systems. It manages eight levels of requests and has built-in features for expandability to other 82C59As that is up to 64 levels. It is programmed by system software as an I/O peripheral. A selection of priority modes is available to the programmer so that the manner in which the requests are processed by the Priority Interrupt Controller (82C59A) can be configured to match system requirements. The priority modes can be changed or reconfigured dynamically at any time during main program operation.

RdN WrN A0 CsN SP/E IR0 N IR1 IR2 IR3 IR4 IR5 IR6 IR7

Data Bus[7:0]

TOP MODULE

INT INTA_N

Fig 1: Block diagram of Priority Interrupt Controller (82C59A)

2.1.1 Signal Description of Priority Interrupt Controller (82C59A)

The table 1: shows the input/output control signals and their descriptions of Priority Interrupt Controller (82C59A).

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International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 888) Volume 48 No.6, June 2012 Table 1: Signal description of Priority Interrupt Controller (82C59A) S.No Signal Mode Description This is also an active low 1 CsN Input signal, which controls the enabling and disabling of the 82C59A. A low on this signal enables the 82C59A to 2 RdN Input send the status of the IRR, IMR, ISR and Interrupt Level A low on this signal 3 WrN Input enables the CPU to write control words to the 82C59A This is used in conjunction with WrN and RdN signals to write commands into the 4 A0 Input various command registers, as well as various status registers of the 82C59A 5 SP/EN Input 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 IR0 IR1 IR2 IR3 IR4 IR5 IR6 IR7 DataBus [7:0] INT Input Input Input Input Input Input Input Input Control, Status, Interrupt Vector information is transferred through this bidirectional bus. This is the Interrupt signal to the CPU This is an Acknowledgement signal for the Interrupt Request to the CPU by 82C59A. These seven signals are the Interrupt Requests from the seven devices connected

ICW4 ICW1[7:0] ICW2[7:0] IRSel[2:0] VECTOR ADDRESS MODULE

LSBAddr [7:0]

Fig 2: Block Diagram of Vector Address Module

2.2.2 Signal Description of Vector Address Module

The table 2: shows the input/output control signals and their descriptions of Vector Address Module. Table 2: Signal description of Vector Address Module S.No Signal Mode Description This signal when asserted 1 ICW4 Input operates in 8086mode else 8085/8080 modes. This provides the ICW1 2 Input programmed bits, which [7:0] has to be inserted into the Interrupt Vector bytes. This provides the third ICW2 3 Input vector byte data to be sent [7:0] for a 8085 or second vector byte for a 8086 systems IRSel 4 Input This provides the address [2:0] of the active IR 5 LSBAddr[ 7:0] Output This provides the second vector byte to the CPU

2.3 Command Register Module

2.3.1 Module Description
From the fig 3: The functionality of this module can be split into three parts . writing the Command Words into the 82C59A. Reading the Status of the Interrupt Mask Register (IMR), Interrupt Request Register (IRR), In-Service Register (ISR). Interrupt Response Mode. Initially under reset (Rst=0), the module is initialized and when CsN signal is activated, the actual functioning of the module comes into picture. After this the A0 is checked to be zero and the fourth bit of the data input is compared to be 1 and the ICWs are loaded into the 82C59A with active WrN signal. In the second part when RdN signal is activated, the status of the device is read by the CPU or the information of the Interrupt Mask Register (IMR), Interrupt Request Register (IRR), In-Service Register (ISR) are placed on the DataBus. In the Interrupt Response Mode, the whenever there is Interrupt Acknowledge (INTA_N) from the CPU, the Interrupt Vector bytes are placed on the DataBus by the 82C59A.

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InOut

15

Input

16

INTA_N

Output

2.2 Vector Address Module

2.2.1 Module Description
From the fig 2: The main purpose of this module is to generate the second Interrupt Vector Byte or the LSB Address to provide to the CPU. The IRSel signal provides the Interrupt Request, which is finalized after the priority, is resolved. The ICW4 signal decides whether the system is 8086 or the 8085 operated. During the second INTA# pulse sequence, the LSB Address is placed on the Data Bus to the CPU. For a MCS8085/8080 system, there will be two bytes (LSB and MSB Addresses) to be passed, but for an 8086 operated system, only one byte cascades the code byte, which is the CDH for 82C59A.

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International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 888) Volume 48 No.6, June 2012

Rst CsN RdN Wr A0 N INTA_ DataBus[7: N 0] IMR[7:0] ISR[7:0] IRR[7:0] LSBAddr[7:0] COMMAND REGISTER MODULE

ICW1[7:0 ] ICW2[7:0] ICW3[7:0] ICW4[7:0] OCW1[7:0] OCW2[7:0] OCW3[7: 0]

LSBAddr[7:0]

Input

This provides the second vector byte to be transferred to the CPU. These four outputs provide the Initialization command words, which are written into the 82C59A. These three outputs provide the Operation command words, which are written into the 82C59A.

ICW1-ICW4

Output

10

OCW1 to OCW3

Output

2.4 Mask Register Module

2.4.1 Module Description
From the fig 4: The functionality of this module can be fragmented into two parts. The first part involves the generation of Interrupt Request depending on the triggering mode used and the latter part is dedicated in masking the IR if required or else enabling. The Rst and the MClr signals are engaged in the initialization of the modules when asserted low.The first part can be further subdivided into two modes depending on the LTIM signal.Edge Triggered Mode if LTIM=0,Level Triggered Mode if LTIM=1.The second part of masking the Interrupt Request is dependent on the OCW1.The IRs whose corresponding bits in the OCW1 are high are masked else enabled.

Fig 3: Block Diagram of Command Register Module

2.3.2 Signal Description of Command Register Module

The table 3: shows the input/output control signals and their descriptions of Command Register Module. Table 3: Signal description of Command Register Module S.No Signal Mode Description This is an active low signal which is used for 1 Rst Input initializing the Device 82C59A. This is also an active low signal, which controls the 2 CsN Input enabling and disabling of the 82C59A. A low on this signal enables the CPU to write 3 WrN Input control words to the 82C59A A low on this signal enables the 82C59A to 4 RdN Input send the status of the IRR, IMR, ISR and Interrupt Level This is used in conjunction with WrN and RdN signals to write commands into the 5 A0 Input various command registers, as well as various status registers of the 82C59A. This signal is used to enable 82C59A interruptvector data onto the data 6 INTA_N Input bus by a sequence of interrupt acknowledge pulses issued by the CPU Control, Status, Interrupt Vector information is 7 DataBus [7:0] Input transferred through this bi-directional bus.

Rst MClr LTIM OCW1 IR[7:0] MASK REGISTER MODULE IMR[7:0]

Fig 4: Block Diagram of Vector Address Module

2.4.2 Signal Description

The table 4: shows the input/output control signals and their descriptions of Vector Address Module. Table 4: Signal description for Vector Address Module S.No Signal Mode Description This is an active low signal which 1 Rst Input is used for initializing the Device 82C59A. This is also an active low signal 2 MClr Input obtained from the When asserted the device operates 3 LTIM Input in Level Triggered mode else Edge Triggered mode. This signal dictates whether the 4 OCW1 Input corresponding Interrupts has to be masked or enabled.

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International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 888) Volume 48 No.6, June 2012 5 6 IR [7:0] IMR [7:0] Input Output These are Interrupt Requests to the 82C59A This provides the interrupt request lines, which are masked.

3.1 Vector Address module output

2.5 Interrupt Modes

There are 4 modes of operation of 82C59A.

2.5.1 Fully Nested Mode

This mode is entered after initialization unless another mode is programmed. The interrupt requests are ordered in priority from 0 to 7. When an interrupt is acknowledged the highest priority request is determined and its vector places on the bus. Additionally a bit of ISR is set. This bit remains set until the microprocessor issues an End of Command (EOI) immediately before returning from the service routine or if the AEOI command bit is set, until the trailing edge of the last INTA#.

Fig 5: Output Waveform for Vector Address module

2.5.2 Automatic End Of Interupt (Aeoi)

If AEOI=1 in ICW4, then the 82C59A will operate in the AEOI mode continuously until reprogrammed by the ICW4.In this mode it will automatically perform a non-specific EOI operation at the trailing edge of the last interrupt acknowledge pulse. This mode is only used in a master 82C59A and not a slave.

3.2 Mask Register Sub Module output

2.5.3 Automatic Rotation

This mode provides all the interrupt devices with equal priority. In this mode a device, after being serviced, receives the lowest priority and the remaining devices are provided a n opportunity thus making the device which had been already serviced to wait in the worst case until each of the seven other devices are serviced.

2.5.4 Special Mask Mode

This mode finds its necessity when the system priority structure during its execution under software control. That is if an Interrupt Request is acknowledged and the End Of Interrupt (EOI) did not reset its ISR bit, the 82C59A would have inhibited all lower priority requests. In Special Mask Mode, when a mask bit is set in OCW1, it inhibits further interrupts from all other levels that are not masked. The Special Mask Mode is set by OCW3 where the SSMM=1 and SMM=1 and cleared when SSMM=1 and SMM=0.

Fig 6: Output Waveform for Mask Register Sub Module

3.3 Mask Register Module output

2.5.5 Poll Command Mode

This mode is operated by masking or disabling the interrupts or by not connecting the INT output. The Poll Command is issued by setting P=1 in OCW3. The next RD# pulse is treated as an Interrupt Acknowledge, sets the appropriate IS bit if there is a request , and reads the priority level. This mode is useful if there is a requirement to expand the number of priority levels to more than 64 or when there is no requirement of INTA_N sequence.

3 RESULTS AND WAVEFORMS

The waveforms for the individual modules and for the different modes are shown: Fig 7: Output Waveform for Mask Register Module

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International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 888) Volume 48 No.6, June 2012

3.4 Command Register Module output

Fig 8: Output Waveform for Command Register Module

2.5 TOP module (Automatic Rotate Mode) I output

Fig 9: Output Waveform for TOP module (Automatic Rotate Mode) - I

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International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 888) Volume 48 No.6, June 2012

3.6 TOP MODULE (Automatic Rotate Mode) II output

Fig 10: Output Waveform for TOP MODULE (Automatic Rotate Mode) II

3.7 TOP MODULE (Specific Rotation Mode) I output

Fig 10: Output Waveform for TOP module (Automatic Rotate Mode) - I

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International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 888) Volume 48 No.6, June 2012

3.8 TOP MODULE (Specific Rotation Mode) II output

Fig 11: Output Waveform for TOP MODULE (Specific Rotation Mode) -II

3.9 TOP MODULE (Fully Nested Mode) I output

Fig 12: Output Waveform for TOP MODULE (Fully Nested Mode) - I

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International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 888) Volume 48 No.6, June 2012

3.10 TOPMODULE (Fully Nested Mode) 2 output

Fig 12: Output Waveform for TOPMODULE (Fully Nested Mode) - 2

3.11 FPGA implementation of the priority interrupt Controller 82C59A.

INT OUTPUT
Fig 12: Output Waveform for FPGA implementation of the priority interrupt Controller 82C59A

4. CONCLUSION
This Priority Interrupt Controller is a device specifically designed for use in real time, interrupt driven microcomputer systems. It manages eight levels of requests and has built-in features for expandability to other 82C59As that is up to 64 levels. This Priority Interrupt Controller is implemented by using SPATRAN-3 Xilinx FPGA. From the results, the performance of the respective logics was verified with the assumptions that were taken into account when creating the logic. Hence, this work has been demonstrated the principles for designing a Priority Interrupt Controller-82C59A to meet the worst-case timing specifications

5. REFERENCES

[1]. William Stallings, Computer Organization, 7th Edition, Free Press, 2002. [2]. Brown, Ralf/Kyle and Jim Paperback, PC Interrupts 8259, 2nd edition, Addison-Wesley, 2006. [3]. Joe McGovern, Interrupt Driven PC System Design, 4th edition, Prentice Hall of India, 2003. [4].Charles H. Roth, Digital Systems Design, 4th edition, Jr. PWS Publishing House, 1998. [5]. Douglas J Smith, HDL Chip Design, Doone Publications ,3rd Edition,1996. [6]. Samir Palnithkar Verilog HDL, Prentice Hall PTR Publishers, 2nd edition, 2003. [7].Donald E Thamas, The Verilog hardware description language, Kluwer Academic publishers,5th Edition, 2002.

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