3.6. ARM7TDMI IRQ interrupts using AHB

In IRQ mode, interrupt levels can be nested lower than the highest priority FIQ interrupt level. To provide this nesting, the return address, stored in the Link Register (LR), and the status register, stored in the SPSR must be available before further IRQ interrupts can be accepted. This increases the interrupt latency, but provides a scalable nested interrupt system. Table 3.28 shows the typical worst case cycles for IRQ interrupts.

Table 3.28. ARM7TDMI IRQ interrupt latency

EventWorst case
Interrupt synchronization4 cycles
Worst case interrupt disable period (sequence LDR, STMFD, MRS, MSR)20 cycle
Entry to first instruction2 cycles
Nesting (assuming single-state AHB)10 cycles
Total36 cycles
Copyright © 2002 ARM Limited. All rights reserved.ARM DDI 0273A
Non-Confidential