2545M–AVR–09/07

ATmega48/88/168

12. External Interrupts

The External Interrupts are triggered by the INT0 and INT1 pins or any of the PCINT23..0 pins.

Observe that, if enabled, the interrupts will trigger even if the INT0 and INT1 or PCINT23..0 pins

are configured as outputs. This feature provides a way of generating a software interrupt. The

pin change interrupt PCI2 will trigger if any enabled PCINT23..16 pin toggles. The pin change

interrupt PCI1 will trigger if any enabled PCINT14..8 pin toggles. The pin change interrupt PCI0

will trigger if any enabled PCINT7..0 pin toggles. The PCMSK2, PCMSK1 and PCMSK0 Regis-

ters control which pins contribute to the pin change interrupts. Pin change interrupts on

PCINT23..0 are detected asynchronously. This implies that these interrupts can be used for

waking the part also from sleep modes other than Idle mode.

The INT0 and INT1 interrupts can be triggered by a falling or rising edge or a low level. This is

set up as indicated in the specification for the External Interrupt Control Register A – EICRA.

When the INT0 or INT1 interrupts are enabled and are configured as level triggered, the inter-

rupts will trigger as long as the pin is held low. Note that recognition of falling or rising edge

interrupts on INT0 or INT1 requires the presence of an I/O clock, described in “Clock Systems

and their Distribution” on page 28. Low level interrupt on INT0 and INT1 is detected asynchro-

nously. This implies that this interrupt can be used for waking the part also from sleep modes

other than Idle mode. The I/O clock is halted in all sleep modes except Idle mode.

Note that if a level triggered interrupt is used for wake-up from Power-down, the required level

must be held long enough for the MCU to complete the wake-up to trigger the level interrupt. If

the level disappears before the end of the Start-up Time, the MCU will still wake up, but no inter-

rupt will be generated. The start-up time is defined by the SUT and CKSEL Fuses as described

in “System Clock and Clock Options” on page 28.

12.1 Pin Change Interrupt Timing

An example of timing of a pin change interrupt is shown in Figure 12-1.

Figure 12-1. Timing of pin change interrupts

clk

PCINT(0)

pin_lat

pin_sync

pcint_in_(0)

pcint_syn

cint_setflag

PCIF

PCINT(0)

pin_sync

pcint_syn

pin_lat

D Q

pcint_setflag

clk

PCINT(0) in PCMSK(x)

pcint_in_(0)

2545M–AVR–09/07

ATmega48/88/168

12.2 Register Description

12.2.1 EICRA – External Interrupt Control Register A

The External Interrupt Control Register A contains control bits for interrupt sense control.

• Bit 7..4 – Res: Reserved Bits

These bits are unused bits in the ATmega48/88/168, and will always read as zero.

• Bit 3, 2 – ISC11, ISC10: Interrupt Sense Control 1 Bit 1 and Bit 0

The External Interrupt 1 is activated by the external pin INT1 if the SREG I-flag and the corre-

sponding interrupt mask are set. The level and edges on the external INT1 pin that activate the

interrupt are defined in Table 12-1. The value on the INT1 pin is sampled before detecting

edges. If edge or toggle interrupt is selected, pulses that last longer than one clock period will

generate an interrupt. Shorter pulses are not guaranteed to generate an interrupt. If low level

interrupt is selected, the low level must be held until the completion of the currently executing

instruction to generate an interrupt.

• Bit 1, 0 – ISC01, ISC00: Interrupt Sense Control 0 Bit 1 and Bit 0

The External Interrupt 0 is activated by the external pin INT0 if the SREG I-flag and the corre-

sponding interrupt mask are set. The level and edges on the external INT0 pin that activate the

interrupt are defined in Table 12-2. The value on the INT0 pin is sampled before detecting

edges. If edge or toggle interrupt is selected, pulses that last longer than one clock period will

generate an interrupt. Shorter pulses are not guaranteed to generate an interrupt. If low level

interrupt is selected, the low level must be held until the completion of the currently executing

instruction to generate an interrupt.

Bit 76543210

(0x69) – – – – ISC11 ISC10 ISC01 ISC00 EICRA

Read/Write R R R R R/W R/W R/W R/W

Initial Value 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Table 12-1. Interrupt 1 Sense Control

ISC11 ISC10 Description

0 0 The low level of INT1 generates an interrupt request.

0 1 Any logical change on INT1 generates an interrupt request.

1 0 The falling edge of INT1 generates an interrupt request.

1 1 The rising edge of INT1 generates an interrupt request.

Table 12-2. Interrupt 0 Sense Control

ISC01 ISC00 Description

0 0 The low level of INT0 generates an interrupt request.

0 1 Any logical change on INT0 generates an interrupt request.

1 0 The falling edge of INT0 generates an interrupt request.

1 1 The rising edge of INT0 generates an interrupt request.

2545M–AVR–09/07

ATmega48/88/168

12.2.2 EIMSK – External Interrupt Mask Register

• Bit 7..2 – Res: Reserved Bits

These bits are unused bits in the ATmega48/88/168, and will always read as zero.

• Bit 1 – INT1: External Interrupt Request 1 Enable

When the INT1 bit is set (one) and the I-bit in the Status Register (SREG) is set (one), the exter-

nal pin interrupt is enabled. The Interrupt Sense Control1 bits 1/0 (ISC11 and ISC10) in the

External Interrupt Control Register A (EICRA) define whether the external interrupt is activated

on rising and/or falling edge of the INT1 pin or level sensed. Activity on the pin will cause an

interrupt request even if INT1 is configured as an output. The corresponding interrupt of External

Interrupt Request 1 is executed from the INT1 Interrupt Vector.

• Bit 0 – INT0: External Interrupt Request 0 Enable

When the INT0 bit is set (one) and the I-bit in the Status Register (SREG) is set (one), the exter-

nal pin interrupt is enabled. The Interrupt Sense Control0 bits 1/0 (ISC01 and ISC00) in the

External Interrupt Control Register A (EICRA) define whether the external interrupt is activated

on rising and/or falling edge of the INT0 pin or level sensed. Activity on the pin will cause an

interrupt request even if INT0 is configured as an output. The corresponding interrupt of External

Interrupt Request 0 is executed from the INT0 Interrupt Vector.

12.2.3 EIFR – External Interrupt Flag Register

• Bit 7..2 – Res: Reserved Bits

These bits are unused bits in the ATmega48/88/168, and will always read as zero.

• Bit 1 – INTF1: External Interrupt Flag 1

When an edge or logic change on the INT1 pin triggers an interrupt request, INTF1 becomes set

(one). If the I-bit in SREG and the INT1 bit in EIMSK are set (one), the MCU will jump to the cor-

responding Interrupt Vector. The flag is cleared when the interrupt routine is executed.

Alternatively, the flag can be cleared by writing a logical one to it. This flag is always cleared

when INT1 is configured as a level interrupt.

• Bit 0 – INTF0: External Interrupt Flag 0

When an edge or logic change on the INT0 pin triggers an interrupt request, INTF0 becomes set

(one). If the I-bit in SREG and the INT0 bit in EIMSK are set (one), the MCU will jump to the cor-

responding Interrupt Vector. The flag is cleared when the interrupt routine is executed.

Alternatively, the flag can be cleared by writing a logical one to it. This flag is always cleared

when INT0 is configured as a level interrupt.

Bit 76543210

0x1D (0x3D) ––––––INT1INT0EIMSK

Read/Write RRRRRRR/WR/W

Initial Value00000000

Bit 76543210

0x1C (0x3C) ––––––INTF1INTF0EIFR

Read/Write RRRRRRR/WR/W

Initial Value00000000

Part #	ATMEGA48-20AU
Description	MCU 8BIT ATMEGA RISC 4KB FLASH 3.3V/5V 32TQFP - Trays
Category	IC
Availability	Out of Stock
Qty	0

ATMEGA48-20AU

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