Broadcom Interrupt Controllers 3

Interrupt controllers are electronic circuits or chips that are used to manage interrupts in a computer system. Interrupts are signals sent to the processor by hardware or software components to request the attention of the processor. Interrupt controllers are responsible for managing and prioritizing these interrupt requests and for dispatching them to the appropriate handler in the system.

Interrupt controllers typically have a number of interrupt inputs and a single interrupt output. When an interrupt request is received, the interrupt controller will prioritize the request based on its priority level and dispatch it to the appropriate handler. Interrupt controllers also typically include interrupt masking and enabling features, which allow the processor to selectively enable or disable certain interrupt requests.

Interrupt controllers are essential components of modern computer systems and are used to manage a wide range of hardware and software interrupt requests. They are commonly used in microcontrollers, embedded systems, and other computer systems where efficient interrupt handling is critical.

There are many different types of interrupt controllers available, each designed for specific applications and systems. Some interrupt controllers are designed for real-time systems, while others are designed for general-purpose computing applications. The choice of interrupt controller depends on the specific requirements of the system and the type of interrupts that need to be managed.