Datasheet

8018P–AVR–08/10

ATmega169P

12. External Interrupts

The External Interrupts are triggered by the INT0 pin or any of the PCINT15..0 pins. Observe

that, if enabled, the interrupts will trigger even if the INT0 or PCINT15..0 pins are configured as

outputs. This feature provides a way of generating a software interrupt. The pin change interrupt

PCI1 will trigger if any enabled PCINT15..8 pin toggles. Pin change interrupts PCI0 will trigger if

any enabled PCINT7..0 pin toggles. The PCMSK1 and PCMSK0 Registers control which pins

contribute to the pin change interrupts. Pin change interrupts on PCINT15..0 are detected asyn-

chronously. This implies that these interrupts can be used for waking the part also from sleep

modes other than Idle mode.

The INT0 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 interrupt is enabled and is configured as level triggered, the interrupt will trigger as long as

the pin is held low. Note that recognition of falling or rising edge interrupts on INT0 requires the

presence of an I/O clock, described in ”Clock Systems and their Distribution” on page 30. Low

level interrupt on INT0 is detected asynchronously. 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 30.

12.1 Pin Change Interrupt Timing

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

Figure 12-1. Pin Change Interrupt

clk

PCINT(n)

pin_lat

pin_sync

pcint_in_(n)

pcint_syn

pcint_setflag

PCIF

PCINT(0)

pin_sync

pcint_syn

pin_lat

D Q

pcint_setflag

PCIF

clk

PCINT(0) in PCMSK(x)

pcint_in_(0)