Microprocessor having interrupt vector generation unit and vector fetching command unit to initiate interrupt processing prior to returning interrupt acknowledge information

摘要

A microprocessor for performing an interrupt operation receives an interrupt-enable signal representative of occurrence of at least interrupt request and interrupt level information representative of a selected one of interrupt sources issuing the interrupt request and includes an interrupt receiving unit activated by the interrupt-enable signal for producing vector fetching command information when an interrupt operation responsive to the interrupt level information is acceptable, an interrupt vector generation unit activated by the interrupt-enable signal for generating interrupt vector information, and an execution unit fetching the interrupt vector information in response to the vector fetching command information, the execution unit thereby initiates an interrupt operation by use of the interrupt vector information and returning interrupt acknowledge information as a part of the interrupt operation.