INSTRUCTION SET S3C8245/P8245/C8249/P8249
6-46
IRET Interrupt Return
IRET IRET (Normal) IRET (Fast)
Operation: FLAGS @SP PC IP
SP SP + 1 FLAGS FLAGS'
PC @SP FIS 0
SP SP + 2
SYM(0) 1
This instruction is used at the end of an interrupt service routine. It restores the flag register and the
program counter. It also re-enables global interrupts. A "normal IRET" is executed only if the fast
interrupt status bit (FIS, bit one of the FLAGS register, 0D5H) is cleared (= "0"). If a fast interrupt
occurred, IRET clears the FIS bit that was set at the beginning of the service routine.
Flags: All flags are restored to their original settings (that is, the settings before the interrupt occurred).
Format:
IRET
(Normal) Bytes Cycles Opcode (Hex)
opc 110 (internal stack) BF
12 (internal stack)
IRET
(Fast) Bytes Cycles Opcode (Hex)
opc 1 6 BF
Example: In the figure below, the instruction pointer is initially loaded with 100H in the main program before
interrupts are enabled. When an interrupt occurs, the program counter and instruction pointer are
swapped. This causes the PC to jump to address 100H and the IP to keep the return address. The
last instruction in the service routine normally is a jump to IRET at address FFH. This causes the
instruction pointer to be loaded with 100H "again" and the program counter to jump back to the
main program. Now, the next interrupt can occur and the IP is still correct at 100H.
IRET
Interrupt
Service
Routine
JP to FFH
0H
FFH
100H
FFFFH
NOTE: In the fast interrupt example above, if the last instruction is not a jump to IRET, you must pay
attention to the order of the last two instructions. The IRET cannot be immediately proceeded by a
clearing of the interrupt status (as with a reset of the IPR register).