Page 1 of 3
8085 Addressing Modes & Interrupts
Now let us discuss the addressing modes in 8085 Microprocessor.
Addressing Modes in 8085
These are the instructions used to transfer the data from one register to another register,
from the memory to the register, and from the register to the memory without any
alteration in the content. Addressing modes in 8085 is classified into 5 groups −
Immediate addressing mode
In this mode, the 8/16-bit data is specified in the instruction itself as one of its operand.
For example: MVI K, 20F: means 20F is copied into register K.
Register addressing mode
In this mode, the data is copied from one register to another. For example: MOV K, B:
means data in register B is copied to register K.
Direct addressing mode
In this mode, the data is directly copied from the given address to the register. For
example: LDB 5000K: means the data at address 5000K is copied to register B.
Indirect addressing mode
In this mode, the data is transferred from one register to another by using the address
pointed by the register. For example: MOV K, B: means data is transferred from the
memory address pointed by the register to the register K.
Implied addressing mode
This mode doesn’t require any operand; the data is specified by the opcode itself. For
example: CMP.
Interrupts in 8085
Interrupts are the signals generated by the external devices to request the
microprocessor to perform a task. There are 5 interrupt signals, i.e. TRAP, RST 7.5, RST
6.5, RST 5.5, and INTR.
Interrupt are classified into following groups based on their parameter −
Page 2 of 3
Vector interrupt − In this type of interrupt, the interrupt address is known to
the processor. For example: RST7.5, RST6.5, RST5.5, TRAP.
Non-Vector interrupt − In this type of interrupt, the interrupt address is not
known to the processor so, the interrupt address needs to be sent externally by
the device to perform interrupts. For example: INTR.
Maskable interrupt − In this type of interrupt, we can disable the interrupt by
writing some instructions into the program. For example: RST7.5, RST6.5,
RST5.5.
Non-Maskable interrupt − In this type of interrupt, we cannot disable the
interrupt by writing some instructions into the program. For example: TRAP.
Software interrupt − In this type of interrupt, the programmer has to add the
instructions into the program to execute the interrupt. There are 8 software
interrupts in 8085, i.e. RST0, RST1, RST2, RST3, RST4, RST5, RST6, and RST7.
Hardware interrupt − There are 5 interrupt pins in 8085 used as hardware
interrupts, i.e. TRAP, RST7.5, RST6.5, RST5.5, INTA.
Note − NTA is not an interrupt, it is used by the microprocessor for sending
acknowledgement. TRAP has the highest priority, then RST7.5 and so on.
Interrupt Service Routine (ISR)
A small program or a routine that when executed, services the corresponding
interrupting source is called an ISR.
TRAP
It is a non-maskable interrupt, having the highest priority among all interrupts.
Bydefault, it is enabled until it gets acknowledged. In case of failure, it executes as ISR
and sends the data to backup memory. This interrupt transfers the control to the location
0024H.
RST7.5
It is a maskable interrupt, having the second highest priority among all interrupts. When
this interrupt is executed, the processor saves the content of the PC register into the
stack and branches to 003CH address.
RST 6.5
It is a maskable interrupt, having the third highest priority among all interrupts. When
this interrupt is executed, the processor saves the content of the PC register into the
stack and branches to 0034H address.
Page 3 of 3
RST 5.5
It is a maskable interrupt. When this interrupt is executed, the processor saves the
content of the PC register into the stack and branches to 002CH address.
INTR
It is a maskable interrupt, having the lowest priority among all interrupts. It can be
disabled by resetting the microprocessor.
When INTR signal goes high, the following events can occur −
The microprocessor checks the status of INTR signal during the execution of each
instruction.
When the INTR signal is high, then the microprocessor completes its current
instruction and sends active low interrupt acknowledge signal.
When instructions are received, then the microprocessor saves the address of the
next instruction on stack and executes the received instruction.
