diff --git a/docs/reference/isr_rules.rst b/docs/reference/isr_rules.rst index 23dcfd01f..5009f30f7 100644 --- a/docs/reference/isr_rules.rst +++ b/docs/reference/isr_rules.rst @@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ This summarises the points detailed below and lists the principal recommendation * Keep the code as short and simple as possible. * Avoid memory allocation: no appending to lists or insertion into dictionaries, no floating point. +* Consider using ``micropython.schedule`` to work around the above constraint. * Where an ISR returns multiple bytes use a pre-allocated ``bytearray``. If multiple integers are to be shared between an ISR and the main program consider an array (``array.array``). * Where data is shared between the main program and an ISR, consider disabling interrupts prior to accessing @@ -158,6 +159,26 @@ On platforms with hardware floating point (such as the Pyboard) the inline ARM T round this limitation. This is because the processor stores float values in a machine word; values can be shared between the ISR and main program code via an array of floats. +Using micropython.schedule +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ + +This function enables an ISR to schedule a callback for execution "very soon". The callback is queued for +execution which will take place at a time when the heap is not locked. Hence it can create Python objects +and use floats. The callback is also guaranteed to run at a time when the main program has completed any +update of Python objects, so the callback will not encounter partially updated objects. + +Typical usage is to handle sensor hardware. The ISR acquires data from the hardware and enables it to +issue a further interrupt. It then schedules a callback to process the data. + +Scheduled callbacks should comply with the principles of interrupt handler design outlined below. This is to +avoid problems resulting from I/O activity and the modification of shared data which can arise in any code +which pre-empts the main program loop. + +Execution time needs to be considered in relation to the frequency with which interrupts can occur. If an +interrupt occurs while the previous callback is executing, a further instance of the callback will be queued +for execution; this will run after the current instance has completed. A sustained high interrupt repetition +rate therefore carries a risk of unconstrained queue growth and eventual failure with a ``RuntimeError``. + Exceptions ----------