JAJSFN6G September 2009 – June 2018 TCA8418
PRODUCTION DATA.
The TCA8418 features a Keypad Lock/Unlock feature which allows the user to stop the generation of key event interrupts by locking the key pad. There is an interrupt mask timer feature with the keypad lock, which allows the generation of a single interrupt when a key is pressed, primarily for the purpose of LCD backlighting. Note that this interrupt mask timer can also be used to limit the number of interrupts generated for a given amount of time.
The interrupt mask timer is enabled by setting bits [7:3] of the KP_LCK_TIMER register. The value in this register can be anywhere from 0 to 31 seconds (note that a value of 0 will disable this interrupt mask feature). When a keypad is locked and the interrupt mask timer is set to a non-zero value, this will enable the interrupt mask timer. This interrupt mask timer limits the amount of interrupts generated. Typically, this is used with the Keypad Lock/Unlock feature for LCD back lights. It is easiest to explain this feature with the following example; A mobile device has a LCD screen with a back light display which turns off after 10 seconds to save power. Normally, an interrupt to the processor would tell this LCD back light to turn on. When the keypad is locked, no interrupts are generated, so the back light will never turn on. This is where the interrupt mask feature is used. Please refer to Figure 20.The procedure for an example is below.