DELAY(9F)               Kernel Functions for Drivers               DELAY(9F)
NAME
       delay - delay execution for a specified number of clock ticks
SYNOPSIS
       #include <sys/ddi.h>       
void delay(
clock_t ticks);
INTERFACE LEVEL
       Architecture independent level 1 (DDI/DKI).
PARAMETERS
       ticks                 The number of clock cycles to delay.
DESCRIPTION
       delay() provides a mechanism for a driver to delay its execution for
       a given period of time. Since the speed of the clock varies among
       systems, drivers should base their time values on microseconds and
       use 
drv_usectohz(9F) to convert microseconds into clock ticks.       
delay() uses 
timeout(9F) to schedule an internal function to be
       called after the specified amount of time has elapsed. 
delay() then
       waits until the function is called. Because 
timeout() is subject to
       priority inversion, drivers waiting on behalf of processes with real-
       time constraints should use 
cv_timedwait(9F) rather than 
delay().       
delay() does not busy-wait. If busy-waiting is required, use       
drv_usecwait(9F).
CONTEXT
       delay() can be called from user and kernel contexts.
EXAMPLES
       Example 1 delay() Example
       Before a driver I/O routine allocates buffers and stores any user
       data in them, it checks the status of the device (line 12). If the
       device needs manual intervention (such as, needing to be refilled
       with paper), a message is displayed on the system console (line 14).
       The driver waits an allotted time (line 17) before repeating the
       procedure.
          1  struct  device  {    /* layout of physical device registers */
          2          int      control; /* physical device control word */
          3          int      status;  /* physical device status word */
          4          short    xmit_char;    /* transmit character to device */
          5  };
          6
          7
             ...
          9      /* get device registers */
         10      register struct device *rp = ...
         11
         12      while (rp->status & NOPAPER) {  /* while printer is out of paper */
         13                                      /* display message and ring bell */
                                                 /* on system console */
         14          cmn_err(CE_WARN, "^\007",
         15              (getminor(dev) & 0xf));
         16          /* wait one minute and try again */
         17          delay(60 * drv_usectohz(1000000));
         18      }
SEE ALSO
       biodone(9F), 
biowait(9F), 
cv_timedwait(9F), 
ddi_in_panic(9F),       
drv_hztousec(9F), 
drv_usectohz(9F), 
drv_usecwait(9F), 
timeout(9F),       
untimeout(9F)       Writing Device Drivers                              October 15, 2001                     DELAY(9F)