S7-400 cycle and response times   
19.8 Interrupt response time 
  S7-400H 
380  System Manual, 03/2012, A5E00267695-11 
Increasing the maximum interrupt response time with communication   
The maximum interrupt response time is extended when the communication functions are 
active. The additional time is calculated using the following formula: 
CPU 41x–5H t
v
 = 100 µs + 1000 µs × n%, significant extension possible 
where n = cycle load due to communication 
Signal modules   
The process interrupt response time of signal modules is made up as follows: 
●  Digital input modules 
Process interrupt response time = internal interrupt processing time + input delay 
You will find these times in the data sheet for the respective digital input module. 
●  Analog input modules 
Process interrupt response time = internal interrupt processing time + conversion time 
The internal interrupt processing time for analog input modules can be neglected. The 
conversion times can be found in the data sheet for the individual analog input modules. 
The diagnostic interrupt response time of the signal modules is the time from detection of a 
diagnostic event by the signal module to the triggering of the diagnostic interrupt by the 
signal module. This short time can be neglected. 
Hardware interrupt processing   
Hardware interrupt processing begins when the process interrupt OB4x is called. Higher-
priority interrupts stop process interrupt processing. Direct access to I/O modules is 
executed during the execution time of the operation. After the process interrupt has been 
processed, the system either resumes cyclic program processing, or calls and processes 
interrupt OBs of the same or lower priority.