VHDL and HDL Designer Primer

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VHDL and HDL Designer Primer

• Instructor Jason D. Bakos

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VHDL (Appendix B in Textbook)

• HDL gt VHDL / Verilog
• VHDL more verbose, better for team projects
• Not case-sensitive
• VHDL gt VHSIC Hardware Description Language
• VHSIC gt US DoD Very-High-Speed Integrated
  Circuit
• DoD project
• Document behavior of ASICs from suppliers
• Alternative to manuals
• Used to describe behavior of digital logic
• Extensions for analog
• High-level programming language, subset of Ada
• Also looks like Pascal
• IEEE standards 1987, 1993, 2000, 2002
• First came the language
• next came simulators
• then came synthesizers (FPGA and ASIC)

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VHDL

• By its nature, VHDL is
• Self-documenting
• Allows for easy testbench design (simulators,
  instruments)
• Any VHDL code may be simulated
• Only some VHDL codes may be synthesized
• Depends on packages, data types, and constructs
• VHDL descriptions (programs) have structure
  similar to C
• Each design (component) is made up of
• Entity section
• Component interface (I/O)
• Analogous to C header (public methods only)
• Architecture section
• Contains behavior (implementation)
• Can have multiple architectures for any entity
• Example different types of adders with
  consistent interfaces

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Entity / Architecture

• library ieee
• use ieee.std_logic_1164.all
• entity buffer is
• port (
• ain std_logic_vector(3 downto 0)
• yout std_logic_vector(3 downto 0)
• )
• end
• architecture my_hypernifty_buffer of buffer is
• signal int_a std_logic_vector(3 downto 0)
• begin
• int_a lt not a
• y lt not int_a
• end

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Data Types

• In this course, you will only use 2 data types
• std_logic
• Represents a bit signal
• Enermerated type (1, 0, X, U, Z, -)
• 1, 0 are logic values
• X is dont know unassigned or shorted
  (double-driven) signals
• U is unassigned special for un-initialized
  FF/register/memory
• Z is high-impendence for tristated/floating
  outputs
• - is dont care for outputs, helps
  synthesizer minimize logic
• Use 1 to represent scaler
• std_logic_vector
• Array of std_logic
• Represents a bus signal
• Use 11 to represent scaler

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Sequential vs. Concurrent Semantics

• Problem
• Programming languages with sequential semantics
• Assume B0, C5
• A B C
• print A (output is 5)
• print B (output is 0)
• B C
• print A (output is 5)
• print B (output is 5)
• Hardware is concurrent
• Each line of code executes concurrently (no
  ordering)
• A B C
• print A (output is 10)
• print B (output is 5)
• B C
• print A (output is 10)
• print B (output is 5)
• Example
• A lt B OR C when D1 else C OR D

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Structural vs. Behavioral VHDL

• Structural VHDL
• Resembles a netlist
• Defines instantiated components
• Interconnects
• May contain library subroutine calls, operators,
  mux behavior
• Can be directly (and easily) synthesized
• Behavioral VHDL
• Defines how outputs are computed as function of
  inputs
• Use a process
• Looks like a programming language
• Internally has sequential semantics
• Sensitivity list
• Process block implements concurrent assignment
• May contain variables
• Constructs if-then, for-loop, while-loop,
  inf-loop
• Difficult to synthesize
• Not synthesizable timed waits, file I/O, some
  loop structures

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Constructs in Structural VHDL

• Concurrent assignment statement
• output lt function of inputs after delay
  when condition else function of inputs after
  delay when condition else
• function of inputs
• Example
• out lt A and B when sel00 else
• A or B when sel01 else
• A nor B when sel10 else
• A xor B
• sel lt 00 when (C or D)0101 else
• 10

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Priority

• out lt A and B when sel00 else
• A or B when sel01 else
• A nor B when sel(1)1 else
• A xor B
• Whats the problem with the above statement?

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Constructs in Process VHDL

• if-statement
• if a01 then
• y lt b
• elsif a11 then
• y lt not(b)1
• else
• y lt 0000
• end if
• Loops
• loop
• ltstatementsgt
• end loop
• for i in 0 to 15 loop
• ltstatementsgt
• end loop
• while ltconditiongt

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Example process

• -- right-shift arithmetic for 8-bit signed
  integer
• rsa process (a, shamt)
• variable fill std_logic_vector(1 downto 0)
• variable temp std_logic_vector(4 downto 0)
• begin
• for i in 0 to 3 loop
• fill(i)1 and a(3)
• end loop
• if shamt(0)1 then
• temp fill(0) a(7 downto 1)
• end if
• if shamt(1)1 then
• temp fill(1 downto 0) temp(7 downto 2)
• end if
• if shamt(2)1 then
• out lt fill(3 downto 0) temp(7 downto 4)
• end if
• end process

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Memory

• Memory is inferred
• -- 8-bit rising-edge register with asynchronous
  reset
• reg8 process(d, clk, en, rst)
• begin
• if rst1 then
• q lt 00000000
• elseif en1 and clkevent and clk1 then
• q lt d
• end if
• end process

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HDL Designer

• Allows for rapid VHDL development
• graphical design entry
• generated VHDL
• automated design flows
• Views
• Block diagram
• State machine
• Truth table
• Flow chart
• VHDL view (combined or architecture-only)
• Symbol

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Libraries in HDL Designer

• A library is a collection of components
• Components have one or more views
  (implementations)
• Block diagram, truth table, flow chart, state
  machine, VHDL architecture
• Each view has representations
• Graphics, VHDL, simulator netlist, synthesis
  netlist

CPU_lib
library
component
CPU
control_unit
ALU
view
VHDL arch
state diagram
block diagram 2
block diagram 1
representation
gen. VHDL
sim. binary
synth. netlist
graphics
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Libraries in HDL Designer

• Libraries are stored in four subdirectories
• For each library you use or create, library
  mappings to these directories must be specified
• The mappings for your set of libraries are stored
  in your project file
• Lives in your group directory

\hds
source directory
\ALU_lib
\hdl
HDL directory
/libraries
\work
simulation directory
\CPU_lib
\ls
synthesis directory
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Projects

• Projects are a collection of library mappings

Project
Library
Component
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Projects, Libraries, Files
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HDL Designer GUI
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Block Diagram Editor
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Block Diagram Editor
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Flowchart Editor
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Lookup Table Editor
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State Machine Editor
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VHDL Editor
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Components

• Library components can be instantiated in other
  designs
• Shown as green blocks
• For bottom-up design
• Libraries also contain blocks
• Attached to the design they were created in
• Shown as blue blocks
• For top-down design
• Embedded blocks embedded into block diagram
• Shown as yellow blocks
• Embeds behavior into structure

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Sequential Logic

• Combinational logic
• Output f (input)
• Sequential logic
• Output f (input, input history)
• Involves use of memory elements
• Registers

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Finite State Machines
No missile detected

• FSMs are made up of
• input set
• output set
• states (one is start state)
• transitions
• FSMs are used for controllers

No locked on
missile detected
hit
miss
Locked on
Launch Fire yes
Input alphabet missile detected, locked on, hit,
miss Output alphabetfire
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Finite State Machines

• Registers
• Hold current state value
• Output logic
• Encodes output of state machine
• Moore-style
• Output f(current state)
• Output values associated with states
• Mealy-style
• Output f(current state, input)
• Output values associated with state transitions
• Outputs asynchronous
• Next-state logic
• Encodes transitions from each state
• Next state f(current state, input)
• Synchronous state machines transition on clock
  edge
• RESET signal to return to start state (sanity
  state)
• Note that state machines are triggered
  out-of-phase from the input and any memory
  elements they control

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Example

• Design a coke machine controller
• Releases a coke after 35 cents entered
• Accepts nickels, dimes, and quarters, returns
  change
• Inputs
• Driven for 1 clock cycle while coin is entered
• COIN 00 for none, 01 for nickel, 10 for dime,
  11 for quarter
• Outputs
• Driven for 1 clock cycle
• RELEASE 1 for release coke
• CHANGE releases change, encoded as COIN input

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Example

• Well design this controller as a state diagram
  view in FPGA Advantage

Add new state (First is start state)
Add new hierarchical state
Note transitions into and out of a hierarchical
state are implicitly ANDed with the internal
entrance and exit conditions
Add new transition
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Example

• Go to state diagram properties to setup the state
  machine

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Example

• Specify the output values for each state in the
  state properties

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Example

• Specify the transition conditions and priority in
  the transition properties

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Example
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Example
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State Machine VHDL

• Lets take a look at the VHDL for the FSM
• Enumerated type STATE_TYPE for states
• Internal signals, current_state and next_state
• clocked process handles reset and state changes
• nextstate process assigns next_state from
  current_state and inputs
• Implements next state logic
• Syntax is case statement
• output process assigns output signals from
  current_state
• Might also use inputs here

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Types
ARCHITECTURE fsm OF coke IS -- Architecture
Declarations TYPE STATE_TYPE IS (
standby, e5, e10, e25,
e30, e15, e20, e35, e50,
e40, e55, e45 ) --
Declare current and next state signals SIGNAL
current_state STATE_TYPE SIGNAL next_state
STATE_TYPE
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clocked Process
-------------------------------------------------
--------------------------- clocked
PROCESS( clk, rst )
--------------------------------------------------
-------------------------- BEGIN IF (rst
'1') THEN current_state lt standby
-- Reset Values ELSIF (clk'EVENT AND
clk '1') THEN current_state lt
next_state -- Default Assignment To
Internals END IF END PROCESS clocked
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nextstate Process
-----------------------------------------------
----------------------------- nextstate
PROCESS ( coin, current_state )
--------------------------------------------------
-------------------------- BEGIN CASE
current_state IS WHEN standby gt
IF (coin "01") THEN next_state lt
e5 ELSIF (coin "10") THEN
next_state lt e10 ELSIF (coin "11")
THEN next_state lt e25
ELSE next_state lt standby
END IF WHEN e5 gt IF (coin
"10") THEN next_state lt e15
ELSIF (coin "11") THEN next_state
lt e30 ELSIF (coin "01") THEN
next_state lt e10 ELSE
next_state lt e5 END IF WHEN e10
gt
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output process
-------------------------------------------------
--------------------------- output PROCESS
( current_state ) --------------------
--------------------------------------------------
------ BEGIN -- Default Assignment
change lt "00" release lt '0' --
Default Assignment To Internals --
Combined Actions CASE current_state IS
WHEN standby gt change lt "00"
release lt '0' WHEN e5 gt
change lt "00" release lt '0'
WHEN e10 gt change lt "00"
release lt '0' WHEN e25 gt
change lt "00" release lt '0'
WHEN e30 gt change lt "00"
release lt '0' WHEN e15 gt
change lt "00" release lt '0'
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Hierarchical States
hstate1
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Testbenches

• Harness for a component
• Interface matching
• Inputs ? Outputs
• Allows
• Stimulation of input signals
• Output signal checking
• ASSERTs
• Waiting/branching based on outputs
• Debugging with waveforms
• Testbench component
• Block diagram
• Tester component
• Typically a flowchart

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Testbenches

• Advantage over ad hoc methods
• Ex. do-files
• Allows simulation of inputs, but no output
  checking
• Testbench code reveals interface specification
  and functionality (self documenting)
• Reproducible
• Can use same testbench for multiple
  implementations/generations of a component
• Can generate or utilize data file to share tests
  between simulation and hardware testing

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Testbenches

• A test procedure is a methodology for testing a
  design
• Sequence of steps
• Testing aspects of a designs functionality
• Example ALU
• Test each type of operation with different inputs
• Along with asserting inputs/operations, can also
  verify correctness of output values
• Also, use if-then-else semantics

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Testbenches

• Facilities in HDL Designer
• Easy creation of tester/testbench
• Flowchart view is natural choice for implementing
  a test bench
• Mirrors test procedure in a graphical
  representation
• VHDL support for testbenches
• ASSERT/REPORT/SEVERITY clause
• Can use boolean operators here
• Testbench operates in simulation

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Testbenches

• Simple testbench example
• Drive inputs
• Wait for combinational logic
• Wait for clock edges
• ASSERT/REPORT/SEVERITY
• Repeat