eegn-494 hdl design principles for vlsi/fpgas

Kazi Fall 2006 EEGN 494 1

EEGN-494

HDL Design Principles for VLSI/FPGAs

Khurram Kazi

2Kazi Fall 2006 EEGN 494

Fundamental Steps to a Good design

If you have a good start, the project will go smoothly

Partitioning the Design is a good start Partition by:

Functionality Don’t mix two different clock domains in a single block

Don’t make the blocks too large Optimize for Synthesis


Partitioning

Partition Design into smaller components:Partition can be done in HDLorDuring Synthesis


Recommended rules for Synthesis

When implementing combinatorial paths do not have hierarchy

Register all outputs Do not implement glue logic between block, partition

them well Separate designs on functional boundary Keep block sizes to a reasonable size Separate core logic, pads, clock and JTAG


Avoid hierarchical combinatorial blocks

The path between reg1 and reg2 is divided between three different block

Due to hierarchical boundaries, optimization of the combinatorial logic cannot be achieved

Synthesis tools (Synopsys) maintain the integrity of the I/O ports, combinatorial optimization cannot be achieved between blocks (unless “grouping” is used).

Not recommended Design Practice

CombinatorialLogic1

CombinatorialLogic2

CombinatorialLogic3

Block A Block B Block C

reg1 reg2


Recommend way to handle Combinatorial Paths

All the combinatorial circuitry is grouped in the same block that has its output connected the destination flip flop

It allows the optimal minimization of the combinatorial logic during synthesis

Allows simplified description of the timing interface

Recommended practice

CombinatorialLogic1 &

Logic2& Logic3

Block A Block C

reg1reg2


Register all outputs

Simplifies the synthesis design environment: Inputs to the individual block arrive within the same relative delay (caused by wire delays)

Don’t really need to specify output requirements since paths starts at flip flop outputs.

Take care of fanouts, rule of thumb, keep the fanout to 16 (dependent on technology and components that are being driven by the output)

Register all outputs

Block X Block Y

reg1reg2

Block Y

reg3


NO GLUE LOGIC between blocks

No Glue Logic between Blocks, nomatter what the temptation

Block X

reg1

Block Y

reg3

Top

Due to time pressures, and a bug found that can be simply be fixed by adding some simple glue logic. RESIST THE TEMPTATION!!!

At this level in the hierarchy, this implementation will not allow the glue logic to be absorbed within any lower level block.


Separate design with different goals

reg1

Slow Logic

Top

Timecritical path

reg3

reg1 may be driven by time critical function, hence will have different optimization constraints

reg3 may be driven by slow logic, hence no need to constrain it for speed


Optimization based on design requirements

reg1

Slow Logic

Top

Timecritical path

reg3

Area optimized block

Speed optimized block Use different entities to

partition design blocks Allows different

constraints during synthesis to optimize for area or speed or both.


Separate FSM with random logic

Separation of the FSM and the random logic allows you to use FSM optimized synthesis

reg1

RandomLogic

Top

FSM

reg3

Standard optimizationtechniques used

Use FSM optimization tool


Maintain a reasonable block size

Partition your design such that each block is between 1000-10000 gates (this is strictly tools and technology dependent)

Larger the blocks, longer the run time -> quick iterations cannot be done.


Partitioning of Full ASIC

Top-level block includes I/O pads and the Mid block instantiation

Mid includes Clock generator, JTAG, CORE logic

CORE LOGIC includes all the functionality and internal scan circuitry

Clockgenerator(PLL etc)

JTAG

CORELogic

Mid

Top

I/O Pads


Synthesis Constraints

Specifying an Area goal Area constraints are vendor/library dependent

(e.g. 2 input-nand gate, square mils, grid etc) Design compiler has the Max Area constraint

as one of the constraint attributes.


Timing constraints for synchronous designs

Define timing paths within the design, i.e. paths leading into the design, internal paths and design leading out of the design Define the clock Define the I/O timing relative to the clock

reg2

Block to be synthesized

reg3A EDCB

clk


Define a clock for synthesis

Clock source Period Duty cycle Defining the clock constraints the internal timing

paths

reg2


reg3DCB

clk

Duty cycle

Clock period

QD QD

1 Clock cycle


Timing goals for synchronous design

Define timing constraints for all paths within a design Define the clocks Define the I/O timing relative to the clock

reg2


reg3DCB QD QD

Constrained by clk

Paths B and D still unconstraint

A E

clk


Constraining input path

Input delay is specified relative to the clock External logic uses some time within the clock period and i.e. TclkToQ(clock to Q delay) + Tw (net delay) ->{At input to B} Example command for this in synopsys design compiler:

Dc_shell> set_input_delay –clock clk 5 (where 5 represents the input delay) (This command is Synopsys centric)

reg2


B QDA

clk

Q W

TclkToQ Tw


Constraining output path

Output delay is specified relative to the clock How much of the clock period does the external logic

(shown by cloud b) use up? Tb + Tsetup; The amount to be specified as the output delay

reg2


b QDA

clk

Q

TclkToQ

Tsetup

Tb

External logic


Timing paths


Combinatorial logic may have multiple paths

•Static Timing Analysis uses the longest path to calculate a maximum delay or the shortest path to calculate a minimum delay.


Schematic converted into a timing graph

Each arrow represents a net or a cell delay (timing arc)


Calculating a path’s delay1.0

0.50.34

0.25

0.12

Path delay = 1.0 + 0.5 + 0.34 + 0.25 + 0.12 = 2.21

0.0

0.75

0.450.56

0.2

0.1

Path delay = 0.75 + 0.45 + 0.56 +0.1 + 0.2 +0.1 = 2.16 0.1

eegn-494 hdl design principles for vlsi/fpgas

Documents

combinatorial logic

individual block

combinatorial optimization

outputno glue logic

simple glue logic

combinatorial circuitry

core logiccore logic

asictoplevel block