Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard

Part 2: Verifying Hardware

by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard

Part Two: Verifying Designs

by
Stuart Sutherland
Sutherland HDL, Inc.
Portland, Oregon

Part 2-2

Sutherland
HD
L

copyright notice

2001
All material in this presentation is copyrighted by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland,
Oregon. All rights reserved. No material from this presentation may be duplicated or
transmitted by any means or in any form without the express written permission of
Sutherland HDL, Inc.
Sutherland HDL Incorporated
22805 SW 92nd Place
Tualatin, OR 97062 USA

phone: (503) 692-0898

fax: (503) 692-1512
e-mail: [email protected]
web: www.sutherland-hdl.com
Verilog is a registered trademark of Cadence Design Systems, San Jose, CA

Part 2-1
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-3

About Stuart Sutherland Sutherland

and Sutherland HDL, Inc. HD
L

Sutherland HDL, Inc. (founded 1992)

Provides expert Verilog HDL and PLI design services
Provides Verilog HDL and PLI Training
Located near Portland Oregon, World-wide services
Mr. Stuart Sutherland
Over 13 years experience with Verilog
Worked as a design engineer on military flight simulators
Senior Applications Engineer for Gateway Design
Automation, the founding company of Verilog
Author of the popular Verilog HDL Quick Reference Guide
and The Verilog PLI Handbook
Involved in the IEEE 1364 Verilog standardization

Part 2-4

Sutherland
Seminar Objectives HD
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The focus of this seminar is on understanding what is new

in the Verilog-2001 standard
An overview of the Verilog HDL
Details on the major enhancements in Verilog-2001
Ideas on how you can use these enhancements, today

Assumptions:
You have a background in hardware engineering
You are at least familiar with using Verilog-1995

Part 2-2
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-5

Sutherland
Seminar Flow HD
L

Part 1 covers Verilog-2001 enhancements that primarily affect

modeling hardware
ANSI C style port lists
Sensitivity list enhancements
Model attributes
Signed data types and signed arithmetic
Multidimensional arrays
Part 2 covers Verilog-2001 enhancements that primarily affect
verifying hardware
New compiler directives
Enhanced File I/O
Re-entrant tasks and recursive functions
Generate blocks
Configuration blocks
Deep submicron timing accuracy enhancements

Part 2-6

Sutherland
Verilog-2001 Update HD
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The IEEE Std. 1364-2001 Verilog standard is official

Work on the standard was finished in March, 2000
IEEE balloting on the standard was completed in July, 2000
Clarifications to the standard as a result of ballot comments
were approved in December, 2000
The IEEE officially ratified the standard in March, 2001

Part 2-3
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-7

Sutherland
Why a New Standard? HD
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Add enhancements to Verilog

Design methodologies are evolving
System level design, intellectual property models, design
re-use, very deep submicron, etc.
Cliff Cummings Top Five Enhancement Requests from a
survey at the HDLCon 1996 conference

Clarify ambiguities in Verilog 1364-1995

The 1364-1995 reference manual came the Gateway
Design Automation Verilog-XL Users Manual
Verilog-2001 more clearly defines Verilog syntax and
semantics

Part 2-8

Sutherland
Goals for Verilog-2001 HD
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Enhance Verilog for

Higher level, abstract system level modeling
Intellectual Property (IP) modeling
Greater timing accuracy for very deep submicron

Make Verilog even easier to use

Eliminate redundancies in declarations
Simplify syntax of some verbose constructs

Correct errata and ambiguities

Maintain backward compatibility
Ensure that EDA vendors will implement all enhancements!

Part 2-4
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-9

Sutherland
Overview of HDL Enhancements HD
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30+ major enhancements were added to the Verilog HDL

Brief description and examples
New reserved words

Errata and clarifications

Dozens of corrections were made to the 1364-1995
standard
Do not affect Verilog users
Very important to Verilog tool implementors
Not listed in this paper refer to the 1364-2001 Verilog
Language Reference Manual (LRM)

Part 2-10

Sutherland
Support For Verilog-2001 HD
L

Several simulator and synthesis companies are working on

adding support for the Verilog-2001 enhancements
Simulators:
Model Technology ModelSim currently supports most new features
Co-Design SystemSim currently supports most new features
Synopsys VCS planned Q3-2001 support for several new features
Cadence NC-Verilog and Verilog-XL no announced release date

Synthesis:
Synopsys Presto (replaces DC compiler) currently supports a
synthesizable subset of Verilog-2001 enhancements
Cadence BuildGates no announced release date
Exemplar Leonardo Spectrum no announced release date
Information last updated July, 2001

Part 2-5
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-11

Quick Review: Sutherland

Modeling a Test Bench HD
L

The Verilog HDL is used to model a simulation test bench

The test bench is a module, which contains:
An instance of the top level of the design
Procedures to describe the input stimulus
Procedures to describe output verification
stimulus design models verification
module addbit (a,b,ci,sum,co);
initial input a, b, ci; initial
begin output sum, co; begin
a = 0; $monitor
b = 1; behavioral or RTL (sum,co);
ci = 0; or structural model end
...
endmodule

Part 2-12

Quick Review: Sutherland

Verilog HDL Simulation Commands HD
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The Verilog HDL includes compiler directives and system tasks

to control the simulation of Verilog models
`<directive> compiler directives
Executed prior to simulation time zero
Instructions to simulators on how to compile models
Always start with a ` accent grave (the back tic)
$<task> system tasks
Executed during simulation (i.e.: to display values)
Used as programming statements
Always start with a $ dollar sign
This chapter only lists some of these simulator commands; Others
are presented later in the course

Part 2-6
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-13

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Enhanced Conditional Compilation HD
L

Verilog-1995 provides compiler directives that allow Verilog

source to be conditional compiled or excluded
`ifdef <macro_name>
<verilog_source_code>
`else
<verilog_source_code>
`endif

Verilog-2001 adds new directives `ifndef and `elsif for more

extensive conditional compilation control
...
`ifdef RTL_TEST
alu_rtl u1 (...);
`elsif GATE
alu_gate u1 (...);
`else
initial $display(ERROR: neither RTL or GATE model instantiated);
`endif

Part 2-14

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

File and Line Compiler Directives HD
L

Verilog-2001 adds file and line compiler directives

New directives: `file and `line
Document the original location of Verilog source code
Verilog tools often include file name and line number
information in error and warning messages
If a pre-process utility program modifies the Verilog
source code, the original file and line information could
be lost if not preserved by the `file and `line directives

Part 2-7
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-15

Quick Review: Sutherland

Text Output System Tasks HD
L

$display displays a formatted message when executed

always @(posedge clock)
$display(At %d: a=%b b=%b sum=%b, $time, a, b, sum);

$strobe similar to $display, but postpones execution until

the end of the current simulation time step
$write similar to $display, but does not add a new line
$monitor displays a formatted message when a signal
changes value (a background task that is only invoked once!)
initial
$monitor(At %d: a=%b b=%b sum=%b, $time, a, b, sum);

Part 2-16

Quick Review: Sutherland

Opening and Writing to Files HD
L

$fopen opens a disk file for writing

Returns an integer that points to the open file
$fmonitor, $fdisplay, $fstrobe and $fwrite print to files
Up to 30 other files may be opened
$fclose will close a file and free the file pointer

integer f1;
initial
begin
f1 = $fopen(my_chip_outputs);
$fmonitor(f1, time=%t out_bus=%h, $realtime, out_bus);
end

Note: In Verilog-1995, a file is always opened as a new file

Part 2-8
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-17

Quick Review: Sutherland

Writing to Multiple Files HD
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$fopen returns a 32-bit multi-channel descriptor (mcd)

Each mcd has a single bit set
Verilog-2001 also reserves bit 31
Bit zero is reserved
Represents standard out and the simulation log file
Multiple files may be written to by OR-ing mcds together
integer f1, f2;
initial
begin
f1 = $fopen(output.dat);
f2 = $fopen(errors.dat);
//check for errors on output
//write error messages to all files and standard out
forever @(out_bus)
if (^out_bus === 1bx) //xor all bits of bus to compare
$fstrobe(f1|f2|1,OUT_BUS ERROR AT %t, %realtime);
end

Part 2-18

Quick Review: Sutherland

Reading Files HD
L

Design Verification often needs to read from files, for example

To load patterns into RAM and ROM models
To read test vector files for stimulus

Verilog has commands to read pattern files into memories

$readmemb reads ASCII files with binary patterns
$readmemh reads ASCII files with hexadecimal patterns

To read any other file type requires customizing Verilog

simulators using the Programming Language Interface (PLI)
Part of the IEEE Verilog standard
Provides access to the C file I/O routines
Very powerful, but requires writing file readers in C

Part 2-9
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-19

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Enhanced File I/O System Tasks HD
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30
Verilog-2001 adds the ability to open up to 2 files
Uses a file descriptor (fd) that represents a single file
Sets bit 31 and 1 or more additional bits
Cannot be OR-ed to represent multiple files
Adds an optional type argument to $fopen to indicate if the file is
opened for reading, writing, update (read/write), append, etc.
mcd = $fopen{file_name); //opens an mcd file for writing, only
fd = $fopen{file_name, <type>); //opens fd file for reading/writing

Verilog-2001 adds several system task that can both read from
and write to fd files, in ASCII or binary
$ferror, $fgetc, $fgets, $fflush, $fread, $fscanf, $fseek,
$fsscanf, $ftel, $rewind, $sformat, $swrite, $swriteb,
$swriteh, $swriteo, $ungetc

Part 2-20

Quick Review: Sutherland

User Defined Invocation Options HD
L

Verilog allows users to create new simulation invocation

options
The $test$plusargs system function checks to see if a
plus option was used when simulation was invoked

example invocation: verilog test.v chip.v +test2

initial
begin
if ($test$plusargs(test1))
$readmemh(test1.dat, vectors);
else if ($test$plusargs(test2))
$readmemh(test2.dat, vectors);
else if ($test$plusargs(test3))
$readmemh(test3.dat, vectors);
else
$display(Error: no test option specified);
end

Part 2-10
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-21

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Enhanced Invocation Option Tests HD
L

Verilog-2001 adds the ability to read arguments of invocation

options, as well as doing a true/false test
Returns true if option exists, and retrieves the value of any text
after the option tested up to a white space, in the format specified
$value$plusargs(option%<format>, <variable>);
%b read as binary value %e read as real value, exponential format
%o read as octal value %f read as real value, decimal format
%d read as decimal value %g read as real value, shortest format
%h read as hex value %s read as character string

example invocation: verilog test.v chip.v +testfile=test2.dat

reg [1023:0] file_string;
initial
if ($value$plusargs(testfile=%s, file_string))
$readmemh(file_string, vectors);
else
$display(Error: no test file option specified);

Part 2-22

Quick Review: Sutherland

Generating Random Values HD
L

The $random system function returns a random value

Returns a 32-bit signed integer value
parameter seed = 1;
initial
for (i=0; i<=`num_tests; i=i+1)
@(posedge test_clk)
vector = $random(seed);
Specifying a seed is optional
Given the same seed value, the same random sequence
will be generated each simulation

In Verilog-1995, the random number generator was not standardized, making it

impossible to compare results from two different simulators

Part 2-11
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-23

Verilog-2001 Adds a Sutherland

Standard Random Number Generator HD
L

Verilog-2001 defines the C source code for the generator used

by $random
All simulators can generate the same random number
sequence when given the same seed value
Simulation results from different simulators can be
compared
New products do not need to re-invent number
generators
Uses the random number generator from Verilog-XL

Part 2-24

Quick Review: Sutherland

Tasks and Functions in a Test Bench HD
L

Verilog tasks and functions allow structured programming

techniques to be used in the test bench
A main control routine invokes various tests
Tests can be written once and called many times
initial //Main test control task start_test;
begin input [255:0] file_name;
start_test(test1.data); begin
verify; $readmemh(file_name, dsp.ram.core);
start_test(test2.data); sys_reset;
verify; end
... endtask
task verify;
...
endtask
task sys_reset;
...
endtask

Part 2-12
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-25

Quick Review: Sutherland

Verilog Tasks HD
L

A task is a special type of procedure

Defined in the module in which it is used
Called from another procedure, like a subroutine
May delay the execution of module my_chip (...);
...
statements always @(posedge clock)
begin
May have any number of SendData(data, dout);
outputs, inputs, and inouts end
...

Arguments are passed in and out task SendData;

of the task in the order of declaration input [31:0] data_bus;
within the the task output [31:0] data_out;
begin
#3.2 data_out = data_bus;
end
A task can take time to execute endtask
endmodule

Part 2-26

Quick Review: Sutherland

Verilog Functions HD
L

A function is a special type of procedure

Defined in the module in which it is used
Called from any place a value can be used
Returns a scalar, vector or real-number value
Must execute in zero time module my_chip (...);
...
May only have inputs always @(posedge clock)
begin
Must have at least one input result = Adder(a, b);
...
end
Arguments are passed in to the function [31:0] Adder;
function in the order of declaration input [31:0] in1, in2;
within the the function begin
Adder = in1 + in2;
end
The value assigned to the function name endfunction
is the return value of the function endmodule

Part 2-13
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-27

Verilog-2001 Adds ANSI C Style Sutherland

Task/Function Declarations HD
L

Using the declaration order to pass values is confusing

Different syntax than module declarations
Different syntax than C
Verilog-2001 allows tasks and functions to define an argument
list module my_chip (...);
...
Documents the order that always @(posedge clock)
values will be passed begin
SendData(data, dout);
More consistent with ...
module declarations and end
ANSI C task SendData (input [31:0] data_bus,
output [31:0] data_out);
Arguments are passed in and out of the begin
task in the order of the argument list #3.2 data_out = data_bus;
end
endtask
endmodule

Part 2-28

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Signed Functions HD
L

With Verilog-1995, functions could return:

A 1-bit value
function f1 (input [63:0] a, b);

An unsigned vector of any vector width

function [7:0] f2 (input [63:0] a, b);

A signed 32-bit integer ( function integer f3; )

function integer f3 (input [63:0] a, b);

A double-precision real value ( function real f4; )

function real f4 (input [63:0] a, b);

Verilog-2001 adds the ability to have a signed return of any

vector size function signed [63:0] f5 (input [63:0] a, b);
signed was a reserved word in the Verilog-1995 standard, but was not used

Part 2-14
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-29

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Constant Functions HD
L

In Verilog-1995, vector widths had to be declared using

constant expressions

Verilog-2001 adds constant functions

Same syntax as standard Verilog functions
Limited to statements that can be evaluated at compile time
Can be called anywhere a constant expression is required
Provides for more scalable, re-usable models

Example on next page

Part 2-30

Sutherland
A Constant Function Example HD
L

module ram (...);

parameter RAM_SIZE = 1024;
parameter ADDRESS = 12;
input [ADDRESS-1:0] address_bus;

module ram (...);

parameter RAM_SIZE = 1024;
input [clogb2(RAM_SIZE)-1:0] address_bus;
...

function integer clogb2 (input integer depth};

begin
for(clogb2=0; depth>0; clogb2=clogb2+1)
depth = depth >> 1;
end
endfunction
...

Part 2-15
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-31

Verilog-2001 Adds Re-entrant Sutherland

Tasks and Recursive Functions HD
L

In Verilog-1995, tasks and functions use static storage

If a task is called while a concurrent call to the task is still executing, the
second call will destroy the storage of the first call
If a function calls itself, the recursive call will overwrite the storage of its
parent
Verilog-2001 adds automatic tasks and functions
Each call to the task/function allocates unique storage
Concurrent task calls will not interfere with each other
Recursive calls to a function are stacked
function automatic [63:0] factorial;
input [31:0] n;
if (n == 1)
factorial = 1;
else
factorial = n * factorial(n-1); Recursive function call
endfunction
automatic is a new reserved word in Verilog-2001

Part 2-32

Quick Review: Sutherland

Structural Modules HD
L

Structural models are represented as a netlist

A netlist is a list of models and the interconnecting nets
module chip (q1, q0, a, clk, rst); This is the chip.dff1 instance
output q1, q1b, q0;
input [3:0] a; module chip
input clk, rst;
a
need to show how each q1
instance is connected
reg4 reg4 ();
q0
and2 and2 ();
or2 or2 ();
clk
rst
dff dff1 ();
dff dff2 ();
endmodule
All instances execute in parallel
(events produced by each instance are scheduled
for sequential execution by a Verilog simulator)

Part 2-16
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-33

Quick Review: Sutherland

Delays and Module Instances HD
L

A module instance cannot be specified with delays

Delays are specified inside component modules, not on the
instance
`timescale 1ns / 1ns `timescale 1ns / 100ps
module register (r,d,ld,clr); module dff (q,qb,ck,d,rst,pre);
output [31:0] r; output q, qb;
input [31:0] d; input clk, d, rst, pre;
input ld, clr; ...
... nand #2.15 p1 (q, n1, n2, rst);
pullup (nc); ...
dff d0 (r[0], ,ld,d[0],clr,nc); endmodule
dff d1 (r[1], ,ld,d[1],clr,nc);
...
delays can only be specified
on a primitive instance
no delays on the module instance

Part 2-34

Quick Review: Sutherland

Module Parameters HD
L

Parameters are run-time constants

Parameters can store:
integer numbers
real numbers
ASCII text strings
min:typ:max delay expressions
module RAM (data, address, ...);
parameter WORD = 8; //default word width
parameter ADDR = 10; //default address width
parameter SIZE = 1024; //default RAM size
inout [WORD-1:0] data;
input [ADDR-1:0] address;
reg [WORD-1:0] core [0:SIZE-1];
...

Part 2-17
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-35

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Sized Parameter Constants HD
L

A Verilog constant is a parameter

parameter <identifier> = <value>;
parameter [msb:lsb] <identifier> = <value>; sized parameter

If no size is specified, the parameter defaults to the size of

the expression on the right-hand side
module test; module state_machine(...);
parameter CYCLE = 10; ...
... parameter [1:0] GO = 2b01,
always #(CYCLE/2) [1:0] STOP = 2b10;
clock = ~ clock ...
if (state == GO)
//do something
else if (state == STOP)
//do something else

Most Verilog simulators and synthesis tools already supported

sized parameters as a de facto standard

Part 2-36

Quick Review: Sutherland

Explicit Parameter Redefinition HD
L

Parameters may be redefined for each instance of a module

Redefinition occurs before simulation time 0
Parameters become constant after loading is completed
The defparam keyword explicitly redefines parameters
Uses the hierarchical name of the parameter
module chip ( . . . ); module RAM (data, address, ...);
... parameter WORD = 8;
RAM u1 (data1, ...); parameter ADDR = 10;
parameter SIZE = 1024;
RAM u2 (data2, ...); inout [WORD-1:0] data;
defparam u2.SIZE = 256; input [ADDR-1:0] address;
defparam u2.ADDR = 8; reg [WORD-1:0] core [0:SIZE-1];
defparam u2.WORD = 4; ...
RAM u3 (data3, ...);
defparam u3.WORD = 64; The relative hierarchical name of the
... parameter to be redefined

Part 2-18
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-37

Quick Review: Sutherland

Implicit In-line Parameter Redefinition H D L

Module instantiation and parameter redefinition can be

combined into a single statement
The # token may be used as part of the module
instantiation to implicitly redefine the module parameters
Parameters must be redefined in the same order in which
the parameters are declared
module chip ( . . . ); module RAM (data, address, ...);
... parameter WORD = 8;
RAM u1 (data1, ...); parameter ADDR = 10;
parameter SIZE = 1024;
RAM u2 #(4,8,256) (...); inout [WORD-1:0] data;
RAM u3 #(64) (...); input [ADDR-1:0] address;
... reg [WORD-1:0] core [0:SIZE-1];
...

parameter values must be passed in the order defined; a parameter cannot be skipped

Part 2-38

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Explicit In-line Parameter Passing HD
L

Verilog-2001 adds the ability to explicitly name parameters

when passing parameter values
Provides better self-documenting code
Parameter values can be passed in any order

module ram (...);

parameter WIDTH = 8;
parameter SIZE = 256;
...
endmodule

Verilog-1995 Verilog-2001
module my_chip (...); module my_chip (...);
... ...
RAM #(8,1023) ram2 (...); RAM #(.SIZE(1023)) ram2 (...);
endmodule endmodule

Part 2-19
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-39

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Fixed Constants HD
L

Verilog-2001 adds a fixed constant, called a localparam

localparam <identifier> = <value>;
localparam [msb:lsb] <identifier> = <value>; sized constant

If no size is specified, the parameter defaults to the size of

the expression on the right-hand side
A localparam cannot be redefined using defparam or SDF
module multiplier (a, b, product);
localparam a_width = 8, b_width = 8;
localparam product_width = a_width + b_width;
input [a_width-1:0] a;
input [b_width-1:0] b;
output [product_width-1:0] product;
...

Part 2-40

Quick Review: Sutherland

Multiple Module Instances HD
L

The original Verilog HDL provided 2 ways to specify multiple

instances of the same module
module Reg4 (out, in, clk, rst); module Reg4 (out, in, clk, rst);
output [3:0] out; output [3:0] out;
input [3:0] in; input [3:0] in;
input clk,rst; input clk,rst;
dff i0 (out[0],in[0],clk,rst); dff i0 (out[0],in[0],clk,rst),
dff i1 (out[1],in[1],clk,rst); i1 (out[1],in[1],clk,rst),
dff i2 (out[2],in[2],clk,rst); i2 (out[2],in[2],clk,rst),
dff i3 (out[3],in[3],clk,rst); i3 (out[3],in[3],clk,rst);
endmodule endmodule

Verilog-1995 added a more simple form, arrays of instances

module Reg4 (out, in, clk, rst);
output [3:0] out;
input [3:0] in;
input clk,rst;
dff i[3:0] (out,in,clk,rst);
endmodule

Part 2-20
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-41

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Verilog Generate Blocks HD
L

Verilog-2001 adds true generate capability

Use for loops to generate any number of instances of:
Modules, primitives, procedures, continuous
assignments, tasks, functions, variables, nets
Use ifelse and case decisions to control what instances
are generated
Provides greater control than the VHDL generate
New reserved words added:
generate, endgenerate, genvar, localparam

Example on next page

Part 2-42

Sutherland
Verilog Generate Example HD
L

module multiplier (a, b, product);

parameter a_width = 8, b_width = 8;
localparam product_width = a_width + b_width;
input [a_width-1:0] a;
input [b_width-1:0] b;
output [product_width-1:0] product;
generate
if ((a_width < 8) || (b_width < 8))
CLA_multiplier #(a_width, b_width) u1 (a, b, product);
else
WALLACE_multiplier #(a_width, b_width) u1 (a, b, product);
endgenerate
endmodule

Part 2-21
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-43

Quick Review: Sutherland

Verilog Models After Synthesis HD
L

RTL models are used before synthesis

Structural models (netlists) are generated by synthesis
Component models are created by library developers
Pre-Synthesis
Simulation
Verilog
RTL Model
RTL
Generation Models Verilog
Structural
Synthesis Netlist
Models
Post-Synthesis
The target library Simulation
contains information Target IC
Target IC
for the synthesis Vendors Library Model Vendors
software; It is not a Synthesis Generation Verilog Model
Library Library
simulation library

Part 2-44

Quick Review: Sutherland

Accurate Model Libraries HD
L

Each component in a library is a separate Verilog module

Each component model contains:
Functionality
How input values affect output values

Technology (CMOS, TTL, ECL, etc.)

How process technologies affect the device behavior

Timing
The time it takes input changes to propagate to the
outputs
Restrictions on input changes in order for the models to
function properly

Part 2-22
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-45

Quick Review: Sutherland

Specify Blocks HD
L

Specify blocks specify timing information about a module

Must be inside the module boundary
May be defined anywhere within the module
Specify blocks contain:
Pin-to-pin path delays for propagation times from module
inputs to module outputs
Timing constraint checks such as setup and hold times
specparam constants to store data about the model
specify
(in *> out) = 3;
$setup(in, posedge clk, 1.2);
specparam drive = 0.4; specparam load = 1.8;
endspecify

Part 2-46

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

On-detect Pulse Error Propagation HD
L

Verilog-1995 has on-event pulse error propagation

A pulse is a glitch on the inputs of a module path that is less
than the delay of the path
An input pulse propagates to a path output as an X, with the
same delay as if a valid input change had propagated to the
output
Verilog-2001 adds on-detect pulse error propagation
As soon as an input pulse is detected, a logic X is
propagated to a path output, without the path delay
New reserved words added:
pulsestyle_onevent, pulsestyle_ondetect

Part 2-23
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-47

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Negative Pulse Detection HD
L

Due to different rising-transition and falling-transition delays, it

is possible for the trailing edge of a glitch to propagate before
the leading edge has propagated
In Verilog-1995, a negative pulse is cancelled
Verilog-2001 adds negative pulse detections
Negative pulse detection will propagate a logic X for the
duration of the negative pulse
New reserved words added:
showcancelled, noshowcancelled

Part 2-48

Quick Review: Sutherland

Input Timing Constraints HD
L

Input timing constraints can be monitored using system tasks

$setup (data_event, reference_event, setup_limit, notifier);
$hold (reference_event, data_event, hold_limit, notifier);
$setuphold (reference_event, data_event, setup_limit, hold_limit, notifier);
$skew (reference_event, data_event, skew_limit, notifier);
$recovery (reference_event, data_event, recovery_limit, notifier);
$period (reference_event, data_event, period_limit, notifier);
$width (reference_event, width_limit, max_threshold, notifier);
Reference event is the input that establishes a reference point for
changes on the data event
Data event is the input that is monitored for changes
Limit is the timing required between reference and data
Notifier (optional) is a scalar reg that is toggled on violations

Part 2-24
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-49

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

New Timing Constraint Checks HD
L

Verilog-2001 adds new timing constraint checks to more

accurately model very deep submicron input constraints:
$removal
$recrem
$timeskew
$fullskew
Refer to the IEEE 1364-2001 Verilog standard for details
on these tasks

Part 2-50

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Negative Timing Constraints HD
L

Verilog-2001 adds the ability to specify negative values for:

$setuphold setup and hold times
Adds new, optional arguments to the Verilog-1995
$setuphold task
$recrem recovery and removal times
A new timing check task in Verilog-2001

Part 2-25
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-51

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Enhanced SDF support HD
L

Verilog-2001 defines:
How timing objects in SDF map to objects in Verilog
Based on the latest SDF standard, IEEE 1497-1999

Verilog-2001 adds a standard $sdf_annotate system task

Already a de-facto standard in all simulators

Verilog-2001 changes the syntax of the specparam constant

Can now be declared at the module level as well as within a
specify block (this change was required to support SDF
labels)

Part 2-52

Quick Review: Sutherland

Managing Verilog Designs HD
L

Designs are often made up of many modules

Typically, each module is in a separate file x a complete
design might be made up of hundreds of files
In a top-down design flow, there will be RTL versions and
synthesized gate-level versions of the same module
Verilog-1995 and earlier generations of Verilog left design
management up to software toolsmanaging the location and
version of Verilog models was not part of the Verilog language
Most Verilog simulators provide:
A -f invocation option to manage design files
-v and - y invocation options to manage design libraries
The `uselib compiler directive to manage model versions

Part 2-26
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-53

Quick Review: Sutherland

Using `uselib With Model Libraries HD
L

Most Verilog simulators have a `uselib compiler directive to

scan libraries
`uselib is not in the IEEE Verilog standard (1995 or 2001)
The syntax is similar to the -v and -y options
With `uselib, library information can be specified within the
Verilog source code instead of at the invocation command
Different instances of a module can come from different
libraries
module system (...);
...
`uselib file=../moto_lib.v
moto_asic i1 (...);
`uselib dir=../lsi500k.dir libext=.v
lsi_asic i2 (...);
endmodule

Part 2-54

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Configurations HD
L

Verilog-2001 adds configuration blocks

All software tools will have a consistent method
The version for each module instance can be specified
Virtual libraries specified within Verilog source code
Physical file locations specified in a map file
New reserved words added: config, endconfig, design,
instance, cell, use, liblist

Configuration rules and an example are on the next 2 pages

Part 2-27
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-55

Sutherland
Verilog Configuration Notes HD
L

Verilog design hierarchy is modeled the same as always

Configurations specify which module source code should be used for each instance
of a module.
With Verilog-1995, it is up to the simulator on how to specify which model
version should be used for each instance (if the simulator can do it at all)

The configuration block is specified outside of all modules

Can be in the same file as the Verilog source code
Can be in a separate file
Verilog model source code does not need to be modified in order to change the
design configuration!

A separate file maps logical library names to physical file locations

Verilog source code does not need to be modified when a design is moved to a
different physical source location!

Part 2-56

Sutherland
Verilog Configuration Example HD
L

Verilog Design Configuration Block (part of Verilog source code)

module test; /* define a name for this configuration */
... config cfg4
myChip dut (...); /* specify where to find top level modules */
... design rtlLib.test
endmodule
/* set the default search order for finding
module myChip(...); instantiated modules */
... default liblist rtlLib gateLib;
adder a1 (...); /* explicitly specify which library to use
adder a2 (...); for the following module instance */
... instance test.dut.a2 liblist gateLib;
endmodule endconfig

/* location of RTL models (current directory) */

library rtlLib "./*.v";
Library Map File /* Location of synthesized models */
library gateLib "./synth_out/*.v";

Part 2-28
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-57

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Enhanced PLA Modeling HD
L

Verilog-2001 extends the capability of the PLA system tasks

($async$or$array, $async$and$array, etc.)

In Verilog-1995, arguments had to be scalar

In Verilog-2001, arguments can be vectors

Part 2-58

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

Extended VCD Files HD
L

Verilog-2001 adds new Value Change Dump (VCD)

capabilities
Dump port change values
Dump strength level changes
Dump the time at which simulation finishes
New system tasks added:
$dumpports, $dumpportsall, $dumpportsoff,
$dumpportson, $dumpportslimit and
$dumpportsflush

Part 2-29
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-59

Verilog-2001 Adds Sutherland

PLI Enhancements HD
L

Several enhancements added to the VPI library

Simulation control
Stop, finish, save, restart, etc.
Support for all the new Verilog-2001 HDL constructs
Multidimensional arrays, attributes, signed arithmetic,
recursive functions, enhanced file I/O, etc.

Maintenance updates to TF and ACC libraries

Corrected errata
Clarified ambiguities

Part 2-60

Sutherland
The VPI Library Is The Future! HD
L

All enhancements to the Verilog language

are only supported in the VPI
library of the PLI
The TF and ACC libraries (PLI 1.0)
are not being maintained,
but not enhanced

The TF and ACC libraries are prehistoric!

You should be using the VPI PLI library

Part 2-30
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-61

Sutherland
Congratulations! HD
L

this concludes Part 2 of the workshop

Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Where can I learn even more?

If you are a design engineer, we recommend:

Comprehensive Verilog HDL for Design Engineers
By Sutherland HDL, Inc. www.sutherland-hdl.com
Our 4-day workshop covers the entire Verilog language,
including the new Verilog-2001 features, with lots of labs
If you are a verification engineer, we recommend:
Advanced Verilog PLI Training
By Sutherland HDL, Inc. www.sutherland-hdl.com
A 4-day workshop on customizing and extending Verilog
simulators by linking in C-based models, test routines, etc.

Part 2-62

Additional Resources: Sutherland

Verilog & Synthesis Books HD
L

www.verilog-2001.com
Information about the Verilog-2001 standard
Verilog HDL Quick Reference Guide, Verilog-2001 version
Stuart Sutherlandeasy place for keywords, syntax, etc.
IEEE Std 1364-2001
IEEE Standard Hardware Description Language Based on
the Verilog Hardware Description Language
The Verilog Hardware Description Language
Donald Thomas & Phil Moorbygood Verilog introduction
The Verilog PLI Handbook
Stuart Sutherlandusing the PLI to extend the Verilog HDL
check www.sutherland-hdl.com for a list of over 30 books

Part 2-31
 Using the New Verilog-2001 Standard
Part 2: Verifying Hardware
by Sutherland HDL, Inc., Portland, Oregon, 2001

Part 2-63

Additional Resources: Sutherland

Verilog & Synthesis Resources HD
L

www.sutherland-hdl.com
Stuart Sutherland's web site lots of Verilog web links
comp.lang.verilog newsgroup
Great place to get quick answers to Verilog questions
Other newsgroups: comp.lang.vhdl, comp.cad.synthesis,
comp.arch.fpga
ESNUG - E-mail Synopsys Users Group
John Cooley [email protected]
Verification Guild Verilog/VHDL verification newsletter
Janick Bergeron's newsletter on design verification
www.janick.bergeron.com

Part 2-64

Additional Resources: Sutherland

Verilog & Synthesis Conferences HD
L

HDLCon International HDL Conference

Formerly IVC/VIUF (International Verilog Conference /
VHDL International Users Forum)
Good conference for information about Verilog/VHDL
software tools
www.hdlcon.org

SNUG Synopsys Users Group Conference

The best technical conference on Verilog/VHDL design
methodologies and synthesis
www.synopsys.com (click on the SNUG button)

Part 2-32