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05 Arithmetic

This document provides an introduction and overview of arithmetic packages in VHDL. It describes how packages like NUMERIC_STD provide common arithmetic functions like addition, subtraction, and comparison. These functions allow signals and variables to be declared as signed or unsigned data types. The package makes arithmetic operations available by adding a "use" clause, and synthesis tools automatically generate optimal logic. Examples demonstrate declaring signals, incrementing a counter, and converting between data types.

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litoduter
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63 views

05 Arithmetic

This document provides an introduction and overview of arithmetic packages in VHDL. It describes how packages like NUMERIC_STD provide common arithmetic functions like addition, subtraction, and comparison. These functions allow signals and variables to be declared as signed or unsigned data types. The package makes arithmetic operations available by adding a "use" clause, and synthesis tools automatically generate optimal logic. Examples demonstrate declaring signals, incrementing a counter, and converting between data types.

Uploaded by

litoduter
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Arithmetic Packages- Introduction

It would be very painful if when building a counter we


had to think about all the internals
We need an adder etc.
How do we build the adder ?
Would be much better if we could simply say
Add 1 to the current counter value
count <= count + 1
And an (optimal) circuit was automatically generated for us
Furthermore, if we work in this way the design is still
architecturally independent- A good thing !!

111
Arithmetic Package Overview- I
VHDL offers a number of packages which provide
common arithmetical functions
Addition (+)
Subtraction (-)
Multiplication (*)
Division (/)
Comparison (=, >, <, <=, >=, /=)
By simply adding in a use clause at the top of your code
these become available
Synthesis automatically generates the logic required !!

112
Arithmetic Package Overview- II
There are a number of different packages that exist for
historical reasons
STD_LOGIC_ARITH, std_logic_signed, std_logic_unsigned
NUMERIC_STD (IEEE)
We will only consider NUMERIC_STD as it is the only
standard package which is defined on all commercial
synthesis and simulation tools
Tools must provide a common set of arithmetical functions
Synthesis result (gates and how they are connected) will change
with synthesis tool, but functionality will not

113
Declaring Arithmetic Signals & Variables
NUMERIC_STD offers 2 data types
SIGNED, UNSIGNED
These are declared in a similar method to std_logic_vector
Can be used to declare signals, variables, even ports in an entity
UNSIGNED
Assumes that only positive values are going to be used
Example declaration
signal count: unsigned (3 downto 0)
This creates a signal used for storing values 0 -> 15

114
Declaring Arithmetic Signals & Variables
SIGNED
2s complement form, with MSB used as a sign bit
Example declaration
signal count: signed (3 downto 0)
Creates a signal used for storing the values -8 -> +7

Integer Signed

-8 1000

-1 1111

0 0000

+7 0111

115
Representation of Signed/ Unsigned
Signed/ Unsigned values are represented using a subset of
std_logic_vector
I.e. 0, 1 in each bit
However, cannot perform comparisons, assignments etc.
directly with std_logic
We need to use conversion functions (see later)

116
Arithmetic Package Functions- I
For a detailed list of functions (and their operations) see
the program listing from NUMERIC_STD.VHD this is
the official IEEE package
How do I read the package header ?
Consider the function Id: A.6
function + (L: UNSIGNED; R: NATURAL) return UNSIGNED

UNSIGNED + NATURAL = UNSIGNED

117
Arithmetic Package Functions- II
Signed Arithmetic Functions:

Function Argument 1 Argument 2 Returns

signed signed signed


+ signed integer signed

signed signed signed


- signed integer signed

i.e. functions to add/ subtract signed numbers


Note integer as a +ve/ -ve argument for signed ops

118
Arithmetic Package Functions- III
Unsigned Arithmetic Functions:

Function Argument 1 Argument 2 Returns

unsigned unsigned unsigned


+ unsigned natural unsigned

unsigned unsigned unsigned


- unsigned natural unsigned

i.e. functions to add/ subtract unsigned numbers


Note natural as a +ve only argument since no notion of sign

119
Arithmetic Package Functions- IV
Comparison functions:

Function Name Argument 1 Argument 2 Returns

= Equal
unsigned unsigned
/= Not equal

> Greater than signed signed


boolean
< Less than natural unsigned

>= Greater than/equal


integer signed
<= Less than/equal

120
Arithmetic Package Functions- V
Resize functions
Used for resizing a signed/ unsigned value
Useful if we want to extract carry bit etc.

Function Description Argument 1 Argument 2 Returns


natural unsigned
unsigned
(new size) (new size)
resize Resize argument
natural signed
signed
(new size) (new size)

Example
newvalue = resize(oldvalue, 5)

121
Arithmetic Package Functions- VI
Simple conversion functions
Used to convert integer/ natural numbers to and from signed/
unsigned

Function Description Argument 1 Argument 2 Returns

unsigned natural
Convert to
to_integer
integer
signed integer
Convert to natural unsigned
to_unsigned natural
unsigned (size) (size)
Convert to natural signed
to_signed integer
signed (size) (size)

122
Arithmetic Package Functions- VII
Conversion to/ from std_logic_vector
Used to convert signed and unsigned values to and from
std_logic_vector
Really just copies each bit

Function Description Argument Returns


Convert to
unsigned std_logic_vector unsigned
unsigned
Convert to
signed std_logic_vector signed
signed
Convert to
std_logic_vector unsigned std_logic_vector
std_logic_vector
Convert to
std_logic_vector signed std_logic_vector
std_logic_vector

123
Making the Package Visible
At the top of the VHDL source file, the line

use ieee.numeric_std.all

Library Name Package Name

is added
This makes the package (functions, data types, etc.)
visible

124
Arithmetic Package Example- I
Some concrete examples of the use of the arithmetic
package !
Simple counter
Counts up to certain value then resets back
Only increments if input inc is set to 1

CLK

INC

COUNT 0000 0001 0001 0010 0011 0100 0000

No change when inc = 0


125
Arithmetic Package Example- II
VHDL process
process (CLK,RESET)
begin
if RESET=1 then -- reset (asynchronous)
internal_count <= 0000;
elsif CLKEVENT and CLK=1 then -- clock
if inc = 1 then
if internal_count = 0100 then
internal_count <= 0000;
else
internal_count <= internal_count + 1;
end if;
else null;
end if;
end process;
126
Arithmetic Package Example- III
Architecture definition

use ieee.numeric_std.all;

architecture BEHAVIOR of UPCOUNTER is


signal internal_count : unsigned (3 downto 0);
begin
-- see previous slide for process

count <= std_logic_vector(internal_count);


end BEHAVIOR;

127
Arithmetic Packages- Conclusion
Have given an overview of the numeric package and the
functions which it contains
These are widely use for counters etc.
Can be used to generate many different arithmetic circuits
(e.g. multipliers etc.) though it may be better to design
these for the given application as the target after synthesis
may be inefficient

128

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