10/31/2023

Introduction to RTL, High-Level State Machines,

RTL Design Process

Introduction outputs
inputs

bi bo
FSM
FSM

• Controllers Combinational
– Control input/output: single bit (or just a logic n1
few) representing event or state n0
s1 s0
– Finite-state machine describes
State register
behavior; implemented as state register clk
and combinational logic
• Datapath components
– Data input/output: Multiple bits Register Comparator
collectively representing single entity si

– Datapath components included sians

Register file
registers, adders, ALU, comparators, ALU
register files, etc.
bi bo
• This chapter: custom processors
e

Combinational Register file

– Processor: Controller and datapath logic n1
components working together to n0
s1 s0 ALU
implement an algorithm
State register
Datapath
Controller 2

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RTL Design: Capture Behavior, Convert to Circuit

• Recall
– Combinational Logic Design
• First step: Capture behavior (using equation
or truth table)
• Remaining steps: Convert to circuit
Capture behavior
– Sequential Logic Design
• First step: Capture behavior (using FSM)
• Remaining steps: Convert to circuit
• RTL Design (the method for creating
Convert to circuit
custom processors)
– First step: Capture behavior (using high-
level state machine, to be introduced)
– Remaining steps: Convert to circuit

RTL Design
High-Level State Machines (HLSMs)

 Some behaviors too complex for

equations, truth tables, or FSMs s a

 Ex: Soda dispenser

 c: bit input, 1 when coin deposited
c Soda
 a: 8-bit input having value of deposited coin
d dispenser
 s: 8-bit input having cost of a soda processor
 d: bit output, processor sets to 1 when total
value of deposited coins equals or exceeds
cost of a soda
 FSM can’t represent…
s a 25
 8-bit input/output
 Storage of current total 25
50
 Addition (e.g., 25 + 10) 0 1 0 1 0
c Soda
d dispenser tot:
tot:50
25
0 1 0 processor a

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RTL Design
HLSMs
s a

 High-level state machine (HLSM) 8 8

extends FSM with:
 Multi-bit input/output c Soda
dispenser
 Local storage d
processor
 Arithmetic operations

Inputs: c (bit), a (8 bits), s (8 bits)

 Conventions Outputs: d (bit) // '1' dispenses soda
 Numbers: Local storage: tot (8 bits)

 Single-bit: '0' (single quotes) c

 Integer: 0 (no quotes) Add
 Multi-bit: “0000” (double quotes) Init Wait
tot:=tot+a
 == for equal, := for assignment
a
d:='0' c’ * (tot<s)
 Multi-bit outputs must be registered via tot:=0 c’*(tot<s)’
local storage Disp
 // precedes a comment
SodaDispenser d:='1'

RTL Design
Ex: Cycles-High Counter

 P = total number (in binary) of cycles that m is 1 CountHigh

m
 Capture behavior as HLSM clk Preg

 Preg required (multibit outputs must be registered) 32

 Use to hold count P

CountHigh Inputs: m (bit) CountHigh Inputs: m (bit) CountHigh Inputs: m (bit)

Outputs: P (32 bits) Outputs: P (32 bits) Outputs: P (32 bits)
Local storage: Preg Local storage: Preg Local storage: Preg
S_Clr // Clear Preg to 0s S_Clr // Clear Preg to 0s S_Clr
// Clear Preg to 0s
Preg := 0 Preg := 0 Preg := 0
a

? m' // Wait for m == '1' m' // Wait for m == '1'

S_Wt S_Wt

m m' m

? // Increment Preg
m S_Inc Preg := Preg + 1
(a) (b) (c)

a
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RTL Design
Example: Laser-Based Distance Measurer

T (in seconds)
laser
D
Object of
a
interest
sensor
2D = T sec * 3*108 m/sec

 Laser-based distance measurement – pulse laser, measure time T to sense

reflection
8
 Laser light travels at speed of light, 3*10 m/sec
8
 Distance is thus D = (T sec * 3*10 m/sec) / 2

RTL Design
Example: Laser-Based Distance Measurer

T (in seconds)
B L
laser from button to laser
Laser-based
distance
sensor D 16 measurer S
to display from sensor

 Inputs/outputs
 B: bit input, from button, to begin measurement
 L: bit output, activates laser
 S: bit input, senses laser reflection
 D: 16-bit output, to display computed distance

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RTL Design
Example: Laser-Based Distance Measurer

DistanceMeasurer B Laser-based L
Inputs : B (bit), S (bit) 16 distance measurer
Outputs : L (bit), D (16 bits) D S
Local storage: Dreg(16)

a
S0 ?
(first state usually
L := '0' // laser off initializes the system)
Dreg := 0 // distance is 0

 Declare inputs, outputs, and local storage

 Dreg required for multi-bit output
 Create initial state, name it S0
 Initialize laser to off (L:='0')
 Initialize displayed distance to 0 (Dreg:=0)

Recall: '0' means single bit, 0

means integer
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RTL Design
Example: Laser-Based Distance Measurer

B Laser-based L
DistanceMeasurer
16 distance measurer
... B' // button not pressed D S

S0 S1 ?
B
L := '0' // button
Dreg := 0 pressed

 Add another state, S1, that waits for a button press

 B' – stay in S1, keep waiting
 B – go to a new state S2 Q: What should S2 do?
A: Turn on the laser

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RTL Design
Example: Laser-Based Distance Measurer

B Laser-based L
16 distance measurer
DistanceMeasurer D S
... B'

S0 S1 S2 S3
B
L := '0' L := '1' L := '0'
Dreg := 0 // laser on // laser off

 Add a state S2 that turns on the laser (L:='1')

 Then turn off laser (L:='0') in a state S3

Q: What do next?
a
A: Start timer, wait to sense reflection

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RTL Design
Example: Laser-Based Distance Measurer

DistanceMeasurer Inputs : B (bit), S (bit) Outputs : L (bit), D (16 bits) B Laser-based L

Local storage: Dreg, Dctr (16 bits) 16 distance measurer
B' S' // no reflection D S

S // reflection
S0 S1 S2 S3 ?
B
L := '0' Dctr := 0 L := '1' L := '0'
Dreg := 0 // reset cycle Dctr := Dctr + 1
count // count cycles
a

 Stay in S3 until sense reflection (S)

 To measure time, count cycles while in S3
 To count, declare local storage Dctr
 Initialize Dctr to 0 in S1. In S2 would have been O.K. too.
 Don't forget to initialize local storage—common mistake
 Increment Dctr each cycle in S3

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RTL Design
Example: Laser-Based Distance Measurer

DistanceMeasurer Inputs : B (bit), S (bit) Outputs : L (bit), D (16 bits) B Laser-based L

Local storage: Dreg, Dctr (16 bits) 16 distance measurer
D S
B' S'

S0 S1 S2 S3 S4
B S
L := '0' Dctr := 0 L := '1' L := '0' Dreg := Dctr/2
Dreg := 0 Dctr := Dctr+1 // calculate D

 Once reflection detected (S), go to new state S4

 Calculate distance
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 Assuming clock frequency is 3x10 , Dctr holds number of meters, so Dreg:=Dctr/2
 After S4, go back to S1 to wait for button again

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