A simple Arithmetic Logic Unit

Submitted by

K.V.SABAREESH 111722104078
O.MANI CHOWDARY 111722104102

in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
in

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION

ENGINEERING

R.M.K. ENGINEERING COLLEGE

(An Autonomous Institution)
R.S.M. Nagar, Kavaraipettai-601206

ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025

APRIL 2025

1
 A simple Arithmetic Logic Unit

Submitted by

K.V.SABAREESH 111722104078
O.MANI CHOWDARY 111722104102

in partial fulfillment for the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
in

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION

ENGINEERING

R.M.K. ENGINEERING COLLEGE

(An Autonomous Institution)
R.S.M. Nagar, Kavaraipettai-601206

ANNA UNIVERSITY: CHENNAI 600 025

APRIL 2025
 R.M.K. ENGINEERING COLLEGE
(An Autonomous Institution)
R.S.M. Nagar, Kavaraipettai-601 206

BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE

Certified that this project report “A simple Arithmetic Logic Unit” is the bonafide work of
K.V.SABAREESH(111722104078), O.MANI CHOWDARY(111722104102) who carried out the
Mini project of Design Verification and Debugging under my supervision.

SIGNATURE SIGNATURE

Dr. T. Suresh, M.E., Ph.D., MS.JEEVITHA, M.E.,

Professor & SUPERVISOR

HEAD OF THE Assistant Professor

DEPARTMENT
Department of Electronics and
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering
Communication Engineering

R.M.K. Engineering College

R.M.K. Engineering College Kavaraipettai-601206
Kavaraipettai-601206

Submitted for the Mini project one credit lab held on………………….at R.M.K. Engineering
College, Kavaraipettai, Tiruvallur District – 601 206

INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Almighty, our beloved parents for
their blessings and wishes for successfully doing this project.

We convey our thanks to Chairman Thiru R.S. Munirathinam and Vice Chairman Thiru
R.M. Kishore who took keen interest and encouraged us throughout the course of study
and for their kind attention and valuable suggestions offered to us.

We express our sincere gratitude to our Principal Dr. K. A. Mohamed Junaid, M.E.,
Ph.D., for fostering an excellent climate to excel.

We are extremely thankful to Dr. T. Suresh, M.E., Ph.D., Professor and Head,
Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, for having permitted us to
carry out this project effectively.

We extend our gratitude to Dr. A Merline, M.E., Ph.D., Professor and Year
coordinator for his support and lead throughout the course of the project.

We convey our sincere thanks to our mentor, skillful and efficient supervisor,
MS.JEEVITHA, M.E., Assistant Professor for her extremely valuable thoughts,
guidance throughout the course of the project.

We are grateful to our Parents and colleagues for their intense support.
 ABSTRACT

ThThe Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) is a fundamental component of digital computing

systems, responsible for executing a range of arithmetic and logical operations that form the

core computational tasks in processors. This paper discusses the design, implementation, and

verification of a multi-functional ALU developed using Verilog Hardware Description

Language (HDL). The ALU is designed to perform various mathematical and logical

computations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, bitwise operations, and shift

operations. The system is implemented on an FPGA-based environment to validate its

functionality and performance. The objective of this project is to understand the underlying

digital design principles governing ALU operations and to create a modular, efficient, and

scalable design suitable for integration into larger computational architectures.

KEYWORDS: Arduino, Alertwerks spot water sensor, LEDs ,Buzzer alarm.

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER NO TITLE PAGE NO

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 General Description 1

1.2 Scope of Project 1

2 OBJECTIVE 2

3 THEORY
3.1 Theory 3

3.2 Disadvantages 3

4 LITERATURE REVIEW 6
5 PROPOSED SYSTEM 8

6 HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE COMPONENTS 13

6.1 Hardware Components 15

7 FINAL OUTPUT 18

7.1 Hardware Setup

8 APPLICATIONS AND FUTURE ENHANCEMENT 20

9 CONCLUSION 20
 CHAPTER - 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL DESCRIPTION

We The Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) forms the core of a Central Processing Unit

(CPU), facilitating the execution of fundamental arithmetic computations and logical

evaluations. The ALU is a combinational circuit that receives control signals dictating the

required operation and processes input operands to generate the corresponding output. The

ability of an ALU to execute multiple operations efficiently is crucial in determining the

computational capability of modern processors. This study aims to design a high-

performance ALU, develop it in Verilog HDL, and verify its operation using FPGA

implementation.

1.2 SCOPE OF PROJECT

The scope of this project is, discusses the design, implementation, and verification of a multi-

functional ALU developed using Verilog Hardware Description Language (HDL). The ALU

is designed to perform various mathematical and logical computations, including addition,

subtraction, multiplication, bitwise operations, and shift operations. The system is

implemented on an FPGA-based environment to validate its functionality and performance.

The objective of this project is to understand the underlying digital design principles

governing ALU operations and to create a modular, efficient, and scalable design suitable for

integration into larger computational architectures.

1
 CHAPTER-2

2.1 OBJECTIVE

The primary objectives of this project include:

● To comprehend the design and working principles of arithmetic and logical circuits.

● To develop a modular ALU using Verilog HDL, ensuring flexibility and scalability.

● To synthesize and implement the designed ALU on an FPGA board and validate its

functionality.

● To analyze the efficiency and performance of the ALU using simulation and hardware

verification techniques.

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 CHAPTER-3

THEORY

3.1 Theory

Analysis of Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) Diagrams

Overview

An Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) is a fundamental digital circuit used in

microprocessors, microcontrollers, and digital signal processors (DSPs) to perform arithmetic

and logical operations. The two diagrams presented depict different symbolic representations

of an ALU.

Diagram 1: Simplified ALU Representation

The first diagram provides an abstract representation of an ALU with the following key

components:

● Inputs: Two operands, labeled A and B, which serve as the primary data inputs.

● Control Signal (Ctrl): A control input that determines the operation performed by the

ALU (e.g., addition, subtraction, bitwise operations).

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 ● Output: An 8-bit data output bus that holds the result of the operation.

This simplified representation is typically used in high-level schematic diagrams to convey

the core functionality of an ALU without detailing specific operational mechanisms.

Diagram 2: Detailed ALU Block Diagram

The second diagram provides a more detailed block-level representation of an ALU, suitable

for hardware design and implementation. It includes the following components:

● Inputs:

o A[N:0] and B[N:0]: Two N-bit input operands that provide data for

computation.

o OpCode M[M-1:0]: A control signal that selects the operation to be executed

by the ALU.

o Cin (Carry-In): A carry-in input used in operations requiring carry

propagation, such as addition or subtraction.

● Outputs:

o F[N:0]: The N-bit output representing the computed result.

o Cout (Carry-Out): A carry-out signal, which is significant in arithmetic

operations that may generate an overflow or require carry propagation.

This structured ALU diagram illustrates how control signals and additional inputs such as

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carry-in affect the operation of the unit. The use of an opcode allows the ALU to perform

multiple functions within a processor, making it an essential component of computational

systems.

Comparison and Significance

● The first diagram presents an abstract overview, focusing on the fundamental inputs,

control, and output.

● The second diagram provides a more comprehensive representation, detailing the

internal signal flow and additional functionalities such as carry-in and carry-out.

● Both diagrams highlight the role of an ALU in performing core computational tasks in

digital systems.

3.2 DISADVANTAGES

● Complexity: The integration of various hardware components, sensors, and

software modules adds complexity to the system. This complexity may

require specialized technical expertise for installation, troubleshooting, and

maintenance, potentially limiting accessibility for some users.

● Cost: Implementing a comprehensive monitoring system like SIMS incurs

significant initial costs for hardware, sensors, and communication modules,

alongside ongoing expenses for maintenance.

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 CHAPTER-4

LITERATURE REVIEW

The Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU) is a fundamental building block of digital computing

systems, responsible for performing arithmetic and logical operations. Over the years,

researchers have focused on optimizing ALU designs for improved performance, power

efficiency, and reduced delay. However, ALUs also present several challenges, including

power consumption, latency issues, and hardware complexity. This literature survey explores

existing studies on ALU design, its limitations, and proposed enhancements.

1. ALU Design and Optimization Strategies

According to Mano and Ciletti (2017), ALUs are typically designed using combinational

logic circuits, with adder-subtractor units being integral components. The study highlights

that conventional ALUs suffer from carry propagation delays in addition operations, leading

to increased execution time. To address this, advanced carry-lookahead adders and carry-save

adders have been proposed to reduce latency.

2. Power and Heat Dissipation in ALUs

As transistor density increases, power consumption becomes a critical issue in ALU design.

Chandrakasan et al. (1995) emphasized the significance of low-power design methodologies

in digital circuits, suggesting techniques such as clock gating and operand isolation to

minimize unnecessary power usage. However, these techniques add design complexity and

may introduce additional overhead.

3. Parallel Processing and ALU Bottlenecks

Modern processors implement pipelining and superscalar execution to enhance ALU

throughput. Hennessy and Patterson (2020) discussed that traditional sequential ALU
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operations lead to execution bottlenecks, particularly in high-performance computing. Their

research shows that parallel ALU architectures, such as SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple

Data) and VLIW (Very Long Instruction Word), can significantly improve efficiency, albeit

at the cost of increased hardware complexity.

4. Precision Errors and Overflow Challenges

Floating-point ALUs are widely used in scientific and financial applications; however, they

are prone to precision errors. Goldberg (1991) provided an in-depth analysis of floating-point

arithmetic, highlighting common issues such as round-off errors and overflow conditions.

The study suggests that implementing error detection and correction techniques, such as

IEEE 754 standard compliance, can improve accuracy but may introduce additional

computational overhead.

Conclusion

The reviewed literature indicates that while ALUs play a crucial role in computing, their

design is constrained by power consumption, execution bottlenecks, and precision errors.

Various optimization strategies, including advanced adder architectures, low-power design

methodologies, and parallel processing, have been proposed to mitigate these issues. Future

research should focus on balancing efficiency and complexity to enhance ALU performance

in emerging computing architectures.

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 CHAPTER - 5

5.1 PROPOSED

SYSTEM GENERAL

CIRCUIT DIAGRAM

To resolve the problems faced in day to day life , we arrive with our solution in which we fix

a buzzer alarm in the inverter to have a check on amount of distilled water present by fixing

LED's in order to assist the people . The RED , YELLOW and GREEN coloured led are

placed in the inverter to detect the distilled water level .Our solution is improvised from the

existing one in which we have to check the water level by looking at the vent cap at a

frequent manner. This is not feasible if we forget to check the water level at vent cap. In

additional we are using software technology to intimate the user by sending a notification by

means of message to their mobile phones and to switch off the buzzer which is placed in the

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 inverter to give a alarm sound.

PROBLEM DEFINITION

The proposed system is an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) with a digital display interface. It
consists of various components that facilitate user input, arithmetic/logic processing, and visual
output on a seven-segment display. The system follows a structured data flow, beginning with user
inputs through switches and culminating in the display of processed results.
1. System Components and Functionality
1. User Input (Switches)
o 8-bit Input Switches: Two sets of 8-bit switches allow the user to input two binary
numbers (A and B).
o 3-bit Control Switches: These select the operation performed by the ALU (e.g.,
addition, subtraction, AND, OR).
2. Registers
o Two D flip-flop registers store the 8-bit inputs, ensuring stability before
computation.
o An Enable (EN) signal controls whether new data is latched into the registers.
3. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
o Performs arithmetic and logic operations based on the control signals.
o Takes two 8-bit operands (A and B) and produces an 8-bit result.
4. Binary to BCD Converter (Bin2BCD)
o Converts the binary ALU output into Binary-Coded Decimal (BCD) format for
display compatibility.
5. Seven-Segment Controller
o Processes the BCD output and drives a four-digit seven-segment display to
present the result in a human-readable form.
2. System Operation
1. The user sets binary inputs using the 8-bit switches.
2. The control switches determine the ALU operation.
3. A clock signal triggers the registers to store inputs.
4. The ALU processes the inputs based on the control selection.
5. The output is converted from binary to BCD.
6. The seven-segment display presents the computed result.
3. Advantages
● User-Friendly Interface: Simple switch inputs and a visual display make the system easy
to use.
● Versatile Computation: Can handle multiple arithmetic and logic functions.

● Efficient Data Handling: Registers ensure stable input storage before processing.
● Digital Readout: The seven-segment display provides a clear numerical output.

Opcodes

9
10
Explanation of Each Operation

1. Addition (OpCode: 000)

o This operation performs binary addition of inputs A and B.

o Useful for arithmetic computations.

o Example: If A = 0101 (5) and B = 0011 (3), then F = 1000 (8).

2. Increment (OpCode: 001)

o Increases the value of A by 1.

o Commonly used for counters or loop increments in digital circuits.

o Example: If A = 0110 (6), then F = 0111 (7).

3. Subtraction (OpCode: 010)

o Performs binary subtraction: A - B.

o Often implemented using two's complement in hardware.

o Example: If A = 0101 (5) and B = 0011 (3), then F = 0010 (2).

4. Bitwise XOR (OpCode: 011)

o Performs an XOR operation on each bit: A⊕BA \oplus BA⊕B.

o Produces 1 where bits differ and 0 where bits are the same.

o Example: If A = 1101 and B = 1010, then F = 0111.

5. Bitwise OR (OpCode: 100)

o Performs an OR operation: A∣BA | BA∣B.

o Produces 1 if either bit is 1.

o Example: If A = 1101 and B = 1010, then F = 1111.

6. Bitwise AND (OpCode: 101)

o Performs an AND operation: A&BA \& BA&B.

11
 o Produces 1 only if both bits are 1.

o Example: If A = 1101 and B = 1010, then F = 1000.

Applications of These ALU Operations

● Arithmetic computations (Addition, Subtraction, Increment).

● Logical decision-making (XOR, OR, AND).

● Data manipulation in processors (Bitwise operations for masking and setting specific

bits).

● Control unit operations in embedded systems.

This ALU configuration is fundamental to digital circuits, microprocessors, and FPGA-

based designs, providing essential computational capabilities.

12
The notification module handles the task of sending alerts or notifications to the users or

service providers. It may include components such as a microcontroller or software

algorithm to trigger notifications based on predefined conditions, such as low water levels.

CHAPTER - 6

HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE COMPONENTS

6.1 HARDWARE COMPONENTS:

● Vivado or Quatrus prime lite

● Digital Boolean FPGA or altera cyclone v

 CHAPTER - 7

FINAL OUTPUT

7.1 Code for ALU in Verilog is as illustrated as follows in the given below diagrams
 CHAPTER 8

Design and Implementation of an Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU)

The ALU executes arithmetic and logical operations in digital systems. This project designs a
Verilog-based ALU performing addition, subtraction, multiplication, bitwise operations, and
shifts. Implemented on FPGA, it verifies functionality, efficiency, and scalability,
contributing to digital system design and microprocessor development

Applications

The designed ALU has various practical applications, including:

● Microprocessor and Microcontroller Design – Used as a core computing component
in modern processors.
● Digital Signal Processing (DSP) – Facilitates arithmetic-intensive computations
required for signal processing tasks.
● Embedded Systems – Utilized in custom-designed embedded platforms for optimized
performance.
● Cryptographic Algorithms – Supports logical and arithmetic operations required for
encryption and decryption processes.
● Robotics and Automation – Applied in real-time decision-making processes for
robotics and autonomous systems.

7. Future Enhancements

The current ALU design can be further improved in the following ways:
● Floating-Point Arithmetic Support – Extending the ALU to handle floating-point
operations for enhanced computational capability.
● Pipeline Architecture – Implementing a pipelined ALU to improve throughput and
efficiency.
● Low-Power Design Optimization – Reducing power consumption for battery-
operated embedded systems.
● Integration with RISC-V Architecture – Adapting the ALU for use in open-source
RISC-V-based processors.

8. Conclusion
 The development of an ALU is an essential step in understanding digital system
design and microprocessor architecture. This project successfully demonstrated the
implementation of an ALU capable of performing multiple arithmetic and logical
operations using Verilog HDL. The FPGA-based validation confirmed the
functionality and efficiency of the design, providing a strong foundation for further
advancements in processor development and optimization.

9. References

1. Patterson, D. A., & Hennessy, J. L. (2021). Computer Organization and Design: The
Hardware/Software Interface. Morgan Kaufmann.
2. Brown, S., & Vranesic, Z. (2013). Fundamentals of Digital Logic with Verilog Design.
McGraw-Hill.
3. Wakerly, J. (2018). Digital Design: Principles and Practices. Pearson.
4. Mano, M. M., & Ciletti, M. D. (2017). Digital Design: With an Introduction to the
Verilog HDL. Pearson.