Laboratory Exercise 9
A Simple Processor
Figure 1 shows a digital system that contains a number of 9-bit registers, a multiplexer, an adder/subtracter unit,
and a control unit(finite state machine). Data is input to this system via the 9-bit DIN input. This data can be
loaded through the 9-bit wide multiplexer into the various registers, such as R0, . . . , R7 and A. The multiplexer
also allows data to be transferred from one register to another. The multiplexer’s output wires are called a bus in
the figure because this term is often used for wiring that allows data to be transferred from one location in a system
to another.
Addition or subtraction is performed by using the multiplexer to first place one 9-bit number onto the bus
wires and loading this number into register A. Once this is done, a second 9-bit number is placed onto the bus, the
adder/subtracter unit performs the required operation, and the result is loaded into register G. The data in G can
then be transferred to one of the other registers as required.
Control unit FSM
AddSub
Ain
Gin
Run
Done
9
9 9
DIN
R0in
Multiplexers
R7in
Bus
Clock
Gout
R0out
R7out
9
R0 R7
9
8
DINout
9
IRin
Addsub
9
IR
9
A
G
Resetn
9 9
Figure 1: A digital system.
The system can perform different operations in each clock cycle, as governed by the control unit. This unit
determines when particular data is placed onto the bus wires and it controls which of the registers is to be loaded
with this data. For example, if the control unit asserts the signals R0out and Ain, then the multiplexer will place
the contents of register R0 onto the bus and this data will be loaded by the next active clock edge into register A.
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A system like this is often called a processor. It executes operations specified in the form of instructions.
Table 1 lists the instructions that the processor has to support for this exercise. The left column shows the name
of an instruction and its operand. The meaning of the syntax RX← [RY] is that the contents of register RY are
loaded into register RX. The mv (move) instruction allows data to be copied from one register to another. For
the mvi (move immediate) instruction the expression RX ← D indicates that the 9-bit constant D is loaded into
register RX.
Operation Function performed
mv Rx,Ry Rx← [Ry]
mvi Rx,#D Rx← D
add Rx,Ry Rx← [Rx] + [Ry]
sub Rx,Ry Rx← [Rx]− [Ry]
Table 1. Instructions performed in the processor.
Each instruction can be encoded and stored in the IR register using the 9-bit format IIIXXXYYY, where III
represents the instruction, XXX gives the RX register, and YYY gives the RY register. Although only two bits
are needed to encode our four instructions, we are using three bits because other instructions will be added to the
processor in later parts of this exercise. Hence IR has to be connected to the nine bits of the DIN input, as indicated
in Figure 1. For the mvi instruction the YYY field has no meaning, and the immediate data #D has to be supplied
on the 9-bit DIN input after the mvi instruction word is stored into IR.
Some instructions, such as an addition or subtraction, take more than one clock cycle to complete, because
multiple transfers have to be performed across the bus. The finite state machine in the control unit “steps through”
such instructions, asserting the control signals needed in successive clock cycles until the instruction has com-
pleted. The processor starts executing the instruction on the DIN input when the Run signal is asserted and the
processor asserts the Done output when the instruction is finished. Table 2 indicates the control signals that can
be asserted in each time step to implement the instructions in Table 1. Note that the only control signal asserted in
time step 0 is IRin, so this time step is not shown in the table.
T1 T2 T3
(mv): I0 RYout, RXin,
Done
(mvi): I1 DINout, RXin,
Done
(add): I2 RXout, Ain RYout, Gin Gout, RXin,
Done
(sub): I3 RXout, Ain RYout, Gin, Gout, RXin,
AddSub Done
Table 2. Control signals asserted in each instruction/time step.
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Part I
Design and implement the processor shown in Figure 1 using VHDL code as follows:
1. Create a new Quartus II project for this exercise.
2. Generate the required VHDL file, include it in your project, and compile the circuit. A suggested skeleton of
the VHDL code is shown in parts a and b of Figure 2, and some subcircuit entities that can be used in this
code appear in Figure 2c.
3. Use functional simulation to verify that your code is correct. An example of the output produced by a
functional simulation for a correctly-designed circuit is given in Figure 3. It shows the value (040)16 being
loaded into IR from DIN at time 30 ns. This pattern (the leftmost bits of DIN are connected to IR) represents
the instruction mvi R0,#D, where the value D = 5 is loaded into R0 on the clock edge at 50 ns. The
simulation then shows the instruction mv R1,R0 at 90 ns, add R0,R1 at 110 ns, and sub R0,R0 at 190 ns.
Note that the simulation output shows DIN as a 3-digit hexadecimal number, and it shows the contents of
IR as a 3-digit octal number.
4. Create a new Quartus II project which will be used for implementation of the circuit on the Altera DE0 or
DE1 board. This project should consist of a top-level entity that contains the appropriate input and output
ports for the Altera board. Instantiate your processor in this top-level entity. Use switches SW8−0 to drive
the DIN input port of the processor and use switch SW9 to drive the Run input. Also, use push button KEY0
for Resetn and KEY1 for Clock. Connect the processor bus wires to LEDR8−0 (LEDG8-0) and connect the
Done signal to LEDR9 (LEDG9) if you are targeting the DE1 (DE0) board.
5. Add to your project the necessary pin assignments for the DE board you are using. Compile the circuit
and download it into the FPGA chip.
6. Test the functionality of your design by toggling the switches and observing the LEDs. Since the processor’s
clock input is controlled by a push button switch, it is easy to step through the execution of instructions and
observe the behavior of the circuit.
LIBRARY ieee; USE ieee.std_logic_1164.all;
USE ieee.std_logic_signed.all;
ENTITY proc IS
PORT ( DIN : IN STD_LOGIC_VECTOR(8 DOWNTO 0);
Resetn, Clock, Run : IN STD_LOGIC;
Done : BUFFER STD_LOGIC;
BusWires : BUFFER STD_LOGIC_VECTOR(8 DOWNTO 0));
END proc;
ARCHITECTURE Behavior OF proc IS
. . . declare components
. . . declare signals
TYPE State_type IS (T0, T1, T2, T3);
SIGNAL Tstep_Q, Tstep_D: State_type;
. . .
BEGIN
High <= ’1’;
I <= IR(1 TO 3);
decX: dec3to8 PORT MAP (IR(4 TO 6), High, Xreg);
decY: dec3to8 PORT MAP (IR(7 TO 9), High, Yreg);
Figure 2a. Skeleton VHDL code for the processor.
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statetable: PROCESS (Tstep_Q, Run, Done)
BEGIN
CASE Tstep_Q IS
WHEN T0 => IF(Run = ’0’) THEN Tstep_D <= T0;
ELSE Tstep_D <= T1;
END IF; - - data is loaded into IR in this time step
. . . other states
END CASE;
END PROCESS;
controlsignals: PROCESS (Tstep_Q, I, Xreg, Yreg)
BEGIN
. . . specify initial values
CASE Tstep_Q IS
WHEN T0 => – – store DIN in IR as long as Tstep_Q = 0
IRin <= ’1’;
WHEN T1 => – – define signals in time step T1
CASE I IS
. . .
END CASE;
WHEN T2 => – – define signals in time step T2
CASE I IS
. . .
END CASE;
WHEN T3 => – – define signals in time step T3
CASE I IS
. . .
END CASE;
END CASE;
END PROCESS;
fsmflipflops: PROCESS (Clock, Resetn, Tstep_D)
BEGIN
. . .
END PROCESS;
reg_0: regn PORT MAP (BusWires, Rin(0), Clock, R0);
. . . instantiate other registers and the adder/subtracter unit
. . . define the bus
END Behavior;
Figure 2b. Skeleton VHDL code for the processor.
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LIBRARY ieee;
USE ieee.std_logic_1164.all;
ENTITY dec3to8 IS
PORT ( W : IN STD_LOGIC_VECTOR(2 DOWNTO 0);
En : IN STD_LOGIC;
Y : OUT STD_LOGIC_VECTOR(0 TO 7));
END dec3to8;
ARCHITECTURE Behavior OF dec3to8 IS
BEGIN
PROCESS (W, En)
BEGIN
IF En = ’1’ THEN
CASE W IS
WHEN “000” => Y <= "10000000"; WHEN "001" => Y <= "01000000"; WHEN "010" => Y <= "00100000"; WHEN "011" => Y <= "00010000"; WHEN "100" => Y <= "00001000"; WHEN "101" => Y <= "00000100"; WHEN "110" => Y <= "00000010"; WHEN "111" => Y <= "00000001"; END CASE; ELSE Y <= "00000000"; END IF; END PROCESS; END Behavior; LIBRARY ieee; USE ieee.std_logic_1164.all; ENTITY regn IS GENERIC (n : INTEGER := 9); PORT ( R : IN STD_LOGIC_VECTOR(n-1 DOWNTO 0); Rin, Clock : IN STD_LOGIC; Q : BUFFER STD_LOGIC_VECTOR(n-1 DOWNTO 0)); END regn; ARCHITECTURE Behavior OF regn IS BEGIN PROCESS (Clock) BEGIN IF Clock’EVENT AND Clock = ’1’ THEN IF Rin = ’1’ THEN Q <= R; END IF; END IF; END PROCESS; END Behavior; Figure 2c. Subcircuit entities for use in the processor. 5 Figure 3. Simulation of the processor. Part II In this part you are to design the circuit depicted in Figure 4, in which a memory module and counter are connected to the processor from Part I. The counter is used to read the contents of successive addresses in the memory, and this data is provided to the processor as a stream of instructions. To simplify the design and testing of this circuit we have used separate clock signals, PClock and MClock, for the processor and memory. Counter n Resetn MClock Memory 9 addr data Processor 9 DIN Bus R es et n R un Done Run Bus Done PClock Figure 4. Connecting the processor to a memory and counter. 1. Create a new Quartus II project which will be used to test your circuit. 2. Generate a top-level VHDL file that instantiates the processor, memory, and counter. Use the Quartus II MegaWizard Plug-In Manager tool to create the memory module from the Altera library of parameterized modules (LPMs). The correct LPM is found under the Memory Compiler category and is called ROM: 1-PORT. Follow the instructions provided by the wizard to create a memory that has one 9-bit wide read 6 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 data port and is 32 words deep. Page 3 of the wizard is shown in Figure 5. Advance to the subsequent page and deselect the setting called ’q’ output port under the category Which ports should be registered?. Since this memory has only a read port, and no write port, it is called a synchronous read-only memory (synchronous ROM). Note that the memory includes a register for synchronously loading addresses. This register is required due to the design of the memory resources on the Cyclone II FPGA; account for the clocking of this address register in your design. To place processor instructions into the memory, you need to specify initial values that should be stored in the memory once your circuit has been programmed into the FPGA chip. This can be done by telling the wizard to initialize the memory using the contents of a memory initialization file (MIF). The appropriate screen of the MegaWizard Plug-In Manager tool is illustrated in Figure 6. We have specified a file named inst_mem.mif, which then has to be created in the directory that contains the Quartus II project. Use the Quartus II on-line Help to learn about the format of the MIF file and create a file that has enough processor instructions to test your circuit. 3. Use functional simulation to test the circuit. Ensure that data is read properly out of the ROM and executed by the processor. 4. Make sure your project includes the necessary port names and pin location assignments to implement the circuit on the DE1 board. Use switch SW9 to drive the processor’s Run input, use KEY0 for Resetn, use KEY1 for MClock, and use KEY2 for PClock. Connect the processor bus wires to LEDR8−0 and connect the Done signal to LEDR9. 5. Compile the circuit and download it into the FPGA chip. 6. Test the functionality of your design by toggling the switches and observing the LEDs. Since the circuit’s clock inputs are controlled by push button switches, it is easy to step through the execution of instructions and observe the behavior of the circuit. Figure 5. 1-PORT configuration. 7 Figure 6. Specifying a memory initialization file (MIF). Enhanced Processor It is possible to enhance the capability of the processor so that the counter in Figure 4 is no longer needed, and so that the processor has the ability to perform read and write operations using memory or other devices. These enhancements involve adding new instructions to the processor and the programs that the processor executes are therefore more complex; they are described in a subsequent lab exercise available from Altera. Copyright c©2011 Altera Corporation. 8