2.6.3 A Simple Example

How do we make and use datapath elements? What does a design look like? We may use predesigned cells from a library or build the elements ourselves from logic cells using a schematic or a design language. Table 2.12 shows an 8-bit conditional-sum adder intended for an FPGA. This Verilog implementation uses the same structure as Figure 2.25, but the equations are collapsed to use four or five variables. A basic logic cell in certain Xilinx FPGAs, for example, can implement two equations of the same four variables or one equation with five variables. The equations shown in Table 2.12 requires three levels of FPGA logic cells (so, for example, if each FPGA logic cell has a 5 ns delay, the 8-bit conditional-sum adder delay is 15 ns).

TABLE 2.12 An 8-bit conditional-sum adder (the notation is described in Figure 2.25).

module m8bitCSum (C0, a, b, s, C8); // Verilog conditional-sum adder for an FPGA input [7:0] C0, a, b; output [7:0] s; output C8; wire A7,A6,A5,A4,A3,A2,A1,A0,B7,B6,B5,B4,B3,B2,B1,B0,S8,S7,S6,S5,S4,S3,S2,S1,S0; wire C0, C2, C4_2_0, C4_2_1, S5_4_0, S5_4_1, C6, C6_4_0, C6_4_1, C8; assign {A7,A6,A5,A4,A3,A2,A1,A0} = a; assign {B7,B6,B5,B4,B3,B2,B1,B0} = b; assign s = { S7,S6,S5,S4,S3,S2,S1,S0 }; assign S0 = A0^B0^C0 ; // start of level 1: & = AND, ^ = XOR, | = OR, ! = NOT assign S1 = A1^B1^(A0&B0|(A0|B0)&C0) ; assign C2 = A1&B1|(A1|B1)&(A0&B0|(A0|B0)&C0) ; assign C4_2_0 = A3&B3|(A3|B3)&(A2&B2) ; assign C4_2_1 = A3&B3|(A3|B3)&(A2|B2) ; assign S5_4_0 = A5^B5^(A4&B4) ; assign S5_4_1 = A5^B5^(A4|B4) ; assign C6_4_0 = A5&B5|(A5|B5)&(A4&B4) ; assign C6_4_1 = A5&B5|(A5|B5)&(A4|B4) ; assign S2 = A2^B2^C2 ; // start of level 2 assign S3 = A3^B3^(A2&B2|(A2|B2)&C2) ; assign S4 = A4^B4^(C4_2_0|C4_2_1&C2) ; assign S5 = S5_4_0& !(C4_2_0|C4_2_1&C2)|S5_4_1&(C4_2_0|C4_2_1&C2) ; assign C6 = C6_4_0|C6_4_1&(C4_2_0|C4_2_1&C2) ; assign S6 = A6^B6^C6 ; // start of level 3 assign S7 = A7^B7^(A6&B6|(A6|B6)&C6) ; assign C8 = A7&B7|(A7|B7s)&(A6&B6|(A6|B6)&C6) ; endmodule

Figure 2.26 shows the normalized delay and area figures for a set of predesigned datapath adders. The data in Figure 2.26 is from a series of ASIC datapath cell libraries (Compass Passport) that may be synthesized together with test vectors and simulation models. We can combine the different adder techniques, but the adders then lose regularity and become less suited to a datapath implementation.

FIGURE 2.26 Datapath adders. This data is from a series of submicron datapath libraries. (a) Delay normalized to a two-input NAND logic cell delay (approximately equal to 250 ps in a 0.5 m m process). For example, a 64-bit ripple-carry adder (RCA) has a delay of approximately 30 ns in a 0.5 m m process. The spread in delay is due to variation in delays between different inputs and outputs. An n -bit RCA has a delay proportional to n . The delay of an n -bit carry-select adder is approximately proportional to log ₂ n . The carry-save adder delay is constant (but requires a carry-propagate adder to complete an addition). (b) In a datapath library the area of all adders are proportional to the bit size.

There are other adders that are not used in datapaths, but are occasionally useful in ASIC design. A serial adder is smaller but slower than the parallel adders we have described [Denyer and Renshaw, 1985]. The carry-completion adder is a variable delay adder and rarely used in synchronous designs [Sklansky, 1960].

Chapter start Previous page Next page