VHDL From Ch. 5 Hardware Description Languages
History 1980’s Schematics 1990’s Hardware Description Languages –Increased due to the use of Programming Logic Devices (PLDs), Complex PLDs (CPLDs), and Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) Today: Very High Speed IC (VHSIC) Hardware Description Language (VHDL) and Verilog
HDL Tools Design Tools –Text Editor –Compiler—Syntax can be checked Simulator –A timed sequence of inputs (a test-bench program) for the hardware is used to test the design. Synthesizer –Applies the design to a hardware technology (such as CPLDs).
VHDL Program Structure –Entity A declaration of the inputs and outputs. –Architecture A description of the internal behavior or structure. Templates –Tools can provide basic structure. –Example: Xilinx Design Suite