This text focuses on presenting the basic features of the VHDL language in the context of its use for simulation. The text is targeted for use in sophomore and junior level courses in digital logic and computer architecture. The style of this text is intended to permit integration of the basic concepts underlying VHDL into existing courses without necessitating additional credit hours or courses for instruction. In order to fill the need for a companion text for digital logic and computer architecture courses and to serve as an early introduction to the basic language concepts the book must satisfy several criteria. First, it must relate VHDL concepts to those already familiar to the student. Students learn best when they can relate new concepts to ones with which they are already familiar. In this case we rely on concepts from the operation of digital circuits. Language features are motivated by the need to describe specific aspects of the operation of digital circuits, for example, events, propagation delays, and concurrency.
Chapter 1: Introduction
This chapter provides a very brief introduction to the place hardware description languages employ in a typical digital system design flow and the genealogy of VHDL.
Chapter 2 : Simulation of Digital Systems
VHDL language constructs can be related to digital system concepts that we are already familiar with. This chapter lists fundamental physical and behavioral attributes of digital systems. Language constructs to describe each attribute will be introduced in subsequent chapters. The chapter concludes with a description of the discrete event execution model that underlies the execution of the VHDL programs.
Chapter 3: Basic Language Concepts:
Basic language constructs are introduced by associating each construct with a physical or behavioral attribute of digital systems. Existing knowledge of digital systems is naturally transformed into executable VHDL descriptions.
Chapter 4: Modeling Behavior:
In describing very large systems we often wish to abstract or hide the details of digital logic implementation while preserving the external behavior. Such a modeling approach can be achieved in VHDL with higher level language constructs structured in processes.
Chapter 5: Modeling Structure
The use of hierarchy and abstraction is necessary to handle large designs and consequently requires the introduction of new language constructs. A hierarchy of netlists is a standard representation in traditional digital design tools and VHDL provides language constructs for a textual description of such a hierarchy.
Chapter 6: Subprograms, Packages, and Libraries
Abstraction is enabled in VHDL via standard programming language concepts such as procedures, functions, packages and libraries to enable design re-use, sharing, and ease of maintenance.
Chapter 7: Basic Input/Output
Text file input/output mechanisms are used to enable the integration of the results of test generation tools and the VHDL models under test. Basic error checking and testbench generation techniques are also covered.
Chapter 8: Programming Mechanics
This chapter provides an intuition about the practical aspects of VHDL environments: the terminology and mechanics of organizing, building, simulating VHDL models.
Chapter 9: Identifiers, Data Types, and Operators
A quick reference guide to the basic language syntax.
This chapter provides a very brief introduction to the place hardware description languages employ in a typical digital system design flow and the genealogy of VHDL.
Chapter 2 : Simulation of Digital Systems
VHDL language constructs can be related to digital system concepts that we are already familiar with. This chapter lists fundamental physical and behavioral attributes of digital systems. Language constructs to describe each attribute will be introduced in subsequent chapters. The chapter concludes with a description of the discrete event execution model that underlies the execution of the VHDL programs.
Chapter 3: Basic Language Concepts:
Basic language constructs are introduced by associating each construct with a physical or behavioral attribute of digital systems. Existing knowledge of digital systems is naturally transformed into executable VHDL descriptions.
Chapter 4: Modeling Behavior:
In describing very large systems we often wish to abstract or hide the details of digital logic implementation while preserving the external behavior. Such a modeling approach can be achieved in VHDL with higher level language constructs structured in processes.
Chapter 5: Modeling Structure
The use of hierarchy and abstraction is necessary to handle large designs and consequently requires the introduction of new language constructs. A hierarchy of netlists is a standard representation in traditional digital design tools and VHDL provides language constructs for a textual description of such a hierarchy.
Chapter 6: Subprograms, Packages, and Libraries
Abstraction is enabled in VHDL via standard programming language concepts such as procedures, functions, packages and libraries to enable design re-use, sharing, and ease of maintenance.
Chapter 7: Basic Input/Output
Text file input/output mechanisms are used to enable the integration of the results of test generation tools and the VHDL models under test. Basic error checking and testbench generation techniques are also covered.
Chapter 8: Programming Mechanics
This chapter provides an intuition about the practical aspects of VHDL environments: the terminology and mechanics of organizing, building, simulating VHDL models.
Chapter 9: Identifiers, Data Types, and Operators
A quick reference guide to the basic language syntax.
