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FPGA Express Interface - Glossary of Terms

Analyze
Behavioral Simulation
Bottom-up design
Carry-logic
EDIF
FROM:TO Timespecs
HDL
IEEE
Implement
LogiBLOX
MEMGEN
Optimize
Post-synthesis simulation
Timespecs
Timing Simulation
Top-down design
Verilog
VHDL
VHSIC
VITAL
XNF


Analyze

The first step in the FPGA Express synthesis flow. In this stage, the HDL code is checked for syntax errors.

Behavioral simulation

Also known as functional simulation. This type of simulation takes place during the pre-synthesis stage of HDL design. The purpose of this simulation is to check that the HDL code describes the desired design behavior.

Bottom-up design

HDL methodology where already defined HDL blocks are merged into one overall desired design behavior.

Carry-logic

An architecture feature of the Xilinx XC4000 and XC5200 families. Carry-logic was designed to speed-up and reduce the area of counters, adders, incrementers, descrementers, comparators, and subtractors. FPGA Express can synthesize carry-logic directly.

EDIF

Electronic Design Interchange Format. An EDA industry netlist format.

FROM:TO timespecs

Timespec style used in M1 and XACT. This timespec style allows point-to-point, group-to-group, one-to-many, and many-to-one path types to be specified.

HDL

Hardware Description Language. A language which describes circuits in textual code. The two most widely accepted HDL's are Verilog and VHDL.

IEEE(pronounced "I-triple-E")

Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

Implement

The second step in the FPGA Express synthesis flow. In this stage, the analyzed HDL is expanded into gates. This step is also refered to as elaboration.

LogiBLOX

M1 tool used to generate blocks of RAM or ROM. These blocks of RAM or ROM can be instantiated for use in FPGA Express.

MEMGEN

XACT 5.2.x/6.0.x tool used to generate blocks of RAM or ROM. These blocks of RAM or ROM can be instantiated for use in FPGA Express.

Optimize

The third step in the FPGA Express synthesis flow. In this stage, the implemented design is re-synthesized with constraints the user specifies. This is the final step before writing out the XNF file from FPGA Express.

OVI

Open Verilog International. A non-profit organization which maintains the Verilog HDL standard.

Post-synthesis simulation

This type of simulation is usually done after the HDL code has been expanded into gates. Post-synthesis simulation is similar to behavioral simulation since design behavior is being checked. The difference is that in post-synthesis simulation the synthesis tool's results are being checked. If post-synthesis and behavioral simulation match, then the HDL synthesis tool has interpreted the HDL code correctly.

Timespecs

XACT and M1 commands, which can be specified in a HDL flow or in an external file, which specify the timing requirements of a design to the place and route software.

TIMING SIMULATION

Also known as backannotated timing simulatioin. This type of simulation takes place after the HDL design has been synthesized and placed & routed. The purpose of this simulation is check that the dynamic timing behavior of the HDL design in the target technology.

Top-down design

HDL methodology where overall design behavior is defined first, and then HDL blocks.

Verilog

An industry standard HDL(IEEE Std 1364) originally developed by Cadence Design Systems, now maintained by OVI. Originally, this HDL was designed as a simulation language. Design files of the Verilog type are recognized by .v extension.

VHDL

VHSIC Hardware Description Language. An industry standard HDL(IEEE Std 1076.1). Originally, this HDL was designed as a documentation language. Design files of the VHDL type are recognized by the .vhd or .vhdl extension.

VHSIC

Very High Speed Integrated Circuit

VITAL

VHDL Initiative Toward ASIC Libraries. A VHDL simulation library standard(IEEE Std 1076.4) that defines standard constructs for simulation modeling which can be used with any VITAL compliant simulator.

XNF

Xilinx Netlist Format

 
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