Impulse 23.3 Application Note : Preplaced_IP method

Owned by Fabrice NSONGO
Last updated: 21 Nov, 2023 by Samah
2 min read

Table of Contents

 

Document History

Revision

Date

Modification

1.0.0

29/04/2022

Initial Document

Related documentation

Reference

Description

Version

RD1

NanoXplore_Nxmap_User_Manual_v3.0.5

V3.0.5

RD2

training package

 

RD3

training package user manual

Impulse 23.3 Training Package User Manual

Summary

This document describes how to instantiate an IP into a TOP design using Impulse flow.

Introduction

After compiling a design on Impulse, it is possible to instantiate this compiled design as an IP into a top design. Impulse placement engine uses the compiled IP in an other design.

How to use preplaced IP

An example is provided in the training package environment. Please refer to RD3.

The preplaced IP testcase is stored to the path below

cd $WORKDIR/trainingpackage/test/PlacingConstraint/Preplace

Please launch the following commands

nxpython nxpython_script.py --argument Preplace

The command compiles the switch_counter design that it is used as an IP and a top level design, the switch design, that instantiates the switch counter.

fig 1 - switch counter floorplan

The aperture of the IP has to be smaller than possible.

fig 2 - switch floorplan

To add the preplaced IP into the design, add in constraints file (project_constraints.py) the line below:

p.addBlackBox('switch_counter(*)', 'IP', '../switch_counter_preplaced_NG-MEDIUM.nym', 'g_inst.i_switch_counter_0:2x6')

  • switch_counter(*) : VHDL entity name

  • IP : parameter to indicate that is an IP

  • switch_counter_preplaced_NG-MEDIUM.nym : it is the file of the IP placement (placed-auto.nym) generated by Impulse. In the example, it is copied to switch_counter_preplaced_NG-MEDIUM.nym into the workdir of the TOP level design where the IP is preplaced

  • g_inst.i_switch_counter_0:2x6 : instantiated name of the IP and the coordinate of the anchor (column 2 x row 6). Please check that the anchor of the preplaced IP is instantiated correctly, it means that the placement is using the same resources.

The preplaced IP could be instantiated several times.

p.addBlackBox('switch_counter(*)', 'IP', '../switch_counter_preplaced_NG-MEDIUM.nym', 'g_inst.i_switch_counter_0:2x6;g_inst.i_switch_counter_1:3x6')

The code source of the preplaced IP has to be removed from the project (project_files.py).

def add_files(p,sources_files_directory,variant,argument):
if not argument == 'Preplace':
p.addFile('work', sources_files_directory + '/switch_counter.vhd')
p.addFile('work', sources_files_directory + '/switch.vhd')

Notes:

  • It is allowed to superpose preplaced IP but the resources have to be sufficient to avoid placement or routing issues

  • Several instances are not supported yet: CDC, CKS, FIFO, XFIFO, CSC, GCK, PLL, WFG, SOC interface, HSSL

  • IOB and BFR are converted into buffer

  • The constraintPath is not used with elements into preplaced IP, please make sure that the preplaced IP is optimally constrained

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