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False path question - internal counter bit vs FSM state bit

Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Dear Altera Forum members... 

This is my first post here :)  

I have a sub-circuit that consists of a binary up-counter (LPM_counter) with asynchronous reset and count enable, and a comparator (LPM_compare). 

The sub-circuit compares an input 5-bit vector to the count value and sets an output flag if the count value is greater-or-equal to the input data value. 

This flag is used as a control bit to a finite state machine. 

 

When running the TimeQuest timing analyzer tool in Quartus, I get setup timing violations with worst-case timing paths that involve the q[1]-bit and states of the FSM. My question is whether or not I can set these as false paths 

 

https://alteraforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14298&stc=1  

 

The figure shows how the TimeQuest labels the nodes that violate the setup timing. 

I was thinking that since the timing violations does not involve the flag used to control the state transitions, I can set the shown paths as false paths... Please comment. 

 

Regards Ronny
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
746 Views

 

--- Quote Start ---  

Dear Altera Forum members... 

This is my first post here :)  

I have a sub-circuit that consists of a binary up-counter (LPM_counter) with asynchronous reset and count enable, and a comparator (LPM_compare). 

The sub-circuit compares an input 5-bit vector to the count value and sets an output flag if the count value is greater-or-equal to the input data value. 

This flag is used as a control bit to a finite state machine. 

 

When running the TimeQuest timing analyzer tool in Quartus, I get setup timing violations with worst-case timing paths that involve the q[1]-bit and states of the FSM. My question is whether or not I can set these as false paths 

 

https://alteraforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=14298&stc=1  

 

The figure shows how the TimeQuest labels the nodes that violate the setup timing. 

I was thinking that since the timing violations does not involve the flag used to control the state transitions, I can set the shown paths as false paths... Please comment. 

 

Regards Ronny 

--- Quote End ---  

 

 

Every path is relevant unless you the designer knows that it is not. Your clock is 50 MHz and in a modern fpga you shouldn't fail timing. likely you are clocking wrong. Or too long comb section
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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The chip is a MAX V 5M80ZM64I5 CPLD, not an FPGA.

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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Max v devices are really just FPGAs. They work basically the same. 

 

As for this problem, you cannot set false paths as all are relevant.
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Thanks for responding

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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Hi kaz.  

In your comment "likely you are clocking wrong", will you please elaborate what that means ? 

The clock is generated externally. It is defined using the "create_clock"-command in the sdc file...  

In another example, using a max V CPLD with vhld code of a circuit that involves an LPM_counter and an LPM_compare - connected to a very basic FSM, I still cannot close timing for a 100 MHz clock (Fmax = ~97 MHz)... 

Do you think my code is faulty ?
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Can you post code and your .sdc file?

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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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Yes sure. Should I append text-files ?

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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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why not post the code along with the .SDC file?

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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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The project uses the MAX V 5M80ZM64I5 device. 

There are three auto-generated VHDL files: lpmcompare.vhd, lpmcounter.vhd and lpmzerotimeflag.vhd

The lpmcountandcompare.vhd, connects them together as a subcircuit. 

The toplevel entity is the timingtest_lpmcc_minifsm.vhd

 

The .sdc file is called timingTest_LPMcc_miniFSM (there is only one constraint, the "create_clock"...) 

 

Recall that Quartus by default uses 3-space wide tabs, such that the text-files may not look that nice in other text-editors...
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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--- Quote Start ---  

why not post the code along with the .SDC file? 

--- Quote End ---  

 

 

Would you rather that I copy-paste them into "reply"-fields, in the browser ? 

This will look messy...
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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The failing path is between the counter and state machine via the compare. Is it possible to pipeline the compare? 

The Max devices are not very fast, so I can only assume the compare is a little too much in the path.
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Altera_Forum
Honored Contributor II
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--- Quote Start ---  

The failing path is between the counter and state machine via the compare. Is it possible to pipeline the compare? 

The Max devices are not very fast, so I can only assume the compare is a little too much in the path. 

--- Quote End ---  

 

 

Thank you so much. I appreciate the comment "the Max devices are not very fast"...  

Regarding pipelining, does this involve synchronizing the output of the compare to the clock, just prior to using as the FSM control signal ? 

I.e, connect it to the data port of a D flip-flop, and connect the output port of that same D flip-flop to the flag input port of the FSM ?
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