[vhdl-200x] Switch model

I would like to propose a new attribute:

‘NMD_ATIT

When I first started learning VHDL, there was a conundrum set:

“Build a two port model of a wire with no inferred deltas”

which of course is impossible.

However, we can model wires and more importantly, switches. Recently I had cause 
to build a switch model for my test environment which I managed thanks to a 
posting by Yanto Suryono:

VHDL Switch Model <http://tech.yanto-flora.net/e-090424-172201_VHDL_Switch_Model>

which includes code by Ben Cohen, in turn modified by Ralf Hildebrandt.

The basics are as follows; given a two bidirectional port entity, first 
disconnect the ports (a & b) in order to identify their external resolved 
driving values.

a <= ‘Z’;

b <= ‘Z’;

wait for 0 ns; -- wait for one delta period

The next step is to resolve these values into a variable and drive the value 
back out on both ports.

c := resolved((a, b));

a <= c;

b <= c;

wait for 0 ns; -- wait for one delta period

This appears like it should work, except it doesn’t and in my case the best I 
could attain on the ports was ‘X’ and the worst ‘U’.

The reason for this is that it takes more than one delta cycle for the ports to 
stabilize and more importantly it is dependent on the simulation model in which 
you instantiate your switch(es).

Next the addition of the ‘chain length’ term to take account of your 
simulation’s path through other delta cycle generating assignments.

Both phases above need to looped for twice the chain length. In my case I had to 
set this to 3 giving 2 loops of 2x3 delta cycle delays. It does seem like a lot 
but the model now works.

The problem I have is that the model now has become application specific to its 
simulation environment and there doesn't’t appear to be any way to automatically 
check whether these paths have stabilized.

And this leads me to my request for a new attribute ‘NMD_ATIT or “No More Deltas 
– About To Increment Time’.

This would generate an event when the simulator determines that there are no 
further activities in the current simulation. This could be used for each of the 
two steps in the switch model guaranteeing stable resolved values on its ports.

There are questions arising from this e.g. what do we attach it to or more 
precisely to what do we decorate it? Perhaps the NOW function? (NOW‘NMD_ATIT).

So simulation experts, reasons why we can or cannot have this attribute?

Best regards,

Brent.



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Regards,

         Brent Hayhoe.

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