Quartus Simulator

1. Quartus Simulator

2. In This Section • Simulator • Features • Supported simulation methods • 3rd party simulators • Simulator settings • Simulation Modes • End Time • Options • Simulation Focus • Saving Simulator Settings

3. In This Section Continued • Creating a Vector Waveform File (.VWF) • Customizing filter • Inserting nodes • Simulation length • Time bars • Creating signal patterns, clocks • Bidirectional pins • Simulation • Simulator Report • Comparing waveforms

4. Simulator

5. Features • Simulator supports 9 different signal values • 1 Forcing ‘1’ • 0 Forcing ‘0’ • X Forcing unknown • U Uninitialized • Z High impedance • H Weak ‘1’ • L Weak ‘0’ • W Weak unknown • DC Don’t Care

6. Features Continued • Bidirectional pins can be represented as a single signal • Easy to use Node Finder • Can customize filter • Multiple time bars • Master, relative, and absolute • Simulator automatically • Adds output pins to output waveform file • Checks outputs at the end of simulation • Invokes compiler from simulator

7. Supported Simulation Methods • Waveform entry • .vwf (vector waveform file) - primary waveform file for Quartus • .vec (vector file) - MAX+PLUS II .vec file supported for backward compatibility • .tbl (table file) - used to import existing MAX+PLUS II .scf files into Quartus • Testbench support • Tcl/TK scripting • Verilog/VHDL • 3rd Party Simulators

8. Simulator Settings

9. Simulation Focus • Points to compiler setting on which to focus Specify the design heirarchical entity on which to focus

10. Saving Simulator Settings • Simulator settings determine the type of simulation that is performed • Quartus allows simulator settings to be saved Specify the simulator setting 2 Specify simulator setting on which to focus 3 Save simulator setting 1

11. Simulator End Time • Specifies the start time and end time of simulation Enter start time Runs simulation to the end of the stimulus file Enter end time Displays comparison of simulation in simulator report

12. Simulation Stimulus • Specify stimulus file in Simulator Settings Specify stimulus file

13. Simulator Mode • Two modes • Functional • Pre-synthesis • Timing • Fully compiled netlist • Post place and route

14. Simulator Options Reports ratio of simulated nodes to number of nodes in .vwf file Reports setup and hold time violations in message window Monitors simulation for glitches and reports them in message window Specify time interval that defines Glitch

15. Running Simulation • Select Run Simulation from processing menu

16. Creating Vector Waveform File (.VWF)

17. Initializing Simulation • Reads in simulation netlist

18. Inserting Nodes • Select Insert Node or Bus from Insert Menu with the .VWF file open Click on Node Finder to select nodes

19. Customizing Filter in Node Finder • Filter is used to search for nodes Customize filter 1 Name of filter being customized Creates new filter 2 Select netlist 3 Select type of node 4

20. Selecting Nodes for Waveform File • In Node Finder box enter nodes into Selected Nodes field Select node Can select entire bus or single bit Enter node into Selected Nodes field

21. Specify Length of Simulation • Specify maximum length of simulation time with end time

22. Inserting Time Bars • Set any one time bar to be the master • Time bars inserted relative to master or as absolute Specify time bar Set master time bar Time Bar

23. Drawing Stimulus Waveform • Highlight portion of waveform to change • Overwrite value with desired value Highlight waveform 1 Overwrite value 2 Value shortcut 2

24. Creating a Clock • Highlight waveform and enter period Highlight waveform 1 Select Clock 2 Select a clock defined in Timing Settings 3 Clock shortcut 2 or specify clock period 3

25. Creating Counting Pattern • Highlight waveform and enter pattern Highlight waveform 1 Select Count Value 2 Pattern shortcut 2 Specify counting pattern 3 Specify Radix 3 Specify counting frequency 4

26. Assigning Arbitrary Value • Highlight waveform and enter constant value for group Highlight waveform 1 Select Arbitrary Value 2 Enter value 3 Arbitrary value shortcut 2

27. Bidirectional Pins • Quartus requires only one pin in the .vwf file • Highlight portions of waveform and edit Bidirectional pin

28. Simulation

29. Simulator Report • Displays Simulation Waveform (result waveform) Opens simulator report Select to view simulation waveform Result waveform

30. Comparing Waveforms • With Simulation Waveform open, select Compare to Waveforms under the View menu • Select file to be compared against result file Select file

31. Debugging with the Message Window 1 Double clicking on message 2 Highlights signal with unexpected value 3 Creates time bar at occurrence of unexpected value

32. Compared Waveforms (Simulator Report) • ORIGINAL (CTRL+1) • ACTUAL (CTRL+2) RESULTS • COMPARED (CTRL+3) (above 2 waveforms are overlapped)

33. Simulating with 3rd Party Simulators • Model Technology (ModelSim) • Cadence (VERILOG-XL) • Viewlogic (VCS) • Synopsys (VSS)

34. Specify Simulator • Select EDA Tools Settings menu from the project menu Select Simulation tool

35. 3rd Party Simulators • VHDL Simulators • Use Quartus generated .VHO and .SDO files • Use APEX20K_ATOMs.VHD and APEX20K_COMPONENTS.VHD libraries located in the sim_lib directory • Verilog Simulators • Use Quartus generated .VO and .SDO files • Use APEX20K_ATOMS.VO library located in the sim_lib

36. Summary • Functional and Timing simulation support • Testbench support • Tcl/TKs • Verilog/VHDL • Simulation results stored in Simulation report