Vhdl (Computer Engineering Series)
A new edition of this best-selling reference text, which makes writing complex VHDL (very high speed integrated circuit hardware description language) descriptions easy, even for designers with little or no previous experience. This text features a top-down approach that is easy to understand. It takes the reader from the basics to complex modelling techniques, with real-world examples, sample designs and extensive graphics illlustrating each step of the process. It also provides a complete design flow of a synthesizable vending machine controller from top-level description to gate-level implementation. This new edition features a more in-depth description of VHDL with Synthesis and reflects the IEEE 1164 standard modelling package.
Why Read This Book
You should read this book if you want a clear, example-driven introduction to VHDL that walks you from basic language constructs to synthesizable code and a full design flow. It uses a top-down approach and real-world examples (including a complete vending-machine case study) to make VHDL approachable even if you haven't used HDLs before.
Who Will Benefit
Students and engineers who are new to VHDL or moving from digital logic fundamentals to HDL-based FPGA design and want practical, worked examples of synthesis and simulation.
Level: Beginner — Prerequisites: Basic digital logic (combinational/sequential circuits) and general programming familiarity (helpful but not required).
Key Takeaways
- Describe and use VHDL data types, signals, and operators correctly (including IEEE 1164 std_logic).
- Model hardware using concurrent and sequential VHDL constructs and structural composition.
- Write testbenches and perform functional simulation to verify designs.
- Produce synthesizable VHDL and follow a top-down design flow from behavioral description to gate-level implementation.
- Design and implement finite-state machines and common control/data-path structures in VHDL.
Topics Covered
- Introduction to VHDL and design methodology
- Lexical elements, identifiers, and basic language structure
- Data types, signals, variables, and operators (including IEEE 1164)
- Concurrent statements and behavioral modelling
- Sequential statements, processes, and timing
- Structural modelling and component instantiation
- Subprograms, packages, and modular design
- Testbenches, simulation techniques, and debugging
- VHDL and synthesis: coding for synthesis and synthesis considerations
- Timing, delays, and simulation vs. implementation issues
- Design example: top-down vending machine from description to gates
- Advanced modelling techniques and style guidelines
Languages, Platforms & Tools
How It Compares
More introductory and example-driven than Ashenden's The Designer's Guide to VHDL (which is deeper and more authoritative); similar teaching intent to Ciletti's VHDL texts but Perry emphasizes a top-down design flow and a complete case study.
