How to import Verilog codes into LabVIEW FPGA?

Question

I tried to import Verilog code by instantiation followed by the instruction in http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/7269557B205B1E1A86257640000910D3, 
but still I can see some errors while compiling the VI file.
Simple test Verilog file is as follows:
==============================
module andtwobits (xx, yy, zz);
input xx, yy;
output reg zz;
always @(xx,yy) begin
zz <= xx & yy;
end
endmodule
==============================
and after following up the above link, we created the instantiation file as
==============================================
library ieee;
use ieee.std_logic_1164.all;
entity mainVHDL is
port(
xxin: in std_logic;
yyin: in std_logic;
zzout: out std_logic
end mainVHDL;
architecture mainVHDL1 of mainVHDL is
COMPONENT andtwobits PORT (
zz : out std_logic;
xx : in std_logic;
yy : in std_logic);
END COMPONENT;
begin
alu : andtwobits port map(
zz => zzout,
xx => xxin,
yy => yyin);
end mainVHDL1;
==============================================
Sometimes, we observe the following error when we put the indicator on the output port,
ERROR:ConstraintSystem:58 - Constraint <INST "*ChinchLvFpgaIrq*bIpIrq_ms*" TNM =
TNM_ChinchIrq_IpIrq_ms;> [Puma20Top.ucf(890)]: INST
"*ChinchLvFpgaIrq*bIpIrq_ms*" does not match any design objects.
ERROR:ConstraintSystem:58 - Constraint <INST "*ChinchLvFpgaIrq*bIpIrq*" TNM =
TNM_ChinchIrq_IpIrq;> [Puma20Top.ucf(891)]: INST "*ChinchLvFpgaIrq*bIpIrq*"
does not match any design objects.
and interestingly, if we remove the indicator from the output port, it sucessfully compiles on the LabVIEW FPGA.
Could you take a look at and please help me to import Verilog to LabVIEW FPGA?
I've followed the basic steps of instantiation on the above link, but still it won't work.
Please find the attachment for the all files.
- andtwobits.v : original Verilog file
- andtwobits.ngc: NGC file
- andtwobits.vhd: VHD file after post-translate simulation model
- mainVHDL.vhd: instantiation main file
Since there is no example file for Verilog (there is VHDL file, but not for Verilog), it is a bit hard to do the simple execution on LabVIEW FPGA even for the examples.
Thank you very much for your support, and I'm looking forward to seeing your any help/reply as soon as possible.
Bests,
Solved!
Go to Solution.
Attachments:
attach.zip ‏57 KB

Answer 1

Hi,
I am facing problem in creating successfully importing  VHDL wrapper file for a Verilog module,into LabVIEW FPGA using CLIP Node method. Please note that:
I am working on platform SbRIO-9606.
Labiew version used is 2011 with Xilinx 12.4 compiler tools
NI RIO 4.0 is installed
Xilinx ISE version installed in PC is also 12.4 webpack ( Though I used before Xilinx 10.1 in PC for generating .ngc file for verilog code FOR SbRIO 9642 platform, but problem remains same for both versions)
Query1. Which versions of Xilinx ISE (to be installed in PC for generating .ngc file) are compatible with Labview 2011.1(with Xilinx 12.4 Compiler tools)? Can any version be used up to 12.4?
Initially I took a basic and gate verilog example to import into LabVIEW FPGA i.e. simple_and.v and its corresponding VHDL file is SimpleAnd_Wrapper.vhd
///////////////// Verilog code of “simple_and.v”//////////////////////
module simple_and(in1, in2, out1);
   input in1,in2;
   output reg out1;
   always@( in1 or in2)
   begin
      out1 <= in1 & in2;
   end
endmodule
/////////////////VHDL Wrapper file code of “SimpleAnd_Wrapper.vhd” //////////////////////
LIBRARY ieee;
USE ieee.std_logic_1164.ALL;
ENTITY SimpleAnd_Wrapper IS
    port (
        in1    : in std_logic;
        in2    : in std_logic;
        out1   : out std_logic
END SimpleAnd_Wrapper;
ARCHITECTURE RTL of SimpleAnd_Wrapper IS
component simple_and
   port(
         in1    : in std_logic;
         in2    : in std_logic;
         out1   : out std_logic
end component;
BEGIN
simple_and_instant: simple_and
   port map(
            in1 => in1,
            in2 => in2,
            out1 => out1
END RTL;
Documents/tutorials followed for generating VHDL Wrapper file for Verilog core are:
NI tutorial “How do I Integrate Verilog HDL with LabView FPGA module”. Link is http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/7269557B205B1E1A86257640000910D3
In this case, I did not get any vhdl file after “post-translate simulation model step” in netlist project using simple_and.ngc file previously generated through XST. Instead I got was simple_and_translate.v.
Query2. Do I hv to name tht “v” file into “simple_and.vhd”?? Anyways it did not work both ways i.e. naming it as “simple_and with a “v” or “vhd” extension. In end I copied that “simple_and.v” post translate model file, “simple_and.ngc”, and VHDL Wrapper file “SimpleAnd_Wrapper.vhd” in the respective labview project directory.
Query3. The post-translate model file can  also be generated by implementing verilog simple_and.v  file, so why have to generate it by making a separate netlist project using “simple_and.ngc” file? Is there any difference between these two files simple_and_translate.v generated through separate approaches as I mentioned?
2. NI tutorial “Using Verilog Modules in a Component-Level IP Design”. Link is https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-8218.
In this case, I generated only “simple_and.ngc” file by synthesizing “simple_and.v “file using Xilinx ISE 12.4 tool. Copied that “simple_and.ngc” and “SimpleAnd_Wrapper.vhd” file in the same directory.
Query4. What is the difference between this method and the above one?
2. I followed tutorial “Importing External IP into LABVIEW FPGA” for rest steps of creating a CLIP, declaring it and passing data between CLIP and FPGA VI. Link is http://www.ni.com/white-paper/7444/en. This VI executes perfectly on FPGA for the example”simple_and.vhd” file being provided in this tutorial.
Compilation Errors Warnings received after compiling my SimpleAnd_Wrapper.vhd file
Elaborating entity <SimpleAnd_Wrapper> (architecture <RTL>) from library <work>.
WARNING:HDLCompiler:89"\NIFPGA\jobs\WcD1f16_fqu2nOv\SimpleAnd_Wrapper.vhd"    Line 35: <simple_and> remains a black-box since it has no binding entity.
2. WARNING:NgdBuild:604 - logical block 'window/theCLIPs/Component_ dash_Level _IP_ CLIP0/simple_and_instant' with type   'simple_and' could not be resolved. A pin name misspelling can cause this, a missing edif or ngc file, case mismatch between the block name and the edif or ngc file name, or the misspelling of a type name. Symbol 'simple_and' is not supported in target 'spartan6'.
3. ERROR:MapLib:979 - LUT6 symbol   "window/theVI/Component_dash_Level_IP_bksl_out1_ind_2/PlainIndicator.PlainInd icator/cQ_0_rstpot" (output signal=window/theVI/ Component_dash_Level _IP_bksl_out1_ ind_2/PlainIndicator.PlainIndicator/cQ_0_rstpot) has input signal "window/internal_Component_dash_Level_IP_out1" which will be trimmed. SeeSection 5 of the Map Report File for details about why the input signal willbecome undriven.
Query5. Where lays that “section5” of map report? It maybe a ridiculous question, but sorry I really can’t find it; maybe it lays in xilnx log file!
4. ERROR:MapLib:978 - LUT6 symbol  "window/theVI/Component_dash_Level_IP_bksl_ out1_ind_2/PlainIndicator.PlainIndicator/cQ_0_rstpot" (output signal= window / theVI/Component_dash_Level_IP_bksl_out1_ind_2/PlainIndicator.PlainIndicator/ cQ_0_rstpot) has an equation that uses input pin I5, which no longer has a connected signal. Please ensure that all the pins used in the equation for this LUT have signals that are not trimmed (see Section 5 of the Map Report File for details on which signals were trimmed). Error found in mapping process, exiting.Errors found during the mapping phase. Please see map report file for more details.  Output files will not be written.
Seeing these errors I have reached the following conclusions.
There is some problem in making that VHDL Wrapper file, LabVIEW does not recognize the Verilog component instantiated in it and treat it as unresolved black box.
Query6. Is there any step I maybe missing while making this VHDL wrapper file; in my opinion I have tried every possibility in docs/help available in NI forums?
2. Query7. Maybe it is a pure Xilinx issue i.e. some sort of library conflict as verilog module is not binding to top VHDL module as can be seen from warning HDLCompiler89. If this is the case then how to resolve that library conflict? Some hint regarding this expected issue has been given in point 7 of tutorial “How do I Integrate Verilog HDL with LabView FPGA module”. http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/7269557B205B1E1A86257640000910D3. But nothing has been said much about resolving that issue.  
3. Because of this unidentified black box, the whole design could not be mapped and hence could not be compiled.
P.S.
I have attached labview project zip folder containing simple_translate.v, simple_and_verilog.vi file,SimpleAnd_Wrapper.xml,  Xilinx log file after compilation alongwith other files. Kindly analyze and help me out in resolving this basic issue.
Please note that I have made all settings regarding:
Unchecked add I/O buffers option in XST of Xilinx ISE 12.4 project
Have set “Pack I/O Registers into IOBs” to NO in XST properties of project.
Synchronization registers are also set to zero by default of all CLIP I/O terminals.
Please I need speedy help.Thanking in you in anticipation.
Attachments:
XilinxLog.txt ‏256 KB
labview project files.zip ‏51 KB