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jch4416's avatar
jch4416
Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
5 years ago
Solved

Quartus fitter ignores the RTL generated by the synthesis

Hello, I am getting started with a simple Verilog project for a CPLD. The first thing I have to implement is a clock divider for the 50MHz clock on my eval board. My code works when I place it dir...
  • jch4416's avatar
    jch4416
    5 years ago

    I found the issue that was causing the fitter to ignore all the RTL, but I could use some help understanding it.

    In the top module, I defined a reg variable called reset_n that I wanted to use as a master power on reset. Then I had an initial block in the top module to assert and de-assert the reset_n.

    initial
    begin
    reset_n <= `LO;
    #10 reset_n <= `HI;
    end

    This worked fine when I put the clock_divider() code directly into the top module.

    But when I tried to instantiate clock divider modules, I put reset_n into their port lists and the fitter gave me a message like "reset_n has no source, setting to GND". With reset_n always asserted, the clock_divider produced no clock output so it was apparently optimized out.

    Any ideas why this happened? Can I not define an internal power on reset? Perhaps I don't need to? I had the "POWER UP DON'T CARE" setting OFF. I had read this causes all registers to initialize to 0

SyafieqS's avatar
SyafieqS
Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
5 years ago

Hi Jim,


By default, it should be working if you place direct or separate module. May I know what type and version of Quartus you are using? Can you attach the design files for both place module directly and separately. I will try to duplicate it.


Thanks,

Regards


  • jch4416's avatar
    jch4416
    Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
    5 years ago

    Thanks for your help Syafieq. I have attached 2 zip files. Both contain the .qsf and .qfp files. the

    The Proj_separate_modules archive has 2 Verilog files, one for the top level module and one for the clock divider. the top level instantiates the clock divider. This project compiles without errors and the synthesis produces RTL which uses 34 logic elements. But the fitter doesn't place anything on the chip.

    The Proj_one_module archive pastes the code from the clock divider module directly into the body of the top module. And produces a working programmable for the cpld with 34 LEs fitted.

    The variable master_8mhz_clk is actually being used for a 50MHz clock on my eval board. The target hardware will use 8MHz.

    Jim

    • sstrell's avatar
      sstrell
      Icon for Super Contributor rankSuper Contributor
      5 years ago

      Your instantiation is incorrect. You're missing an instance name. And while it's not part of the issue, best practice is to do a full port mapping. So it should look like this:

      clock_divider u1 (.clk_in(master_8mhz_clk), .reset_n(reset_n), .clk_out(test_led));

      • jch4416's avatar
        jch4416
        Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
        5 years ago

        Thanks, I must have forgotten to put it in when putting together the different versions. But it still worked.

        Any thoughts on the main problem?

  • jch4416's avatar
    jch4416
    Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
    5 years ago

    Hi Syafieq,

    I am using the Quartus Prime Lite edition, v20.1.0 Build711.

    Thanks for your help,

    Jim

    • jch4416's avatar
      jch4416
      Icon for Occasional Contributor rankOccasional Contributor
      5 years ago

      I found the issue that was causing the fitter to ignore all the RTL, but I could use some help understanding it.

      In the top module, I defined a reg variable called reset_n that I wanted to use as a master power on reset. Then I had an initial block in the top module to assert and de-assert the reset_n.

      initial
      begin
      reset_n <= `LO;
      #10 reset_n <= `HI;
      end

      This worked fine when I put the clock_divider() code directly into the top module.

      But when I tried to instantiate clock divider modules, I put reset_n into their port lists and the fitter gave me a message like "reset_n has no source, setting to GND". With reset_n always asserted, the clock_divider produced no clock output so it was apparently optimized out.

      Any ideas why this happened? Can I not define an internal power on reset? Perhaps I don't need to? I had the "POWER UP DON'T CARE" setting OFF. I had read this causes all registers to initialize to 0

      • RRomano001's avatar
        RRomano001
        Icon for Contributor rankContributor
        5 years ago

        Hello, take care this is a VHDL oriented and is long time is no more using a CPLD.

        Your design has no external reset pin and delay is just useful for simulation not synthesis.

        Again your module is sensing at same time both negative edge of Reset_n and positive of clock, this is a non synthesis reason. This require dual edge flip flop not present on CPLD nor FPGA.7

        CPLD FF can be reset in async way, FPGA one prefer to be synced to main clock. Move reset forward as level under clock control.

        CPLD's carry limited resources and using sync reset if not natively supported consume 2 FF instead of one. This case require controlling reset by level not edge. Move as level in front of clock control.

        Using delay get sentence to be optimized out most of time from synthesis.

        MaxII MaxV perform internal POR reset, but no idea how to instantiate or if useable on design.

        About similar issue yes but your is due to error in design.

        Mine got from intermixing VHDL and Verilog module, sometimes port signals of correctly designed (working too) where randomly corrupted but on complex design and QSYS control. This the reason I analysed your design, nothing to do what I seen my side.