Chapter 4: Verilog and Digital Circuit Design

Introduction

Verilog is a hardware description language (HDL) used for designing and modeling digital circuits. It allows engineers to describe digital systems at multiple levels of abstraction, from behavioral to gate-level representations.

This chapter introduces:

• The syntax and semantics of Verilog.
• The Register Transfer Level (RTL) Design approach.
• The importance of testbenches and simulation.
• Clocking strategies and static timing analysis.

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• Write and understand Verilog modules and their components.
• Implement combinational and sequential logic using Verilog.
• Perform simulation and debugging of digital circuits.
• Optimize digital designs using timing analysis.

Topics Covered

• Verilog Basics
  • Verilog Syntax and Semantics
  • Data Types in Verilog
  • Module Definition and Instantiation
  • Inputs and Outputs in Verilog
• Behavioral and Structural Modeling
  • Continuous Assignments (assign)
  • Procedural Blocks (always, initial)
  • Blocking vs. Non-blocking Assignments
• Finite State Machine (FSM) Design
  • Moore and Mealy FSMs in Verilog
  • State Diagrams and State Encoding
• Clocking and Timing Analysis
  • Clock Generation and Distribution
  • Timing Constraints in Verilog
  • Setup and Hold Time Considerations
  • Static Timing Analysis
• Simulation and Debugging
  • Testbenches and Simulation Models
  • Waveform Analysis and Debugging Tools
  • Assertion-based Verification

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will:

• Understand Verilog syntax and data types.
• Implement combinational and sequential logic using Verilog.
• Design finite state machines (FSMs) in Verilog.
• Perform functional simulation using testbenches.
• Use timing constraints and static timing analysis for optimization.

This chapter builds the foundation for FPGA and embedded systems design, covered in the next chapter.