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16.3 An Overview of VHDL Stars


The figure below shows the top-level palette of VHDL stars. The stars are divided into categories: sources, sinks, arithmetic functions, nonlinear functions, control, conversion, signal processing, and higher order functions. The higher order function stars are the same ones that are common to all domains and they are not particular to VHDL. Icons for delay, bus, and BlackHole appear in most palettes for easy access. Most of the stars in the VHDL domain have equivalent counterparts in the SDF domain. See "An overview of SDF stars" on page 5-4 for brief descriptions of these stars.

FIGURE 16-1: Top-level palette of stars in the VHDL domain.

16.3.1 Source Stars

Source stars have no inputs and produce data on their outputs. The figure below shows the palette of VHDL source stars. All of these are equivalent to the SDF stars of the same name.

FIGURE 16-2: Source stars in the VHDL domain.

16.3.2 Sink Stars

Sink stars have no outputs and consume data on their inputs. The figure below shows the palette of VHDL sink stars. All of these are equivalent to the SDF stars of the same name.

FIGURE 16-3: Sink stars in the VHDL domain.

16.3.3 Arithmetic Stars

Arithmetic stars perform simple functions such as addition and multiplication. The figure below shows the palette of VHDL arithmetic stars. All of the stars are equivalent to the SDF stars of the same name.

FIGURE 16-4: Arithmetic stars in the VHDL domain.

16.3.4 Nonlinear Stars

Nonlinear stars perform simple functions. The figure below shows the palette of VHDL nonlinear stars. All of these are equivalent to the SDF stars of the same name.

FIGURE 16-5: Nonlinear stars in the VHDL domain.

16.3.5 Control Stars

Control stars are used for routing data and other control functions. The figure below shows the palette of VHDL control stars. All of these are equivalent to the SDF stars of the same name.

FIGURE 16-6: Control stars in the VHDL domain.

16.3.6 Conversion Stars

Conversion stars are used to convert between different data types. The figure below shows the palette of VHDL conversion stars. All of the stars are equivalent to the SDF stars of the same name.

FIGURE 16-7: Type-conversion stars in the VHDL domain.

16.3.7 Signal Processing Stars

The figure below shows the palette of VHDL signal processing stars. All of the stars are equivalent to the SDF stars of the same name (see "Signal processing stars" on page 5-30).

FIGURE 16-8: Signal processing stars in the VHDL domain.



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