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Schematic Designs With Finite State Machine (FSM) Macros

This section explains how to create state machine macros and instantiate them in schematic designs.

Creating FSM Macros

After a macro is created, it is available from the SC Symbols window in Schematic Capture. These are the steps you follow to create State Machine macros.

  1. Open the Finite State Machine (FSM) editor by clicking the FSM Editor icon in the Design Entry box on the Project Manager's Flow tab.

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  2. When the State Editor window appears, you may select an existing FSM macro or create a new one. The following steps describe creating a new FSM macro with the Design Wizard.

  3. Select Use HDL Design Wizard. Click OK.

  4. From the Design Wizard window, select Next.

  5. From the Design Wizard - Language window, choose VHDL, Verilog, or ABEL. Click Next. (You must have Base Express or Foundation Express to select VHDL or Verilog.)

  6. Enter a name for your macro in the Design Wizard - Name window. Select Next.

  7. Define your ports in the Design Wizard-Ports window. Select Next.

  8. In the Design Wizards - Machines window, select the number of state machines that you want. Click Finish. The Wizard creates the ports and gives you a template in which you can enter your state machine design.

  9. Create the design for your state machine in the State Editor.

  10. When you are finished creating your state machine, create a macro symbol by selecting Project Create Macro.

The synthesizer will not insert top level input and output pads for this macro. Instead the top level schematic, which contains the macro, includes all top level input and output pads required for implementation.

For more information about state machines, select Help Foundation Help Contents State Editor.

Creating the Schematic and Generating a Netlist

  1. Open Schematic Capture.

  2. Select Mode Symbols to add components to your new schematic.

    Any macros that you have created display in the SC Symbols toolbox under the project working library's heading.

  3. Select the state machine macro from the toolbox by clicking its name.

  4. Move your cursor to the schematic sheet and place the macro symbol by clicking.

  5. Complete your schematic by placing additional components from the SC Symbols toolbox including I/O ports, nets, buses, labels, and attributes.

  6. Save your schematic by selecting File Save.

For more information about schematic designs, see the “Schematic Design Entry” chapter or, in the Schematic Capture window, select Help Schematic Editor Help Contents.

To complete the design, read the following sections in the order listed:

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