Takes in multiple input ready/valid handshakes with associated data, and merges them one at a time into a single output ready/valid handshake. The inputs are merged in round-robin order, with equal priority, and one dead cycle when arbitrating to a different input.
So long as an input holds its valid signal high (implying a continous stream of data), it will hold the output (once granted) and so all that input's data will be passed atomically, without other data interleaved in it. Backpressure still works via the ready signal. If the source connected to the input cannot provide its block of data in a single continously valid stream, then any other input source may grab the output in the meantime. Thus, if you can't avoid interleaving, attach some metadata in parallel to the data (e.g.: a source ID number) to allow sorting it out further down the pipeline.
The IMPLEMENTATION parameter defaults to "AND", and controls the implementation of the Annullers inside the mux/demux. It is unlikely you will need to change it.
As a design convention, we must avoid a combinational path between the valid and ready signals in a given pipeline interface, because if the other end of the pipeline connection also has a ready/valid combinational path, connecting these two interfaces will form a combinational loop, which cannot be analyzed for timing, or simulated reliably.
Thus, the input interfaces here are buffered to break the combinational path, even if the buffering is redundant. It's not worth the risk of a bad simulation or synthesis otherwise.
`default_nettype none module Pipeline_Merge_Round_Robin #( parameter WORD_WIDTH = 0, parameter INPUT_COUNT = 0, parameter IMPLEMENTATION = "AND", // Do not set at instantiation, except in IPI parameter TOTAL_WIDTH = WORD_WIDTH * INPUT_COUNT ) ( input wire clock, input wire clear, input wire [INPUT_COUNT-1:0] input_valid, output wire [INPUT_COUNT-1:0] input_ready, input wire [TOTAL_WIDTH-1:0] input_data, output reg output_valid, input wire output_ready, output wire [WORD_WIDTH-1:0] output_data ); localparam INPUT_ZERO = {INPUT_COUNT{1'b0}}; initial begin output_valid = 1'b0; end
First, we must buffer the input interfaces to break the combinational path from valid to ready.
wire [INPUT_COUNT-1:0] input_valid_buffered; wire [INPUT_COUNT-1:0] input_ready_buffered; wire [TOTAL_WIDTH-1:0] input_data_buffered; generate genvar j; for(j=0; j < INPUT_COUNT; j=j+1) begin: per_input Pipeline_Skid_Buffer #( .WORD_WIDTH (WORD_WIDTH) ) input_buffer ( .clock (clock), .clear (clear), .input_valid (input_valid[j]), .input_ready (input_ready[j]), .input_data (input_data [WORD_WIDTH*j +: WORD_WIDTH]), .output_valid (input_valid_buffered[j]), .output_ready (input_ready_buffered[j]), .output_data (input_data_buffered [WORD_WIDTH*j +: WORD_WIDTH]) ); end endgenerate
Then filter the input valid signals to only one, in round-robin order.
wire [INPUT_COUNT-1:0] input_valid_granted; Arbiter_Round_Robin #( .INPUT_COUNT (INPUT_COUNT) ) pipeline_arbiter ( .clock (clock), .clear (clear), .requests (input_valid_buffered), .grant (input_valid_granted) );
It takes one cycle for the Round_Robin_Arbiter to change state, so mask the granted valid input with the original valid input so that when the original valid input goes low, we don't leave the granted valid input high for one extra cycle, which would cause one extra, incorrect data transfer.
reg [INPUT_COUNT-1:0] input_valid_granted_masked = INPUT_ZERO; always @(*) begin input_valid_granted_masked = input_valid_buffered & input_valid_granted; end
If any arbitrated input valid is set, then pass it to the output valid port.
always @(*) begin output_valid = (input_valid_granted_masked != INPUT_ZERO); end
Then use the filtered valid signal to select the data to pass to the output.
Multiplexer_One_Hot #( .WORD_WIDTH (WORD_WIDTH), .WORD_COUNT (INPUT_COUNT), .OPERATION ("OR"), .IMPLEMENTATION (IMPLEMENTATION) ) data_out_mux ( .selectors (input_valid_granted_masked), .words_in (input_data_buffered), .word_out (output_data) );
Use the filtered valid signal to steer the selected output ready port to the input ready port. Since this is a single-bit signal, the valid isn't necessary if we don't broadcast.
Demultiplexer_One_Hot #( .BROADCAST (0), .WORD_WIDTH (1), .OUTPUT_COUNT (INPUT_COUNT), .IMPLEMENTATION (IMPLEMENTATION) ) ready_in_demux ( .selectors (input_valid_granted_masked), .word_in (output_ready), .words_out (input_ready_buffered), // verilator lint_off PINCONNECTEMPTY .valids_out () // verilator lint_on PINCONNECTEMPTY ); endmodule