Typically, when you want to use a dedicated input pad for an instantiated global buffer, you must use the 'inhibit_buf' attribute on the input signal port to prevent XVHDL from inserting an IBUF at the input.
--Example of instantiating a global buffer with dedicated pad
library IEEE; use IEEE.std_logic_1164.all;
library METAMOR; use METAMOR.attributes.all;
entity USE_BUFG is port (CLK, IN1: in std_logic; OUT1: out std_logic);
attribute pinnum of CLK : signal is "P124"; --lock CLK to P124
attribute inhibit_buf: boolean; --declare the attribute attribute inhibit_buf of CLK: signal is true; --This attribute prevents XVHDL from inferring an IBUF --on the CLK port, which allows the Xilinx software to --use the dedicated clock input pin. end USE_BUFG;
architecture TEST of USE_BUFG is signal BUFG_OUT: std_logic; component BUFG port (I: in std_logic; O: out std_logic); end component;
begin
U1: BUFG port map (I => CLK, O => BUFG_OUT);
process (BUFG_OUT) begin if (BUFG_OUT'event and BUFG_OUT='1') then OUT1 <= IN1; end if; end process;
end TEST;
Sythesizing this example with Metamor versions 3.0.2/3.0.3 (Foundation F1.3/Performance Pack Update), however, will not properly use the 'attribute pinnum' to lock down to a specific dedicated input pad.
Solution
The above mentioned Metamor compiler versions incorrectly place the 'attribute pinnum' on the buffer and not the pad itself. Thus, when using the 'inhibit_buf' attribute in conjunction with 'attibute pinnum', the pin lock is not reflected in the <design>.edn file.
The workaround is to lock down the pin in the <design>.ucf file and NOT the VHDL source code.
--Example of syntax in <design>.ucf file
NET clk LOC = P124;
Note that it is not absolutely necessary to lock the pin down to a specific dedicated pin. If you do not apply the LOC constraint, the compiler will simply choose one of the 4 dedicated global buffer pads to use. If you wish to tell the compiler WHICH of these 4 pads to use, then you must place the LOC constraint in the UCF file as described above.
*NOTE: This issue has been resolved in Foundation F1.4
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AR# 3174
Date
01/02/2000
Status
Archive
Type
General Article
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