Implement Hardware-Efficient Real Divide HDL Optimized

This example demonstrates how to perform the division of real numbers using hardware-efficient MATLAB® code embedded in Simulink® models. The model used in this example is suitable for HDL code generation for fixed-point inputs. The algorithm employs a fully pipelined architecture, which is suitable for FPGA or ASIC devices where throughput is of concern. This implementation also uses available on-chip resources judiciously, making it suitable for resource-conscious designs as well.

Division of Real Numbers

The division operation for two real numbers $\mathit{a}$ and $\mathit{b}$, where $\mathit{b}\ne 0$, is defined as $\frac{\mathit{a}}{\mathit{b}}=\mathit{c}$, such that $\mathit{a}=\mathit{b}\cdot \mathit{c}$.

The CORDIC Algorithm

CORDIC is an acronym for COordinate Rotation DIgital Computer, and can be used to efficiently compute many trigonometric, hyperbolic, and arithmetic functions. For a detailed explanation of the CORDIC algorithm and its application in the calculation of a trigonometric function, see Compute Sine and Cosine Using CORDIC Rotation Kernel.

Fully Pipelined Fixed-Point Computations

The Real Divide HDL Optimized block supports HDL code generation for fixed-point data with binary-point scaling. It is designed with this application in mind, and employs hardware specific semantics and optimizations. One of these optimizations is pipelining its entire internal circuitry to maintain a very high throughput.

When deploying intricate algorithms to FPGA or ASIC devices, there is often a trade-off between resource usage and total throughput for a given computation. Resource-sharing often reduces the resources consumed by a design, but also reduces the throughput in the process. Simple arithmetic and trigonometic computations, which typically form parts of bigger computations, require high throughput to drive circuits further in the design. Thus, fully pipelined implementations consume more on-chip resources but are beneficial in large designs.

All of the key computational units in the Real Divide HDL Optimized block are fully pipelined internally. This includes not only the CORDIC circuitry used to perform the Givens rotations, but also the adders and shifters used elsewhere in the design, thus ensuring maximum throughput.

How to Interface with the Real Divide HDL Optimized Block

Because of its fully pipelined nature, the Real Divide HDL Optimized block is able to accept input data on any cycle, including consecutive cycles. To send input data to the block, the validIn signal must be true. When the block has finished the computation and is ready to send the output, it will change validOut to true for one clock cycle. For inputs sent on consecutive cycles, validOut will also be set to true on consecutive cycles. Both the numerator and the denominator must be sent together on the same cycle.

Open the Model and Define Input Data

To open the example model, at the command line, enter:

mdl = 'fxpdemo_realDivide';
open_system(mdl)

The model contains the Real Divide HDL Optimized block connected to a data source which takes in arrays of inputs (numerators and denominators) and passes an input value from each array to the block on consecutive cycles. The output computed for each value is stored in a workspace variable. The simulation terminates when all inputs have been processed.

Define arrays of inputs realDivideNumerators and realDivideDenominators. For this example, the inputs are doubles. Note that both the numerator and the denominator should have the same datatype.

rng('default');
realDivideNumerators = 9*rand(1000,1) + 1;
realDivideDenominators = 9*rand(1000,1) + 1;

Define the output datatype to be used in the model. For this example, the outputs are also doubles. Note that fixed-point type outputs can only be used with fixed-point type inputs.

OutputType = 'double';

Simulate the Model and Examine the Output

Simulate the model.

sim(mdl);

When the simulation is complete, a new workspace variable, realDivideOutputs, is created to hold the computed value for each pair of inputs.

To examine the error of the calculation, compare the output of the Real Divide HDL Optimized block to that of the built-in MATLAB® divide function.

expectedOutput = realDivideNumerators./realDivideDenominators;
actualOutput = realDivideOutputs;
maxError = max(abs(expectedOutput - actualOutput))
maxError = 0