High-Level Synthesis Code Generation for LMS Filter

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This example shows how to generate High-Level Synthesis (HLS) code from a MATLAB® design that implements an LMS filter. The example also illustrates how to design a test bench that cancels out the noise signal by using this filter.

LMS Filter MATLAB Design

The MATLAB design used in the example is an implementation of an LMS (Least Mean Squares) filter. The LMS filter is a class of adaptive filter that identifies an FIR filter signal that is embedded in the noise. The LMS filter design implementation in MATLAB consists of a top-level function mlhdlc_lms_fcn that calculates the optimal filter coefficients to reduce the difference between the output signal and the desired signal.

design_name = 'mlhdlc_lms_fcn';
testbench_name = 'mlhdlc_lms_noise_canceler_tb';

Review the MATLAB design:

open(design_name);

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% MATLAB Design: Adaptive Noise Canceler algorithm using Least Mean Square 
% (LMS) filter implemented in MATLAB
%
% Key Design pattern covered in this example: 
% (1) Use of function calls
% (2) Function inlining vs instantiation knobs available in the coder
% (3) Use of system objects in the testbench to stream test vectors into the design
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

%#codegen
function [filtered_signal, y, fc] = mlhdlc_lms_fcn(input, ...
                                        desired, step_size, reset_weights)
% 'input'  : The signal from Exterior Mic which records the ambient noise.
% 'desired': The signal from Pilot's Mic which includes 
%            original music signal and the noise signal
% 'err_sig': The difference between the 'desired' and the filtered 'input'
%           It represents the estimated music signal (output of this block)
% 
% The LMS filter is trying to retrieve the original music signal('err_sig') 
% from Pilot's Mic by filtering the Exterior Mic's signal and using it to 
% cancel the noise in Pilot's Mic. The coefficients/weights of the filter 
% are updated(adapted) in real-time based on 'input' and 'err_sig'.

% register filter coefficients
persistent filter_coeff;
if isempty(filter_coeff)
    filter_coeff = zeros(1, 40);
end

% Variable Filter: Call 'mtapped_delay_fcn' function on path to create 
% 40-step tapped delay
delayed_signal = mtapped_delay_fcn(input);

% Apply filter coefficients 
weight_applied = delayed_signal .* filter_coeff;

% Call treesum function on matlab path to sum up the results
filtered_signal = mtreesum_fcn(weight_applied);

% Output estimated Original Signal
td = desired;
tf = filtered_signal;
esig = td - tf;
y = esig;

% Update Weights: Call 'update_weight_fcn' function on MATLAB path to 
% calculate the new weights
updated_weight = update_weight_fcn(step_size, esig, delayed_signal, ...
                                   filter_coeff, reset_weights);

% update filter coefficients register
filter_coeff = updated_weight;
fc = filter_coeff;

function y = mtreesum_fcn(u)
%Implement the 'sum' function without a for-loop
%  y = sum(u);

%  The loop based implementation of 'sum' function is not ideal for 
%  HDL generation and results in a longer critical path. 
%  A tree is more efficient as it results in
%  delay of log2(N) instead of a delay of N delay

%  This implementation shows how to explicitly implement the vector sum in 
%  a tree shape to enable hardware optimizations.

%  The ideal way to code this generically for any length of 'u' is to use 
%  recursion but it is not currently supported by MATLAB Coder


% NOTE: To instruct MATLAB Coder to compile an external function, 
% add the following compilation directive or pragma to the function code
%#codegen

% This implementation is hardwired for a 40tap filter.

level1 = vsum(u);
level2 = vsum(level1);
level3 = vsum(level2);
level4 = vsum(level3);
level5 = vsum(level4);
level6 = vsum(level5);
y = level6;

function output = vsum(input)

coder.inline('always');

vt = input(1:2:end);
    
for i = int32(1:numel(input)/2)
    k = int32(i*2);
    vt(i) = vt(i) + input(k);
end

output = vt;

function tap_delay = mtapped_delay_fcn(input)
% The Tapped Delay function delays its input by the specified number 
% of sample periods, and outputs all the delayed versions in a vector
% form. The output includes current input

% NOTE: To instruct MATLAB Coder to compile an external function, 
% add the following compilation directive or pragma to the function code
%#codegen

persistent u_d;
if isempty(u_d)
    u_d = zeros(1,40);
end


u_d = [u_d(2:40), input];

tap_delay = u_d;

function weights = update_weight_fcn(step_size, err_sig, ... 
            delayed_signal, filter_coeff, reset_weights)
% This function updates the adaptive filter weights based on LMS algorithm

%   Copyright 2007-2022 The MathWorks, Inc.

% NOTE: To instruct MATLAB Coder to compile an external function, 
% add the following compilation directive or pragma to the function code
%#codegen

step_sig = step_size .* err_sig;
correction_factor = delayed_signal .* step_sig;
updated_weight = correction_factor + filter_coeff;

if reset_weights
    weights = zeros(1,40);
else    
    weights = updated_weight;
end

The MATLAB function is modular and uses functions:

mtapped_delay_fcn to calculate delayed versions of the input signal in vector form.
mtreesum_fcn to calculate the sum of the applied weights in a tree structure. The individual sum is calculated by using a vsum function.
update_weight_fcn to calculate the updated filter weights based on the least mean square algorithm.

LMS Filter MATLAB Test Bench

Review the MATLAB test bench:

open(testbench_name)

% Returns an adaptive FIR filter System object,
% HLMS, that computes the filtered output, filter error and the filter
% weights for a given input and desired signal using the Least Mean
% Squares (LMS) algorithm.

%   Copyright 2011-2022 The MathWorks, Inc.
clear('mlhdlc_lms_fcn');

hfilt2 = dsp.FIRFilter(...
        'Numerator', fir1(10, [.5, .75]));
rng('default'); % always default to known state  
x = randn(1000,1);                              % Noise
d = step(hfilt2, x) + sin(0:.05:49.95)';         % Noise + Signal

stepSize = 0.01;
reset_weights =false;

hSrc = dsp.SignalSource(x);
hDesiredSrc = dsp.SignalSource(d);

hOut = dsp.SignalSink;
hErr = dsp.SignalSink;
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
%Call to the design
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
while (~isDone(hSrc))
    [y, e] = mlhdlc_lms_fcn(step(hSrc), step(hDesiredSrc), ... 
                                        stepSize, reset_weights);
    step(hOut, y);
    step(hErr, e);
end

figure('Name', [mfilename, '_signal_plot']);
subplot(2,1,1), plot(hOut.Buffer), title('Noise + Signal');
subplot(2,1,2),plot(hErr.Buffer), title('Signal');

Test the MATLAB Algorithm

To avoid run-time errors, simulate the design by using the HDL test bench.

mlhdlc_lms_noise_canceler_tb

Create HDL Coder Project

To generate High-Level Synthesis (HLS) code from a MATLAB design:

1. Create a HDL Coder project:

coder -hdlcoder -new mlhdlc_lms_nc

2. Add the file mlhdlc_lms_fcn.m to the project as the MATLAB Function and mlhdlc_lms_noise_canceler_tb.m as the MATLAB Test Bench.

3. Click Autodefine types to use the recommended types for the inputs and outputs of the MATLAB function mlhdlc_lms_fcn.

For more information, see Get Started with MATLAB to High-Level Synthesis Workflow Using the Command Line Interface or Get Started with MATLAB to High-Level Synthesis Workflow Using HDL Coder App.

Run Fixed-Point Conversion and HLS Code Generation

To generate HLS code from a MATLAB design:

1. At the MATLAB command line, setup the path for HLS code generation by using the function hdlsetuphlstoolpath.

2. Start the Workflow Advisor by clicking the Workflow Advisor button.

3. In the HDL Workflow Advisor step, select Code Generation Workflow as MATLAB to HLS.

4. Select Cadence Stratus as the Synthesis tool for Select Code Generation Target.

5. Right-click the HLS Code Generation and choose the option Run to selected task to run all the steps from the beginning through the HLS code generation.

A single HLS file mlhdlc_lms_fcn_fixptClass.hpp is generated for the MATLAB design. To examine the generated HLS code for the filter design, click the hyperlinks in the Code Generation Log window.