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Code review. Newbie's first verilog module!

Started by SpiderKenny 9 years ago4 replieslatest reply 9 years ago356 views

Hi 

This is one of the first verilog modules I wrote. It reads a 1-Wire iButton / Dallas keyfob code.

The theory of operation is that approximately every two seconds it samples the 1-Wire line and if a keyfob is present it transmits the "Read" command (0x33) and then reads back the 64-Bit code from the keyfob.

I wrote this about 18 Months ago as one of my first ever FPGA / #Verilog projects.

It does work, and works well, but I'm pretty sure it must be a suitable candidate for improving. So I invite you to give me your comments.

module iButton(
    inout ibio,             // 1-Wire iButton/Dallas signal line.
    input clk,                 // Master clock, currently 2.08 MHz
    output [63:0]ibData,     // 64 Bit data read from iButton
    output ibDataReady );    // indicates valid button data is ready.


reg ib_oe;
reg ibin, ds1, ds2;
reg [7:0] state ;
reg [31:0] count = 0;
reg [63:0] dataBitsIN = 64'd0;
reg [7:0] bitCount = 0;
reg [7:0] writeByte;
reg [7:0] lowCount;
reg [7:0] highCount;
reg ibDataReady = 0;


parameter[7:0]
    STATE_INITIAL_HOLD         = 8'h00,
    STATE_START_BIT             = 8'h01,
    STATE_START_HOLD         = 8'h02,
    STATE_DETECT_READ         = 8'h03,
    STATE_RELEASE_WAIT         = 8'h04,
    STATE_BIT_WRITE_BEGIN    = 8'h05,
    STATE_BIT_WRITE_SET         = 8'h06,
    STATE_BIT_WRITE_WAIT    = 8'h07,
    STATE_BIT_WRITE_RELEASE    = 8'h08,
    STATE_BIT_HIGH_WAIT        = 8'h09,
    STATE_BIT_WRITE_NEXT    = 8'h0a,
    STATE_BIT_READ_BEGIN    = 8'h0b,
    STATE_BIT_READ_ASSERT    = 8'h0c,
    STATE_BIT_READ_HOLD1    = 8'h0d,
    STATE_BIT_READ_HOLD2    = 8'h0e,
    STATE_BIT_READ_DONE        = 8'h0f;


assign ibio = ib_oe  ?  1'b0 : 1'bZ; // High impedence, or driven low. Uses pull-up resistor for high.
assign ibData = (ibDataReady) ? dataBitsIN : 64'd0;


always @(posedge clk) begin
    ds2 <= ds1;
    ds1 <= ibio;
    ibin <= ds2;
end


always @(posedge clk) begin
    // Fail safe, resets the count and the state if we stall too long at any stage.
    if(count > 32'h4F0000) begin
        count <= 32'h0;
        state <= STATE_INITIAL_HOLD;
    end
    
    case (state)
        STATE_INITIAL_HOLD: begin // count to 3f7a00 (two seconds at 2.08 MHz) then move to next state;
            if(count < 32'h3f7a00) begin
                count <= count + 1;
                end
            else begin
                count <= 0;
                bitCount <= 0;
                state <= STATE_START_BIT;
                end
            end
        STATE_START_BIT: begin // transmit a >480 uS low pulse which wakes up and detects the iButton.
            if (count < 32'd1100) begin
                ib_oe <= 1'b1; // Output enable, drives low.
                count <= count + 1;
                end
            else begin
                ib_oe <= 1'b0; // release the io line
                count <= 0; // reset the count for the next state.
                state <= STATE_START_HOLD;
                end
            end
        STATE_START_HOLD: begin // wait for 70 uS
            if (count < 32'd146) begin
                count <= count + 1;
                end
            else begin // move to the next state, sampling.
                state <= STATE_DETECT_READ;
                end
            end
        STATE_DETECT_READ: begin
            count <= 0;
            if (ibin) begin // the iButton did not pull us low, so no iButton detected.
                state <= STATE_INITIAL_HOLD;
                end
            else begin
                state <= state + 1;
                end
            end
        STATE_RELEASE_WAIT: begin // stay here until the line goes high again, and pause for a few uS.
            if (ibin) begin
                if(count > 100) begin
                    state <= state + 1;
                    writeByte <= 8'h33;
                end
                else begin
                    count <= count + 1;
                    end
                end
            end
        STATE_BIT_WRITE_BEGIN: begin // write READ_ROM Command (0x33);
            if(bitCount < 8) begin // preload the low and high counts. Calculated at 2.08 MHZ
                if (writeByte[0]) begin
                    lowCount <= 8'd13;
                    highCount <= 8'd132;
                    state <= state +1;
                end
                else begin
                    lowCount <= 8'd125;
                    highCount <= 8'd10;
                    state <= state +1;
                    end
                end
            else begin
                count <= 0;
                state <= STATE_BIT_READ_BEGIN; // start reading back 8 bytes.
            end
                
            end
        STATE_BIT_WRITE_SET: begin // write the low mark
            ib_oe <= 1'b1;
            state <= state +1;
            end
        STATE_BIT_WRITE_WAIT: begin // wait for the lowCount
            if (lowCount == 0) begin
                state <= state + 1'b1;
                end
            else begin
                lowCount <= lowCount - 1'b1;
                end
            end
        STATE_BIT_WRITE_RELEASE: begin // set the pin high
            ib_oe <= 0; // switch off the drive, allow to float high.
            state <= state + 1;
            end
        STATE_BIT_HIGH_WAIT: begin // wait for the high count
            if (highCount == 0) begin
                state <= state + 1;
                end
            else begin
                highCount <= highCount - 1'b1;
                end
            end
        STATE_BIT_WRITE_NEXT: begin // skip to next bit
                bitCount <= bitCount + 1;
                writeByte <= {1'b0, writeByte[7:1]}; // rotate writeByte by 1 bit right.
                state <= STATE_BIT_WRITE_BEGIN; // loop for remaining bits
            end
        STATE_BIT_READ_BEGIN: begin // We have finished writing the command to read the rom. Now lets get set up to read back 64 Bits.
                ibDataReady <= 0;
                bitCount <= 0;
                dataBitsIN <= 64'd0;
                state <= state + 1;
            end
        STATE_BIT_READ_ASSERT: begin // write a 0 on the line
            if (bitCount < 40) begin
                dataBitsIN <= {1'b0, dataBitsIN[63:1]};
                ib_oe <= 1'b1; // drive line low
                count <= 0;
                state <= state + 1;
                end
            else begin
                ibDataReady <= 1'b1;
                count <= 0;
                state <= 0; // start again, waiting for key presence.
                end
            end
        STATE_BIT_READ_HOLD1: begin // wait for 6 uS
            if (count < 12) begin
                count <= count + 1;
                end
            else begin // stop driving line
                ib_oe <= 1'b0; // release the line
                state <= state + 1;
                count <= 0;
                end
            end
        STATE_BIT_READ_HOLD2: begin // Wait for 9 uS
            if (count > 18) begin
                state <= state + 1;
                end
            end
        STATE_BIT_READ_DONE: begin
            bitCount <= bitCount + 1;
            if (ibin) begin // If we read back a '1' bit.
                dataBitsIN <= {1'b1, dataBitsIN[62:0]}; // no need to do anything for a '0' bit as MSb is already '0'.
                end
            state <= STATE_BIT_READ_ASSERT; // read next bit
            end
        default: begin
            state <= 8'h00;
            count <= 0;
            end
    endcase
end


endmodule
[ - ]
Reply by nuriaordunaMarch 24, 2016

Small suggestions on code writing. 

If you may change your clk frequency at some point, I recommend that you use external parameter defines to set the count values. This will allow you to reuse the module and instantiate in other clk domains without having to reedit the module every time ;)

And also I do prefer having a global reset, but it depends on what are your preferences. 

When you go to the next state, I prefer always have the name of the next state rather than having state + 1. It makes the code more readable.

[ - ]
Reply by jt_eatonMarch 24, 2016

I won't comment on the functionality but here are some suggestions for making your module more reusable.


module iButton(

Never hard code constants in a program. Always use a variable in case someone tries to reuse your module in a design that already has a module of the same name.

ie:


iButton_defines.v


`ifndef  BASENAME

`define  BASENAME  iButton

`endif


iButton.v


module `BASENAME


Do it this way and the user can easily override your name.


Resets:

Always include and active low asynchronous reset and an active high synchronous reset for each flip flop. The users can tie them off if not needed.


Never do this:

reg [31:0] count = 0;
reg [63:0] dataBitsIN = 64'd0;
reg [7:0] bitCount = 0;

It doesn't synthesize, use a reset.



Pads


Never do this inside of a module

assign ibio = ib_oe  ?  1'b0 : 1'bZ; // High impedence, or driven low. Uses pull-up resistor for high.

Create a pad model and use that. Fpga tools can handle this but asic tools cannot


The same is true for synchronous rams. Create a generic model for your source that can be replaced by a hard macro for an asic design.



No magic numbers!


I always cringe when I see stuff like this:

         if (count < 32'd146) begin

Define a parameter or a `define and use that instead.



John Eaton






[ - ]
Reply by cfeltonMarch 24, 2016

This will synthesize with most FPGA tools

reg [31:0] count = 0;
reg [63:0] dataBitsIN = 64'd0; 
reg [7:0] bitCount = 0;


And is often recommend as the initialization process instead of a global reset in an FPGA.


I really do not like the ifdef module name nor do I see much benefit to it.


I agree with the no magic numbers, include localparam at the beginning of the module with the definitions.

[ - ]
Reply by SpiderKennyMarch 24, 2016

Thanks - your points are really good.

Magic numbers! I should've know that. Thinking about it, it might be better if I allow the current clock speed to be expressed as parameter and let the module calculate the best counts for the various timing cycles. Currently that module expects a fixed clock of 2.08 MHz.