Floating-Point IP Cores User Guide

ID 683750
Date 10/27/2021
Public

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7.5.1. ALTFP_EXP Design Example: Understanding the Simulation Results

The simulation waveform in this design example is not shown in its entirety. Run the design example files in the ModelSim* - Intel® FPGA Edition software to see the complete simulation waveforms.

These figures show the expected simulation results in the ModelSim* - Intel® FPGA Edition software.

Figure 23. ALTFP_EXP Simulation Waveform (Input Data)
Figure 24. ALTFP_EXP Simulation Waveform (Output Data)

This design example implements a floating-point exponential for the single-precision format numbers. The optional input ports (clk_en and aclr) and all four exception handling output ports (nan, overflow, underflow, and zero) are enabled.

For single-precision format numbers, the latency is fixed at 17 clock cycles. Therefore, every exponential operation outputs the results 17 clock cycles later.

Table 41.  Summary of Input Values and Corresponding OutputsThis table lists the inputs and corresponding outputs obtained from the simulation in the waveforms.
Time Event
0 ns, start-up data[] value: 1A03 568Ch

Output value: An undefined value is seen on the result[] port, which is ignored. All values seen on the output port before the 17th clock cycle are merely due to the behavior of the system during start-up and should be disregarded.

82.5 ns Output value: 3F80 0000h

As the input value of 1A03568Ch is a very small number, it is seen as a value that is approaching zero, and the result approaches 1 (which is represented by 3F800000). Exponential operations carried out on numbers of very small magnitudes result in a 1 and assert the underflow flag.

Exception handling ports: underflow asserts

30 ns data[] value: F3FC DEFFh

This is a normal negative value of a very large magnitude.

112.5 ns Output value: 0000 0000h

The outcome of exponential operations on negative numbers of very large magnitudes approaches zero.

Exception handling ports: underflow remains asserted

60 ns data[] value: 7F80 0000h

This is a positive infinite value.

142.5 ns Output value: 7F80 0000h

The operation on positive infinite values results in infinity.

Exception handling ports: underflow deasserts, overflow asserts

90 ns data[] value: 7FC0 0000h

This is a NaN.

172.5 ns Output value: 7FC0 0000h

The exponential of a NaN results in a NaN.

Exception handling ports: nan asserts

120 ns data[] value: C1D4 49BAh

This is a normal value.

202.5 ns Output value: 2C52 5981h

The result is a normal value.

Exception handling ports: nan deasserts