An AI Engine
kernel written using specialized intrinsic and imported into Model Composer can be used
as part of a larger
VersalĀ®
ACAP system design. In
addition to kernels operating on the AI Engines, you
can specify kernels to run on the programmable logic (PL) region of the device. The PL
kernels can be written using RTL or HLS C/C++ functions. The connection between AI Engine and the PL block is routed through a physical
channel interface tile and conceptually the data width of the connections are 32 bits,
64 bits or 128 bits.
Model Composer allows connecting an AI Engine kernel to a HLS PL kernel only if the data types and complexities of these port matches. If the datatypes or complexities of the port of the AI Engine kernel and the port of the PL kernel do not match, an interface blocks should be used to reconcile the discrepancy.
This chapter discusses interconnecting HDL blocks
or HLS C/C++ functions with AI Engine kernels: