Multi-Access Pointers and RTL Simulation - 2023.2 English

Vitis High-Level Synthesis User Guide (UG1399)

Document ID
UG1399
Release Date
2023-12-18
Version
2023.2 English

When pointers on the interface are accessed multiple times, to read or write, Vitis HLS cannot determine from the function interface how many reads or writes are performed. Neither of the arguments in the function interface informs Vitis HLS how many values are read or written.

void pointer_stream_good (volatile dout_t *d_o, volatile din_t *d_i) 

Unless the code informs Vitis HLS how many values are required (for example, the maximum size of an array), the tool assumes a single value and models C/RTL co-simulation for only a single input and a single output. If the RTL ports are actually reading or writing multiple values, the RTL co-simulation stalls. RTL co-simulation models the external producer and consumer blocks that are connected to the RTL design through the port interface. If it requires more than a single value, the RTL design stalls when trying to read or write more than one value because there is currently no value to read, or no space to write.

When multi-access pointers are used at the interface, Vitis HLS must be informed of the required number of reads or writes on the interface. Manually specify the INTERFACE pragma or directive for the pointer interface, and set the depth option to the required depth.

For example, argument d_i in the code sample above requires a FIFO depth of four. This ensures RTL co-simulation provides enough values to correctly verify the RTL.