dist Constraint in SystemVerilog
Table of Contents
Constraint provides control on randomization, from which the user can control the values on randomization. it would be good if it’s possible to control the occurrence or repetition of the same value on randomization.yes its possible, with dist operator, some values can be allocated more often to a random variable. this is called a weighted distribution. dist is an operator, it takes a list of values and weights, separated by := or :/ operator.
weighted distribution
As the name says, in weighted distribution weight will be specified to the values inside the constraint block. Value with the more weight will get allocated more often to a random variable.
syntax
value := weight or value :/ weight
Value – desired value to a random variable
weight – indicates how often the value needs to be considered on randomization
- The values and weights can be constants or variables,
- value can be single or a range
- the default weight of an unspecified value is := 1
- the sum of weights need not be a 100
The := operator assigns the specified weight to the item, or if the item is a range, specified weight to every value in the range.
addr dist { 2 := 5, [10:12] := 8 };
for addr == 2 , weight 5
addr == 10, weight 8
addr == 11, weight 8
addr == 12, weight 8
The :/ operator assigns the specified weight to the item, or if the item is a range, specified weight/n to every value in the range. where n is the number of values in the range.
addr dist { 2 :/ 5, [10:12] :/ 8 };
for addr == 2 , weight 5
addr == 10, weight 8/3
addr == 11, weight 8/3
addr == 12, weight 8/3
weighted distribution constraint examples
randomization with dist operator
In the example below,
On randomization, the possibility of ‘addr’ is getting the value of 10 is more than 7 and 2. this is because of weight specified to get value 10 is more than the other two values.
class packet;
rand bit [3:0] addr;
constraint addr_range { addr dist { 2 := 5, 7 := 8, 10 := 12 }; }
endclass
module constr_dist;
initial begin
packet pkt;
pkt = new();
$display("------------------------------------");
repeat(10) begin
pkt.randomize();
$display("\taddr = %0d",pkt.addr);
end
$display("------------------------------------");
end
endmodule
Simulator Output
------------------------------------ addr = 10 addr = 7 addr = 10 addr = 10 addr = 10 addr = 7 addr = 7 addr = 2 addr = 10 addr = 10 ------------------------------------
difference between := and :/ dist operator
In the below example,
addr_1=2 weight=5, and addr_1=10 weight=8, addr_1=11 weight=8, addr_1=12 weight=8
addr_1=2 weight=5, and addr_1=10 weight=8/3=2.66, addr_1=11 weight=2.66, addr_1=12 weight=2.66
class packet;
rand bit [3:0] addr_1;
rand bit [3:0] addr_2;
constraint addr_1_range { addr_1 dist { 2 := 5, [10:12] := 8 }; }
constraint addr_2_range { addr_2 dist { 2 :/ 5, [10:12] :/ 8 }; }
endclass
module constr_dist;
initial begin
packet pkt;
pkt = new();
$display("------------------------------------");
repeat(10) begin
pkt.randomize();
$display("\taddr_1 = %0d",pkt.addr_1);
end
$display("------------------------------------");
$display("------------------------------------");
repeat(10) begin
pkt.randomize();
$display("\taddr_2 = %0d",pkt.addr_2);
end
$display("------------------------------------");
end
endmodule
Simulator Output
------------------------------------ addr_1 = 2 addr_1 = 12 addr_1 = 12 addr_1 = 12 addr_1 = 11 addr_1 = 10 addr_1 = 11 addr_1 = 2 addr_1 = 11 addr_1 = 12 ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ addr_2 = 10 addr_2 = 12 addr_2 = 2 addr_2 = 2 addr_2 = 10 addr_2 = 10 addr_2 = 2 addr_2 = 11 addr_2 = 11 addr_2 = 12 ------------------------------------