Introduction to the
Quartus
®
II Software
Version
10.0
Introduction to the
Quartus II
®
Software
®
Altera Corporation
101 Innovation Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
(408) 544-7000
www.altera.com
Introduction to the Quartus II Software
Altera, the Altera logo, HardCopy, MAX, MAX+PLUS, MAX+PLUS II, MegaCore, MegaWizard, Nios, OpenCore,
Quartus, Quartus II, the Quartus II logo, and SignalTap are registered trademarks of Altera Corporation in the
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of its semiconductor products to current specifications in accordance with Altera’s standard warranty. Testing
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necessarily performed. In the absence of written agreement to the contrary, Altera assumes no liability for Altera
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Contents
Preface ............................................................................................................................................vii
Chapter 1: Design Flow.................................................................................................................. 1
Introduction....................................................................................................................... 2
Graphical User Interface Design Flow .......................................................................... 3
Command-Line Executables ........................................................................................... 7
Using Standard Command-Line Commands & Scripts ............................. 10
Using Tcl Commands ...................................................................................... 12
Design Methodologies and Planning .......................................................................... 14
Incremental Design Flows .............................................................................. 14
Using LogicLock Regions ............................................................................... 15
Using LogicLock Regions in Incremental Compilation Flows.................. 16
Chapter 2: Design Entry............................................................................................................... 19
Introduction..................................................................................................................... 20
Creating a Project............................................................................................................ 21
Creating a Design ........................................................................................................... 22
Using the Quartus II Block Editor ................................................................. 22
Using the Quartus II Symbol Editor.............................................................. 22
Using the Quartus II Text Editor.................................................................... 23
Using Verilog HDL, VHDL, & AHDL........................................................... 23
Using the State Machine Editor ..................................................................... 24
Using Altera Megafunctions......................................................................................... 24
Using Intellectual Property (IP) Megafunctions.......................................... 25
Using the MegaWizard Plug-In Manager..................................................... 27
Instantiating Megafunctions in the Quartus II Software............................ 27
Instantiation in Verilog HDL & VHDL........................................... 28
Using the Port & Parameter Definition .......................................... 28
Inferring Megafunctions................................................................... 28
Instantiating Megafunctions in EDA Tools .................................................. 28
Using the Black Box Methodology.................................................. 29
Instantiation by Inference................................................................. 29
Using the Clear Box Methodology.................................................. 29
Constraint Entry ............................................................................................................. 31
Using the Assignment Editor ......................................................................... 32
Using the Pin Planner...................................................................................... 33
The Settings Dialog Box .................................................................................. 35
Making Timing Constraints............................................................................ 36
Creating Design Partitions.............................................................................. 36
Creating Design Partitions with the Design Partitions Planner................ 37
Chapter 3: Synthesis ..................................................................................................................... 39
Introduction..................................................................................................................... 40
Using Quartus II Verilog HDL & VHDL Integrated Synthesis................................ 41
Using Quartus II Synthesis Netlist Optimization Options ........................ 43
Using the Design Assistant to Check Design Reliability .......................................... 44
Analyzing Synthesis Results With the Netlist Viewers ............................................ 45
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The RTL Viewer ................................................................................................ 45
The State Machine Viewer .............................................................................. 47
The Technology Map Viewer.......................................................................... 48
Chapter 4: Place and Route.......................................................................................................... 51
Introduction..................................................................................................................... 52
Using Incremental Compilation ................................................................................... 53
Analyzing Fitting Results .............................................................................................. 54
Using the Messages Window to View Fitting Results ................................ 55
Using the Report Window or Report File to View Fitting Results............ 56
Using the Chip Planner to Analyze Results ................................................. 56
Using the Design Assistant to Check Design Reliability............................ 58
Optimizing the Fit .......................................................................................................... 58
Using Location Assignments.......................................................................... 58
Setting Options that Control Place & Route................................................. 59
Setting Fitter Options ........................................................................ 59
Setting Physical Synthesis Optimization Options ........................ 59
Setting Individual Logic Options that Affect Fitting.................... 60
Using the Resource Optimization Advisor .................................................. 60
Using the Design Space Explorer................................................................... 63
Chapter 5: Timing Analysis and Design Optimization ........................................................... 65
Introduction..................................................................................................................... 66
Running the TimeQuest Timing Analyzer.................................................................. 66
Specifying Timing Constraints......................................................... 68
Viewing Timing Information for a Path........................................................ 70
Viewing Timing Delays with the Technology Map Viewer ....................... 72
Timing Closure................................................................................................................ 73
Using the Chip Planner ................................................................................... 74
Chip Planner Tasks And Layers ...................................................... 74
Making Assignments......................................................................... 74
Using the Timing Optimization Advisor...................................................... 75
Using Netlist Optimizations to Achieve Timing Closure........................... 75
Using LogicLock Regions to Preserve Timing ............................................. 77
Using the Design Space Explorer to Achieve Timing Closure .................. 78
Power Analysis with the PowerPlay Power Analyzer ............................... 78
PowerPlay Early Power Estimator Spreadsheets ........................................ 80
Chapter 6: Programming & Configuration ............................................................................... 83
Introduction..................................................................................................................... 84
Creating and Using Programming Files...................................................................... 85
Chapter 7: Debugging and Engineering Change Managment ............................................... 89
Introduction..................................................................................................................... 90
Using the SignalTap II Logic Analyzer........................................................................ 91
Analyzing SignalTap II Data........................................................................... 92
Using an External Logic Analyzer ............................................................................... 93
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