Verilog Parse Binary to Decimal by Place: A Step-by-Step Guide

In the world of digital design, understanding how to convert binary numbers to decimal is a crucial skill for any Verilog programmer. In this article, we will explore the process of parsing binary to decimal using place values.

To start with, let's break down the concept of place values in binary numbers. Just like in decimal numbers, each digit in a binary number has a specific value based on its position. The rightmost digit is called the least significant bit (LSB), and it represents 2^0 or 1. Moving to the left, each subsequent digit represents a power of two times the previous one.

For instance, consider the binary number 1101. Here's how we would convert it to decimal:

* LSB (rightmost digit): 1 * 2^0 = 1

* Next digit: 1 * 2^1 = 2

* Next digit: 0 * 2^2 = 0

* Most significant bit (MSB): 1 * 2^3 = 8

Now, let's add up the values of each digit to get the decimal equivalent:

1 + 2 + 0 + 8 = 11

Therefore, the binary number 1101 is equal to the decimal number 11.

In Verilog, you can implement this conversion using a simple algorithm. Here's an example:

```verilog

module binary_to_decimal(binary_in, decimal_out);

input '3:0' binary_in; // Input binary number

output '3:0' decimal_out; // Output decimal number

assign decimal_out = (binary_in'0' << 3) + (binary_in'1' << 2) +

(binary_in'2' << 1) + binary_in'3';

endmodule

```

In this example, we use bitwise shift operators to shift each digit to its correct place value. The `+` operator is used to add up the values of each digit.

To make things more interesting, let's consider a scenario where you need to parse a large binary number with many digits. In such cases, using a loop or recursion can be an effective way to implement the conversion.

For instance, here's an example of how you could use a recursive function to convert a binary number to decimal:

```verilog

module binary_to_decimal(binary_in, decimal_out);

input '31:0' binary_in; // Input binary number

output '31:0' decimal_out; // Output decimal number

reg '31:0' temp;

assign decimal_out = recursive_binary_to_decimal(binary_in, 0);

function '31:0' recursive_binary_to_decimal(input '31:0' bin_in, input integer place);

if (bin_in'0' == 1) begin

temp = (temp << 1) + 1;

end else begin

temp = temp << 1;

end

if (place > 0) begin

recursive_binary_to_decimal(bin_in'1:', place - 1);

end

return temp;

endfunction

endmodule

```

In this example, the `recursive_binary_to_decimal` function recursively calls itself with each subsequent digit of the binary number until it reaches the LSB. The `temp` variable is used to accumulate the decimal value.

In conclusion, parsing binary to decimal by place values is a fundamental concept in digital design that can be implemented using various algorithms and techniques. Whether you're working with Verilog or any other programming language, understanding how to convert binary numbers to decimal is essential for any digital designer.

Verilog parse binary to decimal by place