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Design Guidelines for the MATLAB Function Block

Use Compiled External Functions With MATLAB Function Blocks

The HDL Coder™ software supports HDL code generation from MATLAB Function blocks that include compiled external functions. This feature enables you to write reusable MATLAB® code and call it from multiple MATLAB Function blocks.

Such functions must be defined in files that are on the MATLAB Function block path. Use the %#codegen compilation directive to indicate that the MATLAB code is suitable for code generation. See Function Definition for information on how to create, compile, and invoke external functions.

Build the MATLAB Function Block Code First

Before generating HDL code for a subsystem containing a MATLAB Function block, build the MATLAB Function block code to check for errors. To build the code, click the Build Model button in the function editor.

Use the hdlfimath Utility for Optimized FIMATH Settings

The hdlfimath function is a utility that defines a FIMATH specification that is optimized for HDL code generation.

The following listing shows the fimath setting defined by hdlfimath.

hdlfm = fimath(...
    'RoundMode', 'floor',...
    'OverflowMode', 'wrap',...
    'ProductMode', 'FullPrecision', 'ProductWordLength', 32,...
    'SumMode', 'FullPrecision', 'SumWordLength', 32,...
    'CastBeforeSum', true);

The HDL division operator supports these rounding modes:

  • 'zero' — For signed and unsigned fixed point numbers.

  • 'floor' — For unsigned division only.

When the fimath OverflowMode property of the fimath specification is set to 'Saturate', HDL code generation is disallowed for the following cases:

  • SumMode is set to 'SpecifyPrecision'

  • ProductMode is set to 'SpecifyPrecision'

Use Optimal Fixed-Point Option Settings

Use the default (Fixed-point) setting for the Treat these inherited signal types as fi objects option.

Clear the Saturate on integer overflow setting for the MATLAB Function block.

Set the Output Data Type of MATLAB Function Blocks Explicitly

By setting the output data type of a MATLAB Function block explicitly, you enable optimizations for RAM mapping and pipelining. Avoid inheriting the output data type for a MATLAB Function block for which you want to enable optimizations.

Using Tunable Parameters

HDL Coder supports both tunable and non-tunable parameters with the following data types:

  • Scalar

  • Vector

  • Complex

  • Structure

  • Enumeration

When using tunable parameters with the MATLAB Function block:

  • The tunable parameter should be a Simulink.Parameter object with the StorageClass set to ExportedGlobal.

    x = Simulink.Parameter 
x.Value = 1 
x.CoderInfo.StorageClass = 'ExportedGlobal'

  • Double-click the MATLAB Function block and open the Symbols pane and Property Inspector in the Design section in the Modeling tab. In the Symbols Pane, select the tunable parameter. In the Property Inspector, select the Tunable check box.

For details, see Generate DUT Ports for Tunable Parameters.

Run HDL Model Check for MATLAB Function Blocks

When your design contains MATLAB Function blocks, before you generate HDL code, you can run the check Check for MATLAB Function block settings in the HDL Code Advisor. This check verifies whether you use the recommended MATLAB Function blocks for HDL code generation. The settings include whether fimath settings are defined as per hdlfimath and Saturate on integer overflow check box is cleared.

See also Check HDL Compatibility of Simulink Model Using HDL Code Advisor.

Use MATLAB Datapath Architecture for Enhanced HDL Optimizations

In the HDL Block Properties dialog box for the MATLAB Function blocks, you can specify whether to use MATLAB Function or MATLAB Datapath as the HDL architecture. Floating-point models use the MATLAB Datapath architecture even if you specify the HDL architecture as MATLAB Function on the block. Fixed-point models use the MATLAB Function architecture by default.

To perform various speed and area optimizations such as sharing and distributed pipelining inside the MATLAB Function block and across the MATLAB Function block boundary with other Simulink® blocks, use the MATLAB Datapath architecture. When you use this architecture, the code generator treats the MATLAB Function block like a regular Subsystem block. This capability enables you to optimize the algorithm inside the MATLAB Function block and across the MATLAB Function block with other blocks in your model.

See HDL Optimizations Across MATLAB Function Block Boundary Using MATLAB Datapath Architecture.

See Also

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