The // synopsys parallel_case compiler directive affects the way logic is generated for the case statement. As explained in the “Functional Descriptions” chapter, a case statement generates the logic for a priority encoder. Under certain circumstances, you might not want to build a priority encoder to handle a case statement. You can use the parallel_case compiler directive to force Foundation Express to generate multiplexer logic instead.
The syntax for the parallel_case compiler directive is either of the following compiler directives.
// synopsys parallel_case
/* synopsys parallel_case */
In the following example, the states of a state machine are encoded as one hot signals. If the case statement in the example were implemented as a priority encoder, the generated logic would be more complex than necessary.
reg [3:0] current_state, next_state;
parameter state1 = 4'b0001, state2 = 4'b0010,
state3 = 4'b0100, state4 = 4'b1000;
case (1)//synopsys parallel_case
current_state[0] : next_state = state2;
current_state[1] : next_state = state3;
current_state[2] : next_state = state4;
current_state[3] : next_state = state1;
endcaseUse the parallel_case compiler directive immediately after the case expression, as shown above. This compiler directive makes all case-item evaluations in parallel. All case items that evaluate to TRUE are executed (not just the first one, which might give you unexpected results.)
In general, use parallel_case when you know that only one case item is executed. If only one case item is executed, the logic generated from a parallel_case compiler directive performs the same function as the circuit when it is simulated. If two case items are executed, and you have used the parallel_case compiler directive, the generated logic is not the same as the simulated description.
