Sequential Logic

• Blocking & Non-Blocking
  • Blocking Assignment
  • Non-Blocking Assignment

Sequential logics are digital logic that contains memory, or states. The output depends on the input as well as whatever state a system may hold.

Flip flops (FF) or registers are a common type of sequential logic blocks. Here is an example of a 4-bit register with load and reset signals:

Here is an example of a positive D-Flip-Flop. The FF holds the output and only changes to the input D when the input clock signal clk transitions on a positive edge (from low → high).

Implemenation in Verilog:

module DFF(input D, input CLK, output Q);
    always @(posedge CLK)
        Q <= D;
endmodule

Note that it may be ambiguous to differentiate between combinational logic vs. sequential logic when using always blocks. So to be safe, in SystemVerilog we use always_ff to explicitly indicate the logic we are writing is sequential logic.

module DFF(input D, input CLK, output Q);
    always_ff @(posedge CLK)
        Q <= D;
endmodule

Blocking & Non-Blocking

Blocking Assignment

X = Y;

Blocking assignments describes assignment that are immediate. Any subsequent reference to X uses the “new” values (value of Y).

Non-Blocking Assignment

X <= Y;

Non-blocking assignments describe assignments that are not immediate and happen at the end of the clock cycle. Thus, any subsequent reference to the “old” value before the update.

Ordering of assignment does not matter when using non-blocking assignments.