Range Specification

Formal Definition

The range specification can be used to specify an array of gate or module instances.

Simplified Syntax

instance_name[l_index:r_index] (list of terminals);

Description

The range should be specified using two constant expressions separated by a colon and bracketed by square brackets. The expressions constitutes: the left-hand index (l_index) and right-hand index (r_index). The left-hand index can be less than, equal, or greater than the right-hand index (Example 1). If these indexes are equal then only one instance will be generated (Example 2). Identical instance names cannot appear twice with other range specifications (even if ranges do not overlap each other).

Examples

Example 1

reg [3:0] a, b;
wire [3:0] y;
and g[3:0](y,a,b);

This declaration is equivalent to:

and g3 (y[3], a[3], b[3]);
and g2 (y[2], a[2], b[2]);
and g1 (y[1], a[1], b[1]);
and g0 (y[0], a[0], b[0]);

Example 2

reg a, b;
wire y;
or g[0:0](y,a,b);

This declaration is equivalent to:
or g (y, a, b);

Important Notes

· If the range is used in module or gate instantiations, then terminals of all output ports should not be scalars or there may be a bus conflict.