FIFO, which stands for "First In, First Out," is a method used to manage data
structures where the first element added is the first one to be processed, and the
newest element is processed last.
Think of a checkout line at a supermarket: the person who gets in line first is
checked out first, while the person who joins last will be the last to be checked out.
This is a simple real-life example of FIFO in action.
In computing and digital systems, FIFO is applied in various scenarios:
Data Structures: Queues use the FIFO method to manage data. The first element
added to a queue is the first one removed.
Disk Scheduling: Disk controllers may use FIFO to decide the order in which to
service disk I/O requests. The first request received is the first one handled.
Communications and Networking: Network devices like bridges, switches, and
routers use FIFOs to manage data packets. The first packet to arrive is the first one
sent out.
Task Scheduling in Operating Systems: Operating systems might use FIFO to
schedule tasks. The first task in the queue is executed first, ensuring a fair order of
processing.
Print Spooling: When multiple print jobs are sent to a printer, FIFO is used to
manage them. The first document sent to the printer is printed first.
Audio Buffers: In audio processing, FIFO buffers handle audio data streams,
ensuring that the first audio sample to enter the buffer is the first to be processed
and played, which helps maintain smooth audio playback.
In inventory management and accounting, FIFO is used to calculate inventory
value. It assumes that the oldest items are sold first, so the cost of these items is
recorded as the cost of goods sold, while the cost of the newest items remains in
inventory.
Design and implemention of a FIFO (First In First Out) circuit using Verilog
HDL:
This Verilog module implements a FIFO buffer with parameterizable depth. It
employs a ring buffer technique using separate read and write pointers to control
the data flow. The signals 'full' and 'empty' provide the current status of the FIFO.
The basic functions of implemented circuit:
Define the module and it input and output
Define the depth of the FIFO,the width of the address, and the memory array
that store the data
Define two pointers, write_ptr and read_ptr
Define the control logic next
The full signal is high when the write pointer is one location behind the read
pointer (indicating that the FIFO is full)
The empty signal is high when the write and read pointers are at the same location
(indicating that the FIFO is empty):
Define the behavior of the FIFO on each clock cycle.
If the reset signal is high, the read and write pointers are reset to 0.
If the write_enable signal is high and the FIFO is not full, data is written to the
memory array at the location pointed to by the write pointer, and the write pointer
is incremented.
If the read_enable signal is high and the FIFO is not empty, data is read from the
memory array at the location pointed to by the read pointer, and the read pointer is
incremented
Test bench for the FIFO module:
module fifo(
input clk,
input reset,
input [7:0] din,
input write_enable,
input read_enable,
output reg [7:0] dout,
output is_empty,
output is_full
);
// Parameters for FIFO depth
parameter FIFO_DEPTH = 16;
parameter PTR_WIDTH = 4;
// Memory array to store data
reg [7:0] fifo_mem [FIFO_DEPTH-1:0];
// Read and write pointers
reg [PTR_WIDTH-1:0] write_ptr, read_ptr;
// FIFO control logic
assign is_full = ((write_ptr + 1) % FIFO_DEPTH) == read_ptr;
assign is_empty = write_ptr == read_ptr;
always @(posedge clk or posedge reset) begin
if (reset) begin
write_ptr <= 0;
read_ptr <= 0;
end else begin
if (write_enable && !is_full) begin
fifo_mem[write_ptr] <= din;
write_ptr <= (write_ptr + 1) % FIFO_DEPTH;
end
if (read_enable && !is_empty) begin
dout <= fifo_mem[read_ptr];
read_ptr <= (read_ptr + 1) % FIFO_DEPTH;
end
end
end
endmodule
