Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Incorrect
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Hardware description languages such as VHDL separate interface specification (entity/component) from behavior/structure (architecture). Misidentifying a component as a “predefined logic function” blurs the distinction between declarations, implementations, and libraries.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
A VHDL component is not inherently a predefined function. Rather, it is a declaration that mirrors an entity interface (ports and generics) so that instances can be placed inside an architecture. The actual logic behavior resides in an entity/architecture pair or is bound via configuration. A design may bind a component to different entities/architectures, enabling reuse and swapping implementations without changing the instantiation sites.
Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Write an entity/architecture pair that defines the module behavior.2) In a higher-level architecture, declare a component that matches the entity interface (port/generic list).3) Instantiate the component; later, bind it to the specific entity/architecture via direct entity instantiation or configuration.4) Observe that the component is a placeholder for an implementation, not itself a predefined gate or function.
Verification / Alternative check:
Review VHDL reference manuals: components serve as instantiation templates; predefined functions (e.g., numeric_std arithmetic) exist in packages, separate from component declarations.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
“Correct” mistakes declaration for implementation. “Correct only for IEEE library gates” is inaccurate—IEEE packages provide types and functions, not generic “component = logic function.” “Correct when synthesized to LUTs” confuses implementation technology with the HDL construct’s meaning.
Common Pitfalls:
Equating component with entity behavior; assuming components imply fixed, built-in logic; forgetting about binding/configuration.
Final Answer:
Incorrect
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