Array of systemverilog interfaces with different inputs

Question

I would like to instantiate an array of systemverilog interfaces where each array element uses a different input.

If all the elements use the same input, then the instantiation is simple:

x_if x_IF[`NUM_INTERFACES](clk);

Here, if `NUM_INTERFACES is 2, then the clk input goes to both x_IF[0] and x_IF[1].

But if I also have

reg clk[`NUM_INTERFACES];

how do I instantiate x_IF so that clk[0] is input to x_IF[0] and clk[1] is input to x_IF[1]?

This is a simple example; I am looking forward to implement this in some sort of loop (probably using generate) for an array of 12 interfaces.

Answer 1

I would avoid using assign statements, especially with hierarchical references; it makes the code much more difficult to read and maintain.

You could have just done

reg clk[`NUM_INTERFACES];
x_if x_IF[`NUM_INTERFACES](clk);

A feature with arrays of instances is that if the width of a signal being connected to a port is a multiple of the port width, then each instance sill get a slice of the the signal.

See LRM 1800-2012 section 28.3.6 Primitive instance connection list that applies to module ports as well.

If you use a generate loop instead of an array of instances, then I would do

reg  clk[`NUM_INTERFACES];

generate
   for (genvar i=0; i<`NUM_INTERFACES; i++) begin :loop
      x_if x_IF(clk[i]);
   end
endgenerate