22/02/2025, 17:05 LFSR and Ring Generator – VLSI Tutorials
VLSI Tutorials
LFSR and Ring Generator
An n-bit Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) consists of ‘n’ memory elements
(or flops) and XOR gates. There are basically two types of LFSR –
1. Standard Form (also known as External Feedback LFSR)
2. Modular Form (also known as Internal Feedback LFSR)
LFSRs can be represented by its characteristics polynomial hnxn + hn-1xn-1 + . . . +
h1x + h0, where the term hixi refers to the ith flop of the register. In standard form
LFSR, if hi = 1, then there is a feedback tap taken from this flop and in modular
form LFSR, if hi = 1, then there is a feedback to the output of this flop.
Note: hN and h0 is always equals to 1 in a LFSR.
Figure 1: Standard Form LFSR
Figure 2: Modular Form LFSR
https://vlsitutorials.com/lfsr-and-ring-generator/ 1/4
22/02/2025, 17:05 LFSR and Ring Generator – VLSI Tutorials
Standard Form LFSR Modular Form LFSR
The modulo-2 sum of the selected
The output of the last stage of the
stages indicated by the characteristics
LFSR is fed back to the stages indicated
polynomial is fed back to the 1st stage
by the characteristics polynomial.
of the LFSR.
The speed is limited by the depth of Implementation involves a large fan-
the linear logic in its feedback path. out on the output of the last stage.
Effected speed is determined by the Theoretically up to ‘n’ fan-outs
number of XOR gates in the feedback possible for a n-bit LFSR, which leads
path. to timing challenges for large LFSRs.
To avoid these issues, EDT uses a Ring LFSR structure (called Ring Generator).
This is a simple LFSR structure folded back on itself to form a ring with multiple
tap points. Shown below is an example of a simple 8 bits Ring Generator
implementing the polynomial, f(x) = x8 + x5 + x2 + 1.
Figure 3: Ring LFSR structure
A Ring LFSR has a smaller number of levels of logic than its corresponding
external feedback LFSR and smaller fan-out than its corresponding internal
feedback LFSR [As shown in Figure 4.1, Q0 is having 3 fan-outs but in its
corresponding Ring LFSR implementation each flop can have maximum 2 fan-outs.
The reduction is fan-outs is significant in large LFSRs]. Thus it minimizes XOR gates,
has low fan-out and also has efficient physical implementation.
https://vlsitutorials.com/lfsr-and-ring-generator/ 2/4
22/02/2025, 17:05 LFSR and Ring Generator – VLSI Tutorials
Ring LFSRs are obtained by transforming conventional LFSRs in such a way that
many realizations having the same characteristic polynomial are
generated. Shown below is an example of how a conventional LFSR is transformed
into a Ring LFSR.
Figure 4.1: Modular LFSR structure f(x) = x8 + x5 + x2 + 1
Figure 4.2: Fold the LFSR to make it look like a Ring
Figure 4.3: Horizontally flip the Ring shown in Figure 4.2
https://vlsitutorials.com/lfsr-and-ring-generator/ 3/4
22/02/2025, 17:05 LFSR and Ring Generator – VLSI Tutorials
Figure 4.4: Elementary Shift Left transformation (1)
The XOR position is shifted left by 2 positions [Q2 to Q4 and Q5 to Q7]
The feedback origin position is shifted left by 2 positions [Q0 to Q2]
Figure 4.5: Elementary Shift Left transformation (2)
The XOR position is shifted left by 1 position [Q4 to Q5]
The feedback origin position is shifted left by 1 position [Q2 to Q3]
VLSI Tutorials / A WordPress.com Website.
https://vlsitutorials.com/lfsr-and-ring-generator/ 4/4
