Formal Definition

Delay is a mechanism allowing introducing timing parameters of specified

systems.
Syntax:
delay_mechanism ::= transport | [ reject time_expression ] inertial
Description
The delay mechanism allows introducing propagation times of described
systems. Delays are specified in signal assignment statements. It is not allowed
to specify delays in variable assignments.
There are two delay mechanism available in VHDL: inertial delay (default) and
transport delay.
The transport delay is defined using the reserved word transport and is
characteristic for transmission lines. New signal value is assigned with specified
delay independently from the width of the impulse in waveform (i.e. the signal
is propagated through the line - Example 1).
Inertial delay is defined using the reserved word inertial and is used to model
the devices, which are inherently inertial. In practice this means, that impulses
shorter than specified switching time are not transmitted (Example 2).
Inertial delay specification may contain a reject clause. This clause can be used
to specify the minimum impulse width that will be propagated, regardless of the
switching time specified (Example 3).
If the delay mechanism is not specified then by default it is inertial.
Examples
Example 1
B_OUT <= transport B_IN after 1 ns;

The value of the signal B_IN is assigned to the signal B_OUT with 1 ns delay. The
distance between subsequent changes of B_IN is not important - all changes are
transmitted to B_OUT with specified delay (Fig. 1).
Figure 1. Example of transport delay
Example 2
L_OUT <= inertial L_IN after 1 ns;

The signal value L_IN is assigned to the signal L_OUT with 1 ns delay. Not all
changes of the signal L_IN, however, will be transmitted: if the width of an
impulse is shorter than 1 ns then it will not be transmitted. See Fig. 2 and the
change of L_IN at 13 ns and again at 13.7 ns.

Figure 2. Example of inertial delay

Example 3
Q_OUT <= reject 500 ps inertial Q_IN after 1 ns;

The signal value Q_IN is assigned to the signal Q_OUT with 1 ns delay. Although
it is an inertial delay with switching time equal to 1 ns, the reject time is specified
to 500 ps (.5 ns) and only impulses shorter than 500 ps will not be transmitted
(Fig. 3).
Figure 3. Example of inertial delay with rejection limit.