Generics provide a method for information to be channeled from an
entity (its input source) to a block (e.g. an architecture). It can be
supplied either in a component instantiation or in a configuration
specification or declaration. Generics can be used to pass timing
information, control array widths and data sizes, or set particular
control flags (e.g. turn on timing checks). A generic is much like a
variable that is passed to a the component at the time of
instantiation. Generic declarations may contain default values which
can then be overridden during component instantiations.
