Are you a fresher looking for a SoC engineer role in a reputable company? If yes, then you need some basic SoC knowledge that comes under Design for test course, that will enable you to take the lead on block-level tasks including floor plans, abstract view creation, hardware and software creation at the same time, schematic-to-layout verifications, and enhancing route flows.
So, are you planning to become an SoC engineer? Then you will have to face the interview for sure. And you need to prepare thoroughly for that. Going through a set of frequently asked SoC interview questions would help you a lot.
Here are some frequently asked SoC interview questions and answers that have been carefully created for you in order to help you breeze through the interview stage.
What does SoC stand for?
The term “system-on-a-chip” (SoC) refers to the integration of all electronic system components onto a single integrated circuit (chip).
What are the components of a System on Chip?
The components included in a SoC are:
- Pre-assembled sub-circuits (IP)
- A microcontroller, microprocessor, or DSP core (or more) (s)
- Components of memory
- Sensors
- Components that are digital, analogue, or mixed signal
- Oscillators and phase-locked loops are examples of timing sources.
- Power management circuits and voltage regulators
Full custom, standard cell, FPGA, and other technologies can be used to create SoCs
What are the functions of the components of a SoC?
A dedicated bus, such as the AMBA bus, connects the blocks of SoC. Data is sent directly between external interfaces and memory via DMA controllers, bypassing the CPU core and boosting the SoC’s data throughput.
What is the purpose of SoC design ?
In the field of embedded systems, SoC is frequently used. SoC designs are often more power and cost efficient, as well as more dependable, than multi-chip systems. The goal of SoC design is to create hardware and software at the same time. SoC design makes use of pre-qualified hardware as well as the software (drivers) that controls it. This is one of the most frequently asked SoC interview questions.
Explain the Flow of Design of a SoC.
A system on a chip (SoC) is made up of both hardware and software in order to control SoC components. SoC design flow is also known as architectural co-design. CAD tools are used to put the hardware pieces together, and a software development environment is used to integrate the software components. After that, the SoC design is written onto an FPGA, which aids in evaluating the SoC’s behaviour.
After passing the testing, the SoC design is forwarded to the location and route procedure. After that, it will be constructed. The chips will be thoroughly examined and evaluated.
What are the roles of hardware and software components of a SoC?
The hardware and the software components that control the microcontroller, microprocessor, or digital signal processor cores, peripherals, and interfaces make up a system on a chip. Most SoCs are built using pre-qualified hardware component IP core specifications for the hardware parts and execution units or blocks; as well as software device drivers to govern their operation.
What programming languages are used in the creation of SoC?
High-level programming languages like C++, MATLAB, and SystemC are frequently used to develop SoC components, which are then transformed to RTL designs using high-level synthesis (HLS) tools like C to HDL or flow to HDL.
After the SoC’s architecture has been established, any new hardware parts are written in register transfer level (RTL), an abstract hardware description language that describes circuit behaviour, or synthesised into RTL from a high-level language via high-level synthesis.
What are the roles of HLS and HDL in SoC Design?
Algorithmic synthesis products from HLS allow designers to model and synthesise system, circuit, software, and verification layers all in one high-level language familiar to computer engineers, irrespective of time scales, which are generally defined in HDL. Other components can stay software and be built and integrated as modules in HDL as IP cores onto soft-core processors contained in the SoC.
To construct the whole SoC architecture, the new hardware parts are linked using HDL.
What do you mean by Glue Logic in SoC?
Glue logic is the logic that is described to link various components and convert across potentially different interfaces offered by different suppliers.
What are the benefits of a SoC?
The following are some of the benefits of SoC:
- Smaller size, lower chip count
- Low power consumption
- Increased dependability
- Lower memory needs
- More design freedom
What are the protocol stacks?
Protocol stacks drive industry-standard interfaces like USB where the computer-aided design tools, especially electronic design automation tools, are used to put the hardware blocks together, while software modules are connected using a software integrated development environment.
As one of the best VLSI training institutes in India, ChipEdge offers an online DFT course that incorporates expertise in the SoC design cycle, enabling for faster detection of manufacturing issues.
With the increasing size and complexity of chips, aided by advancements in manufacturing technology, Design for Testability has grown into a distinct speciality throughout time. The significance of completely covering the ideas and methods is emphasised, with a strong focus on hands-on training utilising Synopsys DGFT tools and at least 50% of the time dedicated to lab sessions.
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