20 Intel FPGA Interview Questions and Answers

Intel Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) is a popular type of chip used in a variety of electronic devices. If you are interviewing for a position that involves working with Intel FPGA, it is important to be prepared to answer questions about your experience and knowledge. In this article, we will review some of the most common Intel FPGA interview questions and provide tips on how to answer them.

Intel FPGA Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 20 commonly asked Intel FPGA interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is an FPGA?

An FPGA is a field-programmable gate array, which is a type of integrated circuit that can be programmed to perform a variety of digital logic functions. FPGAs are used in a variety of applications, including communications, networking, and audio/video processing.

2. Can you explain what programmable logic is in the context of FPGAs?

Programmable logic is a type of logic circuit that can be configured by a user after the manufacturing process is complete. This is in contrast to fixed-logic circuits, which are hard-wired to perform a specific function and cannot be changed. FPGAs are a type of programmable logic device, meaning that they can be reconfigured to perform different functions as needed. This makes them very versatile and powerful, but also means that they require more design effort upfront to be effective.

3. How do you interface an FPGA with external peripherals?

There are a few different ways to interface an FPGA with external peripherals. One way is to use an FPGA development board that has the necessary ports and connectors for the peripherals you want to use. Another way is to use an FPGA mezzanine card, which is a card that plugs into an FPGA and provides the necessary ports and connectors.

4. Can you name some common applications for which FPGAs are used?

FPGAs are used in a variety of applications, including video processing, image processing, signal processing, and networking.

5. What is a netlist and how does it relate to FPGAs?

A netlist is a file that contains a list of all of the nets in a circuit. This file is used by FPGAs to determine how the logic gates in the circuit are interconnected.

6. What’s the difference between hardwired logic and softwired logic?

Hardwired logic is logic that is implemented using physical circuitry. This means that the logic is hard-coded into the hardware and cannot be changed. Softwired logic, on the other hand, is logic that is implemented using software. This means that the logic can be changed by reprogramming the software.

7. Can you explain how FPGAs differ from processor architectures like Intel Core?

FPGAs are Field Programmable Gate Arrays, meaning that they can be configured to perform a variety of logic functions. This makes them very versatile, but also means that they are not as efficient as a dedicated processor like an Intel Core. FPGAs are typically used for applications where programmability is more important than raw performance.

8. What is your understanding of high-level synthesis (HLS)?

High-level synthesis is a process of taking a high-level description of a design and synthesizing it into a lower-level description, such as RTL. This can be done using a variety of tools, but the goal is always to produce an RTL description that is functionally equivalent to the original high-level description.

9. What are the main differences between ASICs, ASSPs, and FPGAs?

The main difference between an ASIC, ASSP, and FPGA is their flexibility. ASICs are designed for a specific purpose and cannot be repurposed for other uses. ASSPs are designed to be used for a specific range of applications, but they can be repurposed for other uses if necessary. FPGAs are the most flexible of the three, as they can be reconfigured to perform different functions as needed.

10. Why would I choose an FPGA over other types of chips?

FPGAs offer a number of advantages over other types of chips, including the ability to reconfigure the chip on the fly to change its functionality, and the ability to parallelize operations to improve performance. FPGAs can also be used to implement custom logic that is not possible with other types of chips.

11. What is the significance of CPLDs in the world of FPGAs?

CPLDs are a type of logic device that is used to implement digital logic circuits. FPGAs are a type of logic device that is used to implement digital logic circuits. CPLDs are used to implement digital logic circuits in a smaller form factor than FPGAs.

12. What is your understanding of multiprocessing systems? What role do they play in the context of FPGAs?

Multiprocessing systems are computer systems that use multiple processors in order to increase the overall performance of the system. In the context of FPGAs, multiprocessing systems can be used to increase the performance of the FPGA by allowing it to utilize multiple processors to complete tasks.

13. What is a Digital Signal Processor?

A digital signal processor (DSP) is a specialized type of microprocessor that is designed to efficiently process digital signals, such as those used in audio and video processing. DSPs typically have dedicated hardware for performing mathematical operations such as multiplication and addition, which allows them to perform these operations much faster than a general-purpose microprocessor.

14. What is embedded computing?

Embedded computing is a type of computing where a computer is used as a part of a larger system. This can include everything from using a computer to control a machine, to using a computer to monitor a process.

15. Apart from programming languages, what else can be used to program FPGAs?

There are a few different ways to program an FPGA. One is to use a hardware description language (HDL) such as Verilog or VHDL. This is the most common method, and it allows you to directly describe the logic of the FPGA in code.

Another way is to use a high-level synthesis (HLS) tool. These tools take in a higher-level description of the logic you want to implement, and then they generate HDL code that can be used to program the FPGA.

Finally, some FPGAs can be programmed using a graphical tool called a schematic editor. This allows you to create a design by drawing it out, and then the tool will generate the HDL code for you.

16. What is the importance of register transfer level in the context of FPGAs?

Register transfer level is important in the context of FPGAs because it is the level at which the FPGA is able to operate. This means that all of the logic and operations that are performed by the FPGA must be done at the register transfer level in order for the FPGA to be able to understand and execute them.

17. Which companies produce FPGAs?

There are several companies that produce FPGAs, including Intel, Xilinx, and Altera.

18. What are some of the most important things to understand about FPGAs before diving into development work?

FPGAs are highly configurable chips that can be programmed to perform a wide variety of tasks. They are often used in applications where speed and flexibility are important, such as in video processing or data communication. When working with FPGAs, it is important to have a good understanding of digital logic and circuit design. Additionally, FPGAs are often used in conjunction with other hardware components, so it is also important to have a good understanding of how to interface with other devices.

19. What skill sets should you have as an engineer or developer working on FPGAs?

There are a few key skill sets that are important for anyone working on FPGAs. First, you need to be proficient in a hardware description language (HDL) such as Verilog or VHDL. This will be used to design and implement the logic for your FPGA. Second, you need to have a good understanding of digital electronics and digital design principles. This will be important for understanding how the FPGA works and how to design efficient logic for it. Finally, you should be familiar with FPGA development tools, such as synthesis and place-and-route tools. These tools will be used to compile your HDL code and map it to the FPGA hardware.

20. What are some of the best resources available online that can help me learn more about FPGAs?

There are a few great online resources that can help you learn more about FPGAs, including:

-The FPGA Central website (https://www.fpgacentral.com/)
-The Intel FPGA website (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/programmable/products/fpga.html)
-The Xilinx FPGA website (https://www.xilinx.com/products/silicon-devices/fpga.html)