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Explain timing and testability concepts

ArmBackend Engineer · Onsite
MediumBackend EngineerOnsiteSoftware Engineering Fundamentals

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This question evaluates a candidate's understanding of digital timing and testability concepts—specifically setup and hold timing, clock skew impacts, mitigation of setup/hold violations, and test methodologies such as scan, DFT and MBIST—within backend digital implementation contexts.

For a digital implementation or backend-focused interview, explain the following concepts:

  1. What are setup time and hold time?
  2. How does clock skew affect setup and hold timing?
  3. What are common ways to fix setup violations and hold violations?
  4. What do scan, DFT (Design for Test), and MBIST mean, and why are they used?

Give definitions, describe the practical impact on chip timing closure and testability, and mention common engineering trade-offs.