CHEAT SHEETS

One-page quick references, nothing more

No teaching, no narrative — just the terse, scannable facts you look up mid-interview-prep to jog your memory.

Looking for something else? Study Notes have more explanation per point. Guides are the full reference these are condensed from.

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Quick references

STA TERMS

Setup Time

Minimum time data must be stable before the clock edge for it to be captured correctly.

Hold Time

Minimum time data must remain stable after the clock edge.

Slack

Required time minus arrival time. Positive = met; negative = violation.

Skew

Difference in clock arrival time at two different registers.

UVM QUICK REFERENCE

Driver

Drives sequence items onto the DUT interface.

Monitor

Passively observes DUT signals and converts them into transactions.

Sequencer

Arbitrates and forwards sequence items from sequences to the driver.

Scoreboard

Checks actual DUT behavior against expected behavior.

CMOS BASICS

NMOS

Conducts when gate is HIGH — used in the pull-down network.

PMOS

Conducts when gate is LOW — used in the pull-up network.

Latch-up

Parasitic thyristor effect causing a short between VDD and GND — prevented with guard rings.

FSM DESIGN

Moore Machine

Output depends only on current state. More stable, one cycle slower to react.

Mealy Machine

Output depends on state + input. Faster reaction, can glitch.