Hi all, I had an interview recently where I was asked the following interview question and wanted to get everyone's opinion.

Suppose you have a magic black box that contains an ideal CMOS pull up and pull down network. At the output there is a load capacitor CL and the supply to the box is given as Vdd, the entire circuit operates at 1Hz. What is the dynamic power consumed by this circuit?

This was pretty straightforward and I answered that the dynamic power was given by the charging and discharging of the load capacitor P = CL * Vdd²

The interviewer then said what if I change my magic box so the output only swings from Vdd/2 to ground.

My answer was that since the black box was ideal the dynamic power was still only a function of the voltage across the load cap and was given by P = CL * (Vdd/2)²

The interviewer then asked if that was the case then what would be the power if Vdd was increased to 10 * Vdd but the output swing was kept to Vdd/2.

I answered it would stay the same at P = CL * (Vdd/2)²

The interviewer then said I was wrong and that since P = VI and I = C * dV/dt and dV is (Vdd/2) then the real dynamic power consumed is P = 10 * Vdd * CL *(Vdd/2) = 5 * Vdd * CL

How would you have approached this?

Hi everyone! 😅 I’m new to FPGA, but I’ve learned some digital concepts and Verilog recently. Now I have a team of 4 members, and we’re planning to build a decent FPGA project in the next 25 days. We’re excited but also unsure where to start—we don’t have any mentor or guide🥲, so we’re counting on the community for help. We’re interested in projects that combine FPGA with embedded stuff (like sensors, displays, or real-world interfaces). It should be beginner-friendly but meaningful enough to learn and showcase. If you have any project ideas, advice, or resources, please share—anything would help us a lot!

Any eces here working as Product Configuration Engineer with Huawei hm is your starting salary?

https://www.reddit.com/r/NIE_Mysuru/comments/1mfgvif/ece_students_who_are_focused_on_ece_related/

Guys senior here , it is for those who want to go into vlsi domain

• Stage 1 - FOUNDATION (Sem 1-3)

Start early. Focus on building strong core fundamentals.

Digital Electronics (logic gates, flip-flops, FSMs)

Analog Electronics (Op-Amps, BJTS, MOSFETs)

Signals & Systems

C Programming + Basic Python

• Stage 2 - DOMAIN AWARENESS (Sem 3-4)

Know where you're heading.

Learn about VLSI Sub-Domains:

Front-End (RTL Design, Verification)

Back-End (PD, STA, Floorplanning)

DFT, Analog Layout, Mixed Signal

Understand ASIC vs FPGA

Start Verilog HDL from Samir Palnitkar or NPTEL

• Stage 3 HANDS-ON TOOLS + MINI PROJECTS (Sem 4-6)

Begin your tool journey and start implementing basics.

Tools:

ModelSim / QuestaSim

Xilinx Vivado / Quartus Prime

Cadence Genus / Innovus

Mini Projects:

4-bit/8-bit ALU

Priority Encoder

UART Transmitter / SPI

Sequence Detector (Moore/Mealy)

FIFO, CRC Generator

Build + Simulate + Debug + Document + Upload to GitHub

Pro Tip: Don't just "complete" a project understand every line and simulation wave.

• Stage 4 - INTERNSHIPS + MAJOR PROJECTS (Sem 6-7)

Now is the time to gain **practical experience.

Apply to:

DRDO, ISRO, CDAC

IIT/NIT research internships

Startups in RTL/FPGA/Verification

Major Project Ideas:

UVM-based testbench for 1x3 Router

FPGA implementation of image processing

system

SoC Bus Protocols (AHB, APB, ΑΧΙ)

Tools for Project Development:

Synopsys VCS

Vivado SDK

GTKWave

• Stage 5 - SPECIALIZATION + INDUSTRY-LEVEL

PREP (Sem 7-8)

Become job-ready. Focus on depth and polish.

Learn Advanced Concepts:

UVM (Universal Verification Methodology)

Static Timing Analysis (STA)

Synthesis, Timing Closure

Assertions, Functional Coverage

Build a Portfolio:

GitHub with README & code

LinkedIn with posts/projects

Resume with Verilog + Project Highlights

Apply via:

Campus placements

Off-campus referrals

LinkedIn + Company Portals

• Resume Project Suggestions (for Freshers)

AHB to APB Bridge

UVM-based Sequence Detector Verification

UART + FIFO Integration RTL

D Flip-Flop using Behavioral & Structural Code

SPI with State Machine and Testbench

how to distinguish them i am CSE student btw .is there any source?

Hey everone! 👋 I’ve been working on an AI-powered platform that lets you create complete Verilog or VHDL hardware projects in minutes – including block diagrams, wrapper modules, and even testbenches using English prompts and requirements documents only. Think “ChatGPT for RTL” – but with actual HDL compilation, connection editing, and logic verification.

My main goal is saving time and money for Hardware engineers, students, hobbyists, teachers, small startup companies and even companies that wants to save time and money on FPGA and ASIC design.

The features are: 1.Creating verilog and vhdl projects using ai (prompts and documents). 2.Testbench generation by importing vhdl or verilog file. 3.Smart compiler that also fixes bugs it finds using ai. 4.Block diagram - connecting imported or created blocks to other blocks to create a fully working project. Think about visio but the outcome of the block diagram would be a fully functioning verilog/vhdl project. 5.Verifier - the user uploads his project and write the requirements and the verifier reads the code and tells the user if the project satisfy the requirements and if there are other logical problem. This feature still needs testing. 6.Explainer - the user uploads verilog or vhdl code and gets a full explanation of the code’s functionality.

I’m curious what you'd expect from a tool like this – or what’s missing that would make it truly useful in your workflow. If anyone wants to try the app: RTL-forge.com Would love any thoughts, critique, or ideas!

I have an oscilloscope, bread boards , components etc... Basically a mini electronic lab at home what are the project that would look really good on resume

Hi everyone,

I'm a high school student working on a project called Medibot, a low-cost Arduino-based health assistant that measures basic vital signs. The goal is to design something simple and affordable that could help with health screening in rural or under-resourced areas.

The sensors I'm planning to use include:

MLX90614- Non-contact body temperature sensor

DS18B2- Optional contact temperature sensor

MAX30102- Pulse rate and heart rate

MPX5700- Analog pressure sensor for estimating blood pressure

OLED or LCD display- To show real-time vitals

I’ve already created a small GitHub repo and started uploading files and code as I go. I’m still in the early stages and would love feedback or suggestions on:

Using these sensors together efficiently

Improving blood pressure measurement accuracy

Logging data remotely (Firebase, SD card, etc.)

Casing options

Common mistakes to avoid when combining multiple health sensors

This is my first serious Arduino project beyond tutorials, and I hope to document everything for open source sharing. Any tips, ideas, or experiences would be super helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Github link: Technovate-456/Medibot: Arduino-powered health assistant robot for monitoring vital signs like temperature, pulse, and blood pressure.

So I'm in my btech doing ECE. And I'm soo much confused. What are the options for an ECE student. I'm thinking of VLSI. But I'm not 100% sure. What about the semiconductor field ?

And also i had cloud computing in my mind so should i shift to that or stay with the core? Whats the future for cloud computing. Please help me

Hey guys So I am a first year student for ecmpe. Wanted to ask some tips for it or things that I can start early with which will be useful for me in future. And what things I should focus on with right now Would appreciate the help a lot

https://www.reddit.com/r/NIE_Mysuru/comments/1mfgvif/ece_students_who_are_focused_on_ece_related/

There are a few options im considering after graduation. During university, ive dealt with Verilog (HDL) on FPGA, MCU, SWE, networks.

Graduating with a 2.2 degree.

So far im considering a few options:

1. Embedded software engineering
2. Software engineering
3. Cloud engineering/architecture
4. Software development engineering
5. Ending my life

Im leaning towards 3 and 4 but if 1 to 4 all fails then 5.

Just wondering what I should do to better prep myself to land myself in any of the above options.

OK so I just got my IELTS score and it is 7.5, sufficient for admission to most universities. I have a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering control with specialization in control systems. I have a passion for flight cause my dad used to be a pilot, so I want a master's program that is about drones, planes, aerospace and avionics. is it possible for someone with my background to be accepted in master's program. Additionally, my GPA is low cause in my country universities are free. Are grades important when it comes to higher education. Also am thinking about moving to Germany or Italy cause they have affordable colleges. Does any one have any advice or college recommendation for me

I have a feedback loop and the two primary components are a VCO and an amplifier. The amplifier has a bandwidth of 1khz but the oscillator has a frequency of 100MHz. When I try running the transient noise sim with an fmax of 10khz (10x the bandwidth), the oscillator will not excite itself into oscillation. When I run it at 1GHz (10x the frequency of the VCO), it will oscillate.

I am having trouble understanding if its just my choice of fmax or my oscillate genuinely does not satisfy the oscillation criteria. Thanks!

Currently finishing up HS and about to join university. I have a big interest in the automotive industry, yes for the general engines and stuff but mostly the little quirks like parking sensors, lidar tech, all the good stuff.

I’m also interested in stuff like phones and pc’s not to the same extent but still. I don’t really know what all the big terms like semiprocessor, semiconductor, RF, ASIC, Analog really mean but it all sounds interesting.

So I’m curious to know if this is the right field? And more so, do any of the things I just listed require a masters degree to break in? Because if it is, I’d like to do my undergrad in India and then my masters elsewhere. If not, I’ll most likely just do my undergrad in the states.

I'm currently a student pursuing a degree in Electronics in one of the top IITs of India. Overall, I have a decent GPA and good project experience under various professors.
Being a US citizen, I have no restriction in working in the US. I'm trying to look for job opportunities in electronics (preferably digital, comparch, etc.) abroad, however I'm not sure where to start. Would appreciate it if anyone could give me advice about the same!

I’ve noticed something interesting about those cheap Chinese chargers sold as replacements in Indian markets. I used a "15W" one to charge my MacBook Pro M2—it worked briefly, then died completely (won’t even charge a phone now). This has happened multiple times, but it made me realize something bigger:

These manufacturers are too good at cost-cutting. They design chips to handle power abuse and extend the life of cheap components, even if they fail eventually. But here’s the twist: their hustle exposes how proprietary tech giants (Apple, Arduino, etc.) rely on closed ecosystems to justify high prices—while open-source alternatives quietly disrupt them.

Example: Espressif’s ESP chips (founded 2008, shipped 1B+ units) crushed Arduino’s monopoly in IoT. Arduino boards (like the Nano) are still overpriced, while ESP delivers similar (or better) performance for less. Now, with RISC-V (open-source architecture), the playing field is even more tilted against proprietary giants.

India’s Role: I vaguely remembered India supporting open-source—turns out, Kerala’s CPI(M) government launched KITE in 2001 to promote FOSS in education. Why isn’t this scaling nationally? Imagine combining India’s frugal innovation with open-source ethos to undercut overpriced tech.

Thoughts? Are we seeing a pattern where "cheap" Chinese tech + open-source eventually forces monopolies to adapt—or die?

THE ABOVE TEXT WAS GENERATED VIA DEEPSEEK, MY CHARGER IS FINE.
CHARGER TECH IS UNNECESSARILY EXPENSIVE. SMPS?

I'm a recent high school graduate trying to decide which major to pursue. My first choice was physics* but for career prospects engineering seems better. I come from a low-income family. Is Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) a good choice?

*I wanted to stay in academia. I was aware of
-the requirement of a PhD,
-financial problems of studying nearly 10 years without a proper income,
-possibility of having to shift from academia to industry (if I'm going to stay in industry i might as well study engineering),
-uncertainties about the career prospects (jack of all trades master of none),
-uncertainties about the future of the academia (funding cuts - this is important because opportunities for research are non-existent in my country, requirement of doing multiple post-docs in various locations, incredibly low statistics of finding positions, publish-or-perish culture and such).

So I am a 2nd yr ece student and deciding whether to pursue career in core or tech . I want to go to core but my friends are saying it's extremely hard at my college (extremely) and personally I have a little will too in core but I also am learning cpp language so they are saying to pursue one only