Debugging Complex Hardware Software Issues Questions
Proficiency with embedded debugging tools: JTAG debuggers, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and software profilers. Techniques for diagnosing hardware faults, timing issues, memory corruption, and mysterious hardware behaviors. Experience reading datasheets and understanding hardware behavior at the register level.
EasyTechnical
26 practiced
Describe the purpose and typical usage of JTAG and SWD on embedded devices. Explain the role of the primary signals (TCK/TMS/TDI/TDO for JTAG and SWDIO/SWCLK for SWD), how you would use a JTAG/SWD tool to halt a Cortex-M core, read/write registers and memory, load firmware, and recover a hung device. Mention common tools (OpenOCD, Segger J-Link, Lauterbach) and basic connection checks you perform first.
MediumSystem Design
21 practiced
Design a CI pipeline for firmware that runs automated tests on a rack of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) devices. Include how to automate flashing, run deterministic tests, collect and tag logs/traces/artifacts for failing runs, manage device identity and board revision, schedule tests to avoid hardware wear, and policies for artifact retention and retrieval for later debugging.
EasyTechnical
21 practiced
Given a peripheral register description in a datasheet showing bitfields for CONTROL_REG: bits[0]=ENABLE, bits[3:1]=PRESCALER (0..7), bits[5:4]=MODE (0..3), write a compact C macros/snippet to set ENABLE=1, PRESCALER=8 (if PRESCALER encoded as divide-by-8), and MODE=2 safely. Explain how you would avoid read-modify-write issues if the hardware has RMW errata.
MediumTechnical
21 practiced
An external ADC connected over SPI returns inconsistent results. Using a logic analyzer waveform capture of SCLK/MOSI/MISO/CS, explain how to determine if the issue is CPOL/CPHA mismatch, off-by-one clock skew, incorrect CS timing, or sampling on wrong edge. Describe specific waveform features you would inspect and how to set the MCU SPI peripheral accordingly.
MediumTechnical
31 practiced
Device occasionally resets under high load. Outline an oscilloscope- and current-probe-based approach to determine if brown-out or regulator droop is responsible. Describe triggering techniques to capture the transient, how to measure regulator transient response and decoupling effectiveness, and both quick firmware mitigations and longer-term PCB/hardware fixes.
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