1,000+ ASIC Interview Questions: SystemVerilog, UVM & RTL

DescriptionQ1088

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Q1088DesignASIC interview problem

Measure the maximum gain in a sample stream

TechniquesRunning minimumStreaming reductionTie breaking

DifficultyHard

TopicStreaming RTL

LanguageSystemVerilog

Requirements4 checkpoints

Problem

For each framed stream of unsigned samples, report the maximum nonnegative later-minus-earlier gain and its endpoints. Return zero and indices (0,0) when no positive gain exists.

Example input and output

Use this case to check your interpretation

Input

accepted sample frame=[7,1,5,2,6]

Output

max_gain=5; start_index=1; end_index=4

Explanation

The running minimum becomes value 1 at index 1, and later value 6 gives the largest strictly later gain.

Requirements (4)

Support frames of one through MAX_SAMPLES accepted samples.
Use strictly earlier and later endpoints for every positive result.
Break gain ties by earliest start index and then earliest end index.
Advance the sample index only on a handshake and hold all result fields stable under backpressure.