Texas Instruments -

Interview Preparation Tips

Profile Analog Engineer

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Basic Electrical Sciences
Thevenins Theorem, Nortons theorem, Superposition theorem
Two port network theory (knowing this is very handy while solving complex circuits)
Response to various inputs to circuits with combinations of R , L and C (very imp)
Inputs can be step or sinusoidal in nature (Current sources or Voltage sources )
Second order RLC circuits and various types of responses (Overdamped, underdamped, critically damped, undamped)
Should be able to intuitively explain a pole and a zero given a circuit and what are the major contributors for them
Writing transfer functions of a RLC network and should be able to tell the Q Factor, poles, zeros

Ref :
Network Analysis Van Valkenburg
Hayt and Kemmerly - Circuit theory

Some Lectures of IIT Madras :

http://www.ee.iitm.ac.in/videolectures/doku.php?id=ec1010_2014nk:start
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Analog Electronics
Positive feedback, Negative feedback, regulators, Oscillators, Barkhausen condition
Everything from this course should be known from virtual ground concept till High pass
low pass filters.
Writing transfer function of opamp based Configurations (which may include passive
networks around the op amp)

http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/
- this website is handy for last minute revision

Sergio Francos Operational Amplifier book

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Signals and Systems
Basics of LTI systems ,convolution theory, Nyquist theorem.
Frequency Domain - CT, DT, DTFT, DFT Concepts should be clear and well
understood

Generic Reference :
Alan. V. Oppenheim s book on Signals and systems

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Control Systems
Bode plots , Stability criterion, etc.
Lead lag compensators
Basic Feedback systems What blocks are important in a Feedback System ?
Proper understanding of Second Order System Characteristics
Laplace & inverse Laplace transforms and estimating frequency response of output
for step/impulse input

Reference :
Modern Control Theory Kaushiko Ogata
Control Systems Engineering I.J. Nagrath and Kothari

Reference given is too heavy with a lot of theory. It the important concentrate on
basics (that should be enough)
Microelectronic Circuits
Basic Functioning of a MOSFET regions of operation
Single Stage Amplifiers CS, CG, CD Amplifiers gain, input & output impedance, with
various loads, etc.
Differential Amplifier
Analysis using small signal circuit equivalent of all the basic amplifiers
Millers Theorem
Basic Inverter circuit analysis

Reference :
Microelectronics Sedra and Smith
Design of Analog CMOS Integrated Circuits Behzad Razavi
Miscellaneous
Power Electronics :
Buck, boost circuits
Basic inverter and rectifier configurations
General Tips

On CV :
Clearly mention key achievements, projects, papers / publications, interest areas
and grades in relevant courses

During Personal Interview :

Share your thoughts, aspirations and ideas openly and honestly
Show curiosity and your drive to solve problems
Ask questions, seek help and think aloud
Final solution is not important, your problem solving approach is!
Useful Lectures by Dr. KRK Rao

Link for accessing the new NPTL lectures : http://nptel.ac.in/courses/117108107/

Link for accessing ASLK Manual : http://goo.gl/nTYq8B
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Sample Problems
Please refer to the attached document to get some practice on the type of
questions you may expect in the written test/interview.
INTERVIEW EXPERIENCES

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Interview Experience - 1

Aditya Sundar (Analog Design Engineer)

I was first asked about my internship-projects/papers and asked to explain the work in
detail. Questions related to frequency response of RC circuits were asked: I was given
an RC circuit with 2-3 Rs and Cs and asked what the output would look like if a step
input was given. It was about the basic circuit of an opamp and it's working and why
the opamp saturates. The interviewer gave me hints and provided me the small signal
model of the circuit to help me.
Other candidates in the interview were asked about the different regions of operations
the N and Pmos of an inverter go through while switching, basic superposition related
questions, basic opamp related questions.
Interview Experience - 2

Gunvarun Singh (Analog Design Engineer)

I was in TI for a 6 month intern and at the end of my final review, I had a small
technical interview. Initially I was questioned on my project and was asked to
mathematically explain the results obtained. Then I was asked a question on
superposition followed by a simple problem on R-C Circuit. In the end there was a
question on basic op amp topology wherein I had to compare the bandwidth of two
non ideal op amp configurations under feedback.
Interview Experience - 3

Radhika Juluri (Analog Design Engineer)

There were 2 rounds of technical interview + 1 HR interview. I was asked basic RLC
circuits in various configurations, basic Op amp black box type of circuits and basic
MOS single stage amplifier.
Tips :
Try to interact as much with the interviewer. If you dont get an answer you can ask for
help . Try to intuitively solve a complex problem with the basics you know.
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