Synthesis of correlated bit streams for stochastic computing

Yin Liu, Megha Parhi, Marc D. Riedel, Keshab K. Parhi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Stochastic computing using simple logic circuits requires significantly less area and consumes less power compared to traditional computing systems. These circuits are also inherently fault-tolerant. The main drawbacks of these systems include long latency and inexactness in computing. The deviation from exact values increases as the correlation among inputs increases. In many applications, outputs from different sensors may be correlated. Thus, testing correctness of stochastic computing circuits requires generation of correlated stochastic bit streams. While uncorrelated bit streams can be generated using linear feedback shift registers (LFSRs), generation of correlated stochastic bit streams has not yet been fully investigated. This paper presents a general approach to synthesize correlated stochastic bit streams for specified probabilities and specified correlation coefficients. Generation of N correlated stochastic bit streams requires N probabilities and 2N - N - 1 correlation coefficients. Using N LFSRs, N uncorrelated stochastic bit streams are first generated. The N correlated bit streams are then generated one at a time using conditional marginal probabilities. The method is illustrated for generating two and three correlated bit streams. The area and power overheads for two correlated bit streams are 9.09% and 2.12%, respectively, and for three correlated bit streams are 21.03% and 4.80%, respectively. The generated sequences are applied to simple stochastic logic gates and the probability density functions (pdfs) of the outputs are derived. It is shown that these match with the theoretical pdfs of the outputs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationConference Record of the 50th Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems and Computers, ACSSC 2016
EditorsMichael B. Matthews
PublisherIEEE Computer Society
Pages167-174
Number of pages8
ISBN (Electronic)9781538639542
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017
Event50th Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems and Computers, ACSSC 2016 - Pacific Grove, United States
Duration: Nov 6 2016Nov 9 2016

Publication series

NameConference Record - Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems and Computers
ISSN (Print)1058-6393

Other

Other50th Asilomar Conference on Signals, Systems and Computers, ACSSC 2016
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPacific Grove
Period11/6/1611/9/16

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by the National Science Foundation under grant numbers CCF-1319107 and CCF-1408123.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 IEEE.

Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Stochastic computing
  • bit-level correlation
  • correlated stochastic sequences
  • error estimation
  • stochastic combinational logic
  • synthesis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Synthesis of correlated bit streams for stochastic computing'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this