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Accuracy and Correlation in Stochastic Computing

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Stochastic Computing: Techniques and Applications

Abstract

This chapter begins by reviewing the sources of inaccuracy in stochastic computing, focusing on correlation, that is, dependencies among stochastic bit-streams. The measurement of correlation is considered, and the SCC metric is defined. The properties of correlation are then explored including some that have only been discovered recently. Correlation can be seen in two ways: either as corrupting a function f, or as changing f to a different, but potentially useful one. Therefore, to ensure that a stochastic circuit works as expected it is important to manage correlation appropriately. This can be done with correlation-controlling units, which must be used carefully to avoid unexpected functional changes and excessive hardware area or latency overhead. There are also cases where correlation has no effect at all (correlation insensitivity). Identifying such immunity to correlation can aid the design of stochastic circuits. Finally, design of stochastic number generators to provide specified levels of correlation is discussed.

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Abbreviations

CI:

Correlation insensitive

FSM:

Finite-state machine

LDPC:

Low density parity check code

LFSR:

Linear feedback shift register

MSE:

Mean square error

PTM:

Probabilistic transfer matrix

RNS:

Random number source

SC:

Stochastic computing

SCC:

Stochastic correlation coefficient

SCH:

Single-ended counter hysteresis

SN:

Stochastic number

SNG:

Stochastic number generator

SRB:

Shift register based

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Paishun Ting & John P. Hayes

  2. University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Armin Alaghi & Vincent T. Lee

Authors
  1. Armin Alaghi
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  2. Paishun Ting
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  3. Vincent T. Lee
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  4. John P. Hayes
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John P. Hayes .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Warren J. Gross

  2. ECE Department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Vincent C. Gaudet

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Alaghi, A., Ting, P., Lee, V.T., Hayes, J.P. (2019). Accuracy and Correlation in Stochastic Computing. In: Gross, W., Gaudet, V. (eds) Stochastic Computing: Techniques and Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03730-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03730-7_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-03729-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-03730-7

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