An Efficient and Accurate Stochastic Number Generator Using Even-distribution Coding

Abstract

Stochastic computing is a promising approach for low-power and low-cost applications with the added benefit of high error tolerance. However, the high overhead of generating stochastic bitstreams can offset the advantages of stochastic computing especially when a large number of bitstreams are needed. In this paper, we propose a new stochastic number generator (SNG) that significantly reduces area and energy while improving accuracy. Experimental results show that the proposed SNG can reduce energy by more than 72% compared with the state-of-the-art designs.