Approximate Multiplier Design With LFSR-Based Stochastic Sequence Generators for Edge AI

This letter introduces an innovative approximate multiplier (AM) architecture that leverages stochastically generated bit streams through the Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR). The AM is applied to matrix-vector multiplication (MVM) in Neural Networks (NNs). The hardware implementations in 90 nm CMOS technology demonstrate superior power and area efficiency compared to state-of-the-art designs. Additionally, the study explores applying stochastic computing to LSTM NNs, showcasing improved energy efficiency and speed.