Multi-channel mixed-signal noise source with applications to stochastic equalization

A multi-channel mixed-signal noise source with uniform amplitude distribution is presented. Cross-coupled, counter-propagating linear feedback shift registers are used to produce mutually independent binary distributed noises, which in turn generates mutually independent uniformly-distributed discrete-analog noises after digital-to-analog conversion. A stochastic comparator offset cancellation technique based on the proposed analog noise source is demonstrated. Applications include energy-efficient stochastic ADCs and high-density analog built-in self-test.