Analog to digital conversion using suprathreshold stochastic resonance

Abstract

© 2005 COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering Copyright 2004 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. This paper was published in Smart Structures, Devices, and Systems II, edited by Said F. Al-Sarawi, Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 5649 and is made available as an electronic reprint with permission of SPIE. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited.We present an analysis of the use of suprathreshold stochastic resonance for analog to digital conversion. Suprathreshold stochastic resonance is a phenomenon where the presence of internal or input noise provides the optimal response from a system of identical parallel threshold devices such as comparators or neurons. Under the conditions where this occurs, such a system is effectively a non-deterministic analog to digital converter. In this paper we compare the suprathreshold stochastic resonance effect to conventional analog to digital conversion by analysing the rate-distortion trade-off of each.Mark D. McDonnell, Nigel G. Stocks, Charles E. M. Pearce, and Derek Abbot