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Linear Time Invariant (LTI) filters are often specified and simulated using high-precision software, before being implemented in low-precision fixed-point hardware. A problem is that the hardware does not behave exactly as the simulation due to quantization and rounding issues. This article advocates the construction of LTI architectures that behave as if the computation was performed with infinite accuracy, then converted to the low-precision output format with an error smaller than its least significant bit. This simple specification guarantees the numerical quality of the hardware, even for critical LTI systems. Besides, it is possible to derive the optimal values of all the internal data formats that ensure that the specification is met. This requires a detailed error analysis that captures not only the quantization and rounding errors, but also their infinite accumulation in recursive filters. This generic methodology is detailed for the case of low-precision LTI filters in the Direct Form I implemented in FPGA logic. It is demonstrated by a fully automated and open-source architecture generator tool, and validated on a range of Infinite Impulse Response filters.

Abstract-The worst-case peak gain (WCPG) of an LTI filter is an important measure for the implementation of signal processing algorithms. It is used in the error propagation analysis for filters, thus a reliable evaluation with controlled precision is required. The WCPG is computed as an infinite sum and has matrix powers in each summand. We propose a direct formula for the lower bound on truncation order of the infinite sum in dependency of desired truncation error. Several multiprecision methods for complex matrix operations are developed and their error analysis performed. We present a multiprecision complex matrix inversion algorithm using Newton-type iteration, along with its error analysis and proof of convergence. A multiprecision matrix powering method is presented. All methods yield a rigorous solution with an absolute error bounded by an a priori given value. The results are illustrated with numerical examples.