Automatic generation of input-aware approximate arithmetic circuits

Approximate Computing (AxC) is systematically applied across various abstraction levels to reduce overheads and enhance the performance of applications such as image processing and machine learning. However, AxC does not typically consider the specific workload (i.e., data input) of a given application. For instance, in signal processing applications like filters, some inputs are constants (filter coefficients), which allows for an additional level of approximation by considering the specific input distribution. This method is known as "Input-Aware Approximation" (IAA) and has shown potential advantages in previous studies. Unfortunately, existing input-aware design methodologies lack scalability as they mostly depend on ad-hoc, non-automatic design approaches, limiting their applicability. In this paper, we investigate how the input-aware approximate design approach can be integrated into a systematic, generic, and automatic design flow. We employ state-of-the-art approximation and multi-objective optimization techniques to achieve inputawareness. Our experimental results, focusing on classical signal processing applications like FIR filters, demonstrate that the input-aware approach can provide significant savings in both area and power consumption.