We analyze the parametric estimation that can be performed on a signal buried in noise based on the parsimonious representation provided by a parallel array of threshold devices. The Fisher information contained in the array output about the input parameter is used as the measure of performance in the estimation task. For estimation on a suprathreshold input signal, we establish that enhancement of the Fisher information can be obtained by addition of independent noises to the thresholds in the array. Similar improvement by noise is also shown to be possible for the estimation error of the maximum likelihood estimator. These results extend the applicability of the recently introduced nonlinear phenomenon of suprathreshold stochastic resonance.

• Received 17 April 2003

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.68.031107