An embodiment of a state machine for generating a pseudo-random word stream, each word of the word stream including a plurality of subsequent bits of a pseudo-random bit sequence includes a plurality of clock registers and a feedback circuit coupled to the registers and adapted to provide a plurality of feedback signals to the registers based on a feedback function and a plurality of register output signals of the registers, wherein the state machine is configured such that a first word defined by the plurality of register output signals includes a first set of subsequent bits of a pseudo-random bit stream and such that a subsequent second word defined by the plurality of register output signals includes a second set of subsequent bits of a pseudo-random bit stream.