Noise (electronics)

In <a href="/facts/Electronics/E4JhgISq">electronics</a>, noise is an unwanted disturbance in an <a href="/facts/Electrical_signal/41YqUJ8c">electrical signal</a>.: 5 
Noise generated by <a href="/facts/Electronic_device/E4JhgISq">electronic devices</a> varies greatly as it is produced by several different effects.
In particular, noise is inherent in <a href="/facts/Physics/a7aH2y08">physics</a> and central to <a href="/facts/Thermodynamics/q4hIx3yP">thermodynamics</a>. Any conductor with <a href="/facts/Electrical_resistance/hxSt0UAj">electrical resistance</a> will generate <a href="/facts/Thermal_noise/ur238TgX">thermal noise</a> inherently. The final elimination of thermal noise in electronics can only be achieved <a href="/facts/Cryogenically/cw7dHAkp">cryogenically</a>, and even then <a href="/facts/Quantum_noise/unG8sdEU">quantum noise</a> would remain inherent.
Electronic noise is a common component of <a href="/facts/Noise_(signal_processing)/JT3lGj8v">noise in signal processing</a>.
In <a href="/facts/Telecommunications/vxoj1cxR">communication systems</a>, noise is an error or undesired random disturbance of a useful <a href="/facts/Signal_(information_theory)/41YqUJ8c">information signal</a> in a <a href="/facts/Communication_channel/MtlxEShV">communication channel</a>. The noise is a summation of unwanted or disturbing energy from natural and sometimes man-made sources. Noise is, however, typically distinguished from <a href="/facts/Interference_(communication)/BVce5g8d">interference</a>, for example in the <a href="/facts/Signal-to-noise_ratio/qohClhyG">signal-to-noise ratio</a> (SNR), <a href="/facts/Signal-to-interference_ratio/lBQVMXmC">signal-to-interference ratio</a> (SIR) and <a href="/facts/Signal_to_noise_plus_interference/FbPzs8JA">signal-to-noise plus interference ratio</a> (SNIR) measures. Noise is also typically distinguished from <a href="/facts/Distortion/z8RJcwNy">distortion</a>, which is an unwanted systematic alteration of the signal waveform by the communication equipment, for example in <a href="/facts/Signal-to-noise_and_distortion_ratio/gl00Pxox">signal-to-noise and distortion ratio</a> (SINAD) and <a href="/facts/Total_harmonic_distortion_plus_noise/3gHn0E18">total harmonic distortion plus noise</a> (THD+N) measures.
While noise is generally unwanted, it can serve a useful purpose in some applications, such as <a href="/facts/Random_number_generation/RtXEfbzd">random number generation</a> or <a href="/facts/Dither/fCBytTzz">dither</a>.
<a href="/facts/Uncorrelated_noise/wJ0SR21n">Uncorrelated noise</a> sources add according to the sum of their <a href="/facts/Power_(physics)/mkaEyRnn">powers</a>.

Noise (electronics) open-in-new

Noise (electronics)