ELECTRONIC

COMMUNICATION
SYSTEMS
Second Edition

Roy Blake

NOISE

Noise
It originates both in channel and
communication systems.
Consist of undesired, usually
random, variations that interfere
with the desired signals and
inhibit communication.

Classification of Noise
External Noise
Internal Noise

External Noise
Equipment Noise
Noise is generated by equipment that produces
sparks.
Any fast rise time voltage or current can also
generate noise.
Has a broad frequency spectrum but its energy
is not distributed over the frequency range.
Generally more severe at lower frequencies

Atmospheric Noise
Often called static noise.
Can propagate for long distances

External Noise
Most of the energy of lightning is found
at relatively low-frequency to several
megahertz.
Nothing can be done to reduce static
noise at the source.
Noise blanking is a technique to reduce
static noise

Space Noise
The main contributor of this noise is the
sun
Stars can also contribute space noise

Internal Noise
Thermal Noise
Produced by random motion of electrons
in a conductor due to heat.
Found everywhere in electronic circuitry.
Power density of thermal noise is
constant with frequency.
Sometimes called white, johnson,
gaussian noise

Internal Noise
Noise

power

Where:
PN
= noise power in watts
k = Boltzmanns constant, 1.38x10-23 J/K
T = absolute temperature in Kelvin
B = Noise power bandwidth in hertz

Internal Noise
Example
A receiver has a noise power
bandwidth of 10kHz. A resistor that
matches the receiver input impedance
is connected across its antenna
terminals. What is the noise power
contributed by the resistor in the
receiver bandwidth, if the resistor has
a temperature of 27OC?

Internal Noise
Noise

Voltage
Where:
V = noise voltage
R = Resistance
T = Temperature in K
B = Bandwidth
K = Boltzmanns constant

Internal Noise
Example
A 300 resistor is connected across
the 300 antenna input of a television
receiver. The bandwidth of the receiver
is 6MHz, and the resistor is at room
temperature (20OC). Find the noise
power and the noise voltage applied to
the receiver input.

Internal Noise
Shot Noise
Due to random variations of current flow
in active devices such as tubes,
transistors and semiconductor diodes.
Describes the random arrival of
electrons arriving at the anode of a
vacuum tube, like individual pellets of
shot from a shotgun.
It is usually represented by a current
source

Internal Noise
Noise
Current

Where:
IN = RMS noise current, in amperes
q = magnitude of the charge of
electron, 1.6x10-19 coulomb
IO = DC bias current in the device, in A
B = bandwidth over which the noise is
observed, in Hz

Internal Noise
Example
A diode noise generator is required to
produce 10uV of noise in a receiver
with an input impedance of 75,
resistive, and a noise power bandwidth
of 200kHz. What must the current
through the diode be?

Internal Noise
Partition Noise
Similar to shot noise, but it only occurs
in a devices where a single current
separates into two or more paths.

Excess Noise
1/f noise
It is believed to be caused by variations
in carrier density
Used for testing and setting up audio
systems.

Internal Noise
Transit-Time Noise
Occurs when the time take by the
charge carriers to cross a junction is
comparable to its period of the signal.
Some of the carriers may diffuse back
across the junction, causing a
fluctuating current that constitutes
noise.
Significant in microwave devices.

Addition of Noise from

Different Sources

Addition of Noise from

Different Sources
Example
The circuit in Figure shows two resistor
in series at two different temperatures.
Find the total noise voltage and noise
power produced at the load, over a
bandwidth of 100kHz

Signal to Noise Ratio

The main reason for studying and
calculating noise power or voltage is
the effect that noise has on the desired
signal.
It is the ratio of signal to noise power
that is important than the noise power
alone
It is often difficult to measure

Signal to Noise Ratio

Example
A receiver produces a noise power o
200mW with no signal. The output
level increases to 5W when a signal is
applied. Calculate (S+N)/N as a power
ratio and in dB.

Noise Factor
Isa figure of merit, indicating how
much a component, stage, or series of
stages degrades the signal-to-noise
ratio of a system.

Noise Figure
Example
The signal power at the input to an
amplifier is 100uW and the noise
power 1uW. At the output side, the
signal power is 1W and the noise
power is 30mW. What is the amplifier
noise figure and factor? How much
noise does the amplifier contributes?

Noise Figure
Example
The signal at the input of an amplifier
has S/N of 42 dB. If the amplifier has a
noise figure of 6dB, what is the S/N at
the output (in dB).

Equivalent Noise Temperature

Is another way of specifying the noise
performance of a device.