pseudorandom noise

Pseudorandom noise is a signal similar to noise which satisfies one or more of the standard tests for statistical randomness. Although it seems to lack any definite pattern, pseudorandom noise consists of a deterministic sequence of pulses that will repeat itself after its period. This sequence is known as a chip and the inverse of its period as chip rate. In cryptographic devices, pseudo-random noise is mixed with entropy to increase randomness. Pseudorandom noise is used in some electronic musical instruments, either by itself or as an input to subtractive synthesis. In spread-spectrum systems, modulated carrier transmissions appear as noise to any receiver that is:

not locked on the transmitter frequencies; or
incapable of correlating a locally generated pseudorandom sequence with the received signal.

A pseudonoise code is one that has a spectrum similar to a random sequence of bits but is deterministically generated. See also: Pseudorandom number sequence, Pseudorandom number generator, n-sequence, Federal Standard 1037C, MIL-STD-188

<< Previous

Word Browser

Next >>

power budget
power factor
power failure transfer
power law index profile
power margin
precision
preemphasis
preemphasis improvement
preemphasis network
preventive maintenance
primary channel

primary rate interface
primary station
primary time standard
principal clock
priority
priority level
private line
proceed to select
propagation constant
propagation path obstruction
proration

protected distribution system
protocol control information
protocol data unit
provisioning
pseudorandom number sequence
psophometer
psophometric voltage
public data transmission service
public land mobile network
pulsating direct current
pulse

pulse address multiple access
pulse amplitude
pulse code modulation
pulse duration
pulse link repeater
pumping
push to talk operation
push to type operation
quadrature
quadruply clad fiber
quality control