Channel estimation circuit and channel estimation method

A channel estimation method comprising:

• a step at which a tentative channel estimation means being input with a received signal and performs channel estimation by making use of the received signal and outputs the result of estimation as a tentative channel estimation signal;
• a step at which a noise/interference power estimation means being input with signals, including at least, the received signal, among the received signal, the tentative channel estimation signal and a channel estimation signal, and performs estimation of noise and interference power by making use of the input signals, to output the result of estimation as a noise/interference power estimation signal;
• a step at which a threshold decision means being input with signals, including at least, the noise/interference power estimation signal, among the noise/interference power estimation signal and the tentative channel estimation signal, to establish and output a threshold signal by making use of the input signals;
• and
• a step at which an effective path detection means being input with the tentative channel estimation signal and the threshold signal and, after removing noise paths having powers smaller than threshold signal among paths of the tentative channel estimation signal, outputs the remaining signal as the channel estimation signal.