Method for decoding under optical and electronic noise

A system for decoding an optical signal, comprising:

• a detector configured to detect optical returns from an optical data disc;
• a decoder coupled to the detector and configured to estimate source information from the optical returns to produce a decoded signal;
• and
• a memory component accessible to the decoder, wherein the memory component comprises:
• algorithms to estimate the source information from the optical returns;
• and
• a look-up table of probability distributions based on a computed expected optical noise parameter and a computed expected electronic noise parameter in the system.

A system for decoding an optical signal, comprising:

• a detector configured to detect optical returns from an optical data disc;
• a decoder coupled to the detector and configured to estimate source information from the optical returns to produce a decoded signal;
• and
• a memory component accessible to the decoder, wherein the memory component comprises:
• algorithms to estimate the source information from the optical returns;
• and
• a look-up table of probability distributions based on expected optical and expected electronic noise in the system, wherein the probability distributions comprise a convolution of a Ricean or modified Ricean probability density function due to optical detection and a Gaussian probability density function due to electronic noise.