1. A method for an electronic noise estimation unit to determine the probability density function type of a noise component in a signal, the method comprising: using the electronic noise estimation unit, numerically differentiating the signal within a window at least m number of times to obtain an m-order differentiated signal; providing a histogram having a distribution that approximates the m-order differentiated signal; selecting a probability density function type that approximates the distribution of the histogram from a library of probability density function types available to the noise estimation unit, wherein the probability density function type that approximates the distribution of the histogram is the probability density function type of the noise component; and outputting the probability density function type of the noise component on an output line of the electronic noise estimation unit.