Abstract: A medium access control (MAC) device includes M transmit pins that receive first transmit data signals, first transmit enable signals, and first transmit error signals from a host. N transmit pins output the first transmit data signals and the first transmit control signals to a physical layer (PHY) device. M and N are integers greater than two and M is greater than N. A first encoder encodes the first transmit enable signals and the first transmit error signals received on at least two of the M transmit pins to generate the first transmit control signals output on one of the N transmit pins.

Abstract: A media and speed independent system for transmitting data to an external device includes a physical layer device (PHY). A rate adaptation layer (RAL) module that communicates with said PHY. A physical extension module that communicates with said RAL module and with the external device using a physical extension interface.

Abstract: A self-reparable semiconductor includes M functional units each including N sub-functional units. Each of the M functional units performs the same function. First ones of the N sub-functional units communicate with second ones of the N sub-functional units over a signal path that passes through third ones of the N sub-functional units. P spare sub-functional units are functionally interchangeable with P of the N sub-functional units. M, N and P are integers greater than one. Switching devices selectively replace at least one of the N sub-functional units of at least one of the M functional units with at least one of the P spare sub-functional units. Corresponding ones of the N sub-functional units of the M functional units perform the same function. The N sub-functional units within each of the M functional units perform different functions.

Abstract: A network interface includes N input lanes that receive data symbols and idle symbols. A substitutor module periodically replaces an idle symbol on each input lane with a corresponding alignment symbol to form an alignment group. M interleaver modules each interleave a portion of the data symbols and alignment symbols onto a corresponding transmit lane based on an interleaving pattern that provides each transmit lane with N/M alignment symbols from the alignment group. M is an integer greater than 1 and N is greater than M. In some features the substitutor module periodically replaces successive idle symbols on each lane with alignment symbols to form corresponding alignment groups. An interleaver module interleaves the data symbols and alignment groups onto M transmit lanes according to an interleaving pattern that provides each transmit lane with one of the alignment groups.

Abstract: A physical layer device comprises a transmitter of a first network device that transmits an autonegotiation signal to a second network device. A receiver of the first network device receives a received signal from the second network device. An autonegotiation controller autonegotiates link parameters for a link between the first network device and the second network device, monitors autonegotiation pulses in the autonegotiation signal relative to autonegotiation pulses in the received signal received during a window, and selectively blinds autonegotiation based on the monitoring.

Abstract: A media and speed independent system for transmitting Ethernet data comprises a media access controller (MAC) and a first rate adaptation layer (RAL) module that communicates with the MAC. A first physical extension module communicates with the first RAL module. A second physical extension module communicates with the first physical extension module using a physical extension interface. A second RAL module communicates with the second physical extension module. A physical layer device (PHY) communicates with the second RAL module.

Abstract: A resynchronization device for an Ethernet network device with a transmitter and a receiver includes a detector that detects faulty code groups received by the receiver. A counter counts the faulty code groups that are detected by the false carrier detector during a predetermined period. A resynchronization trigger asserts a resynchronization signal if the counter exceeds a predetermined threshold during the predetermined period. The faulty code groups include false carriers, which include non-idle code groups other than frame delimiters. Alternately, the faulty code groups include idle code groups that match idle code groups generated by the transmitter of the local network device.

Abstract: An aggregation channel for providing data communication for M data streams to N data streams comprises a first first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer module that receives the M data streams and realigns them with each other based on respective alignment symbols. A lane mapping module receives the realigned M data streams from the first FIFO buffer module and routes predetermined ones of the M data streams to predetermined ones of the N data streams, wherein each of the N data streams receives at least one of the alignment characters. M is greater than N, N is greater than 1, and each of the M data streams includes an alignment symbol.

Abstract: A physical layer device comprises an interface that communicates with a media access control (MAC) device. A first circuit attempts to establish a first link using a first transceiver over a first medium. A second circuit attempts to establish a second link using a second transceiver over a second medium that is different than the first medium. A media selector communicates with the interface and the first and second circuits and that enables data flow from the first medium to the MAC device using the interface when the first link is established first. A preferred medium selector communicates with the media selector and is configurable in one of a plurality of medium preference states.

Abstract: A physical layer device includes a transceiver module that communicates with a medium. An autonegotiation module autonegotiates one of N link capabilities with a link partner that advertises one of the link capabilities, where N is an integer greater than or equal to two. The autonegotiation module selects the advertised link capability of the link partner.

Abstract: A physical layer device includes a cable test module that transmits a test pulse on a cable, measures a reflection amplitude, calculates a cable length, and determines a cable status based on the measured amplitude and the calculated cable length. A frequency synthesizer selectively outputs a plurality of signals at a plurality of frequencies on one end of the cable. An insertion loss calculator receives the signals from an opposite end of the cable and estimates insertion loss based on the received signals.

Abstract: A cable testing system that tests cable includes a pulse generation module that transmits a first pulse on a first communications channel of the cable. A sampling module waits a predetermined time period after the pulse generation module transmits the first pulse and then detects a first amplitude of a reflected signal on a second communications channel of the cable. A time domain reflection (TDR) module receives the first amplitude and verifies proper operation of the cable based on the first amplitude. The predetermined time period corresponds with an estimated roundtrip propagation delay of the first pulse when the first pulse is reflected back to the cable testing system after traveling a first predetermined distance along the cable. The sampling module incrementally increases the predetermined time period during subsequent iterations of a cable test in order to verify proper operation of a predetermined segment of the cable.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises a physical layer interface that is implemented by the integrated circuit, that is associated with a network device, and that communicates with an external device via a medium. A first serializer interface implemented by the integrated circuit communicates with the physical layer interface and with a second serializer interface associated with a medium access controller. The first serializer interface communicates with the second serializer interface at a predetermined data transmission rate that is independent of a negotiated transmission rate between the network device and the external device.

Abstract: A double data rate SMII circuit comprises a transmit circuit, responsive to a clock signal, that samples serial transmit data on a clock rising edge to generate a first transmit serial stream. The transmit circuit, responsive to the clock signal, samples the serial transmit data on a clock falling edge to generate a second transmit serial stream. A receive circuit, responsive to the clock signal, generates a receive serial stream from two receive data streams. The receive serial stream having a first operating frequency, each of the two receive data streams having a second operating frequency. The first operating frequency is about twice the second operating frequency. A transmit port, corresponding to the transmit circuit, includes a single terminal to communicate the serial transmit data to the transmit circuit. A receive port, corresponding to the receive circuit, includes a single terminal to communicate the receive serial stream from the receive circuit.

Abstract: A system for probing a DUT is disclosed, the system having a pulsed laser source, a CW laser source, beam optics designed to point a reference beam and a probing beam at the same location on the DUT, optical detectors for detecting the reflected reference and probing beams, and a collection electronics. The beam optics is a common-path polarization differential probing (PDP) optics. The common-path PDP optics divides the incident laser beam into two beams of orthogonal polarization—one beam simulating a reference beam while the other simulating a probing beam. Both reference and probing beams are pointed to the same location on the DUT. Due to the intrinsic asymmetry of a CMOS transistor, the interaction of the reference and probing beams with the DUT result in different phase modulation in each beam. This difference can be investigated to study the response of the DUT to the stimulus signal.

Abstract: A physical layer (PHY) module of a network device includes an auto-negotiation module that enables an auto-negotiation mode when the network device one of powers up and loses a link. The PHY includes a control module that communicates with the auto-negotiation module, and that generates a full duplex signal when a PHY of a link partner is in a full duplex mode and does not have the auto-negotiation mode enabled, wherein the PHY sets a duplex mode to the full duplex mode based on the full duplex signal.

Abstract: A physical coding sublayer (PCS) device includes a first data scrambler, a second data scrambler, and a selector. The first data scrambler scrambles first data and implements a first scrambling cycle. The second data scrambler scrambles second data and implements a second scrambling cycle. The second data is different than the first data. The second scrambling cycle is shorter than the first scrambling cycle. The selector selects the first data scrambler to scramble the first data during normal operations. The selector selects the second data scrambler to scramble the second data during testing. The first data scrambler does not scramble the second data. The second data scrambler does not scramble the first data.

Abstract: An IEEE 802.3 compliant physical layer device provides efficient loading of configuration information of the physical layer device. The configuration information is written into a volatile memory in the physical layer device, and then uploaded to at least one EEPROM. The configuration information is downloaded to the volatile memory during startup of the physical layer device. The system controller can also directly access the EEPROMs, bypassing the volatile memory. By providing a bridge between the system controller and the EEPROMs and providing additional bits in the volatile memory of the physical layer device, the system controller can read and write the EEPROMs one byte at a time. During reset time, the content of the EERPOMs is written to registers in the physical layer device to configure the physical layer device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for encoding and decoding. An encoder receives packets including control symbols from a plurality of independent data sources. The encoder produces a combination packet having a plurality of control symbols at arbitrary locations within the combination packet. The combination packet includes a sync header field to identify the combination packet as containing the plurality of control symbols, a block type field to locate the plurality of control symbols, and the plurality of control symbols. A corresponding decoder performs decoding.

Abstract: A network device includes a media access controller (MAC) and a physical layer having an interface that communicates with the MAC. A first autonegotiation circuit attempts to establish a link using a first transceiver over a first media. A second autonegotiation circuit attempts to establish a link using a second transceiver over a second media. A media selector communicates with the interface and the first and second autonegotiation circuits. The media selector enables data flow from the first media to the MAC using the interface when a link is established first over the first media. The media selector enables data flow from the second media to the MAC using the interface when a link is established first over the second media.