Physical transceiver gearbox
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- physical medium dependent (PMD) sublayer logic that is configured to communicate with a communications medium;
physical medium attachment (PMA) sublayer logic that is coupled to the PMD logic;
forward error correction (FEC) sublayer logic that is coupled to the PMA sublayer logic; and
physical coding (PCS) sublayer logic that is configured to communicate with an interface, wherein the PCS sublayer logic includes gearbox circuitry having;
a transmit path that is configured to receive data in a first clock domain and that is coupled to transmit data in a second clock domain to the FEC sublayer logic;
a first read pointer circuit that is coupled to the transmit path;
a write pointer circuit that is coupled to the transmit path;
a receive path that is coupled to receive data in the second clock domain from the FEC sublayer logic and that is configured to output data in the first clock domain; and
a second read pointer circuit that is coupled to the receive path, wherein the first read pointer circuit, the second read pointer circuit, and the write pointer circuits are each configured to detect gaps between the first and second clock domains.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided. Physical medium dependent (PMD) sublayer logic is configured to communicate with a communications medium. Physical medium attachment (PMA) sublayer logic is coupled to the PMD logic. Forward error correction (FEC) sublayer logic is coupled to the PMA sublayer logic, and physical coding (PCS) sublayer logic is configured to communicate with an interface. A transmit path is coupled to the transmit data in a second clock domain to the FEC sublayer logic. A first read pointer circuit is coupled to transmit path. A write pointer circuit is coupled to the transmit path. A receive path is coupled to receive data in the second clock domain from the FEC sublayer logic. A second read pointer circuit is coupled to the receive path, where the first read pointer circuit, the second read pointer circuit, and the write pointer circuits are each configured to detect gaps between the first and second clock domains.
11 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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physical medium dependent (PMD) sublayer logic that is configured to communicate with a communications medium; physical medium attachment (PMA) sublayer logic that is coupled to the PMD logic; forward error correction (FEC) sublayer logic that is coupled to the PMA sublayer logic; and physical coding (PCS) sublayer logic that is configured to communicate with an interface, wherein the PCS sublayer logic includes gearbox circuitry having; a transmit path that is configured to receive data in a first clock domain and that is coupled to transmit data in a second clock domain to the FEC sublayer logic; a first read pointer circuit that is coupled to the transmit path; a write pointer circuit that is coupled to the transmit path; a receive path that is coupled to receive data in the second clock domain from the FEC sublayer logic and that is configured to output data in the first clock domain; and a second read pointer circuit that is coupled to the receive path, wherein the first read pointer circuit, the second read pointer circuit, and the write pointer circuits are each configured to detect gaps between the first and second clock domains. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a communications medium; a plurality of network interfaces, wherein each network interface includes; a media access control (MAC) circuit; a media independent interface (MII) that is coupled to the MAC circuit; and a physical transceiver (PHY) having; PMD sublayer logic that is coupled to the MII; PMA sublayer logic that is coupled to the PMD logic; FEC sublayer logic that is coupled to the PMA sublayer logic; and PCS sublayer logic that is configured to communicate with an interface, wherein the PCS sublayer logic includes gearbox circuitry having; a transmit path that is configured to receive data in a first clock domain and that is coupled to transmit data in a second clock domain to the FEC sublayer logic; a first read pointer circuit that is coupled to the transmit path; a write pointer circuit that is coupled to the transmit path; a receive path that is coupled to receive data in the second clock domain from the FEC sublayer logic and that is configured to output data in the first clock domain; and a second read pointer circuit that is coupled to the receive path, wherein the first read pointer circuit, the second read pointer circuit, and the write pointer circuits are each configured to detect gaps between the first and second clock domains. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification