Auto detection of copper and fiber mode
View Patent ↗Methods and systems for operating a physical layer device (“PHY”) in an Ethernet network include methods and systems for detecting active link partners and for selecting a mode of operation based on detected active link partners. The PHY monitors fiber link media and copper link media for active link partners. The PHY selects a mode of operation according to detected active link partners. For example, a copper mode of operation is selected, preferably through logic circuitry, when an active copper link partner is detected and an active fiber link partner is not detected. Similarly, a fiber mode of operation is selected, preferably through logic circuitry, when an active fiber link partner is detected and an active copper link partner is not detected. The PHY interfaces with the active copper link partner when the copper mode of operation is selected. Similarly, the PHY interfaces with the active fiber link partner when the fiber mode of operation is selected. The copper or fiber mode of operation can be prioritized for when active copper and fiber link partners are detected. The prioritized mode can be user selectable or factory set. The invention optionally powers down circuitry associated with an unselected mode of operation.
1. A method for detecting active link partners and for selecting a mode of operation based on detected active link partners, in an Ethernet physical layer device, without user intervention, comprising:
(1) monitoring an energy level at a copper link media port for an active copper link partner;
(2) monitoring an energy level at a fiber link media port for an active fiber link partner;
(3) selecting a copper mode of operation when said active copper link partner is detected and said active fiber link partner is not detected;
(4) selecting a fiber mode of operation when said active fiber link partner is detected and said active copper link partner is not detected;
(5) interfacing with said active copper link partner when said copper mode of operation is selected; and
(6) interfacing with said active fiber link partner when said fiber mode of operation is selected.
2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
powering down circuitry associated with an unselected mode of operation.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting, through said logic circuitry, said fiber mode of operation when said active fiber link partner and said active copper link partner are detected.
4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:
powering down circuitry associated with said copper mode of operation.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting, through said logic circuitry, said copper mode of operation when said active copper link partner and said active fiber link partner are detected.
6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
powering down circuitry associated with said fiber mode of operation.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said logic circuitry includes a user-controllable priority setting that controls said logic circuitry to select one of said copper mode of operation or said fiber mode of operation when said active copper link partner and said active fiber link partner are detected.
8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
powering down circuitry associated with an unselected mode of operation.
9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said user-controllable priority setting is implemented with a logic circuit.
10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said user-controllable priority setting is implemented with a register.
11. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said user-controllable priority setting is implemented with software.
12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising interfacing with a media access controller through a serial interface.
13. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising interfacing with a media access controller through a media independent interface.
14. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising interfacing with a media access controller through a gigabit media independent interface.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step (1) comprises receiving
a signal from copper link detect circuitry.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein step (1) further comprises
filtering said signal from said copper link detect circuitry.
17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein step (1) further comprises
debouncing said signal from said copper link detect circuitry.
18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein step (2) comprises receiving
a fiber signal detect signal from an optical/electrical converter.
19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein step (2) further comprises
filtering said fiber signal detect signal.
20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein step (1) further comprises
debouncing said fiber signal detect signal.
21. A physical layer device for an Ethernet communication system configured to detect active link partners and to switch between modes of operation based on detected active link partners, without user intervention, comprising:
a mode selector including mode select logic;
a packet-based interface port coupled to said mode selector;
a fiber link media port coupled to said mode selector;
a fiber signal detect port coupled to said mode selector;
a copper link media port coupled to said mode selector;
copper link detect circuitry coupled to said copper link media port and coupled to said mode selector, said copper link detect circuitry configured to monitor an energy level at a copper link media port to detect an active copper link partner coupled to said copper link media port;
a fiber mode module coupled between said mode selector and said fiber link media port, said fiber mode module configured to monitor an energy level at a fiber link media port to interface with said active fiber link partner; and
a copper mode module coupled between said mode selector and said copper link media port, said copper mode module configured to interface with said active copper link partner,
wherein said mode selector monitors said fiber signal detect port for an active fiber link partner;
wherein said mode selector monitors an output of said copper link detect circuitry for an active copper link partner;
wherein said mode select logic controls said mode selector to couple said packet-based interface port with said fiber mode module when said active fiber link partner is detected and said active copper link partner is not detected;
wherein said mode select logic controls said mode selector to couple said packet-based interface port with said copper mode module when said active copper link partner is detected and said active fiber link partner is not detected.
22. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said packet-based interface port comprises a gigabit media independent interface port.
23. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said mode select logic comprises a user-controllable priority setting that controls said mode selector to couple said packet-based interface port to one of said fiber mode module or said copper mode module when said active copper link partner and said active fiber link partner are detected.
24. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said mode select logic controls said mode selector to couple said packet-based interface port with said fiber mode module when said active copper link partner and said active fiber link partner are detected.
25. The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein said mode select logic controls said mode selector to couple said packet-based interface port with said copper mode module when said active copper link partner and said active fiber link partner are detected.
26. The apparatus according to claim 21 , further comprising a power down module coupled to said mode selector, said fiber mode module, and said copper mode module.
27. The apparatus according to claim 26 , wherein:
said power down module is configured to power down circuitry associated with said fiber mode module when said packet-based interface port is coupled to said copper mode module; and
said power down module is configured to power down circuitry associated with said copper mode module when said packet-based interface port is coupled to said fiber mode module.
28. The apparatus according to claim 23 , further comprising a power down module coupled to said mode selector, said fiber mode module, and said copper mode module, wherein:
said power down module is configured to power down circuitry associated with said fiber mode module when said packet-based interface port is coupled to said copper mode module; and
said power down module is configured to power down circuitry associated with said copper mode module when said packet-based interface port is coupled to said fiber mode module.
29. The apparatus according to claim 24 , further comprising a power down module coupled to said mode selector and said copper mode module, wherein said power down module is configured to power down circuitry associated with said copper mode module when said packet-based interface port is coupled to said fiber mode module.
30. The apparatus according to claim 25 , further comprising a power down module coupled to said mode selector and said fiber mode module, wherein said power down module is configured to power down circuitry associated with said fiber mode module when said packet-based interface port is coupled to said copper mode module.
31. The apparatus according to claim 21 , further comprising a copper link detect signal filter coupled between said copper link detect circuitry and said mode selector.
32. The apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein said copper link detect signal filter is configured to filter the output signal from said copper link detect circuitry.
33. The apparatus according to claim 31 , wherein said copper link detect signal filter is configured to debounce the output signal from said copper link detect circuitry.
34. The apparatus according to claim 21 , further comprising a fiber signal detect signal filter coupled between said fiber signal detect port and said mode selector.
35. The apparatus according to claim 34 , wherein said fiber signal detect signal filter is configured to filter a fiber signal detect signal received from said fiber signal detect port.
36. The apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein said fiber signal detect signal filter is configured to debounce a fiber signal detect signal received from said fiber signal detect port.
37. A physical layer device for an Ethernet communication system, configured to detect active link partners and to select a mode of operation based on detected active link partners without user intervention, comprising:
means for monitoring an energy level at a copper link media port for an active copper link partner;
means for monitoring an energy level at a fiber link media port for an active fiber link partner;
means for selecting, through logic circuitry, a copper mode of operation when said active copper link partner is detected and said active fiber link partner is not detected;
means for selecting, through said logic circuitry, a fiber mode of operation when said active fiber link partner is detected and said active copper link partner is not detected;
means for interfacing with said active copper link partner when said copper mode of operation is selected; and
means for interfacing with said active fiber link partner when said fiber mode of operation is selected.
38. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said logic circuitry includes a user-controllable priority setting that controls said logic circuitry to select one of said copper mode of operation or said fiber mode of operation when no active copper link partner and no active fiber link partner are detected.
39. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising interfacing with a media access controller through a RGMII interface.
40. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising interfacing with a media access controller through a TBI interface.