Modular Analog Frontend
A system may include a first stage comprising first signaling components for a first protocol, and a second stage comprising second signaling components for the first protocol and a second protocol. The system may further include logic configured to receive an incoming data stream, and determine a stream protocol for the data stream. The logic may be further configured to, responsive to the determination, activate the at least a portion of the first stage when the stream protocol is compliant with the first protocol, and when the stream protocol is compliant with the second protocol, deactivate the first stage.
1 . A device comprising;
a first stage comprising first signaling components for a first protocol and a second protocol;
a second stage comprising second signaling components for the first protocol; and
logic configured to:
receive an incoming data stream;
determine a stream protocol for the data stream; and
responsive to the determination:
when the stream protocol is compliant with the first protocol, activate the at least a portion of the second stage; and
when the stream protocol is compliant with the second protocol, deactivate the second stage.
2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a bypass circuit configured to bypass the second stage when activated.
3 . The device of claim 2 , where the logic is further configured to activate the bypass when the stream protocol is compliant with the second protocol.
4 . The device of claim 1 , where:
the first signaling components comprise a first converter element configured to produce a first set of bits based on the data stream; and
the second signaling components comprise a second converter element configured to produce a second set of bits based on the data stream.
5 . The device of claim 4 , where:
the first set of bits is compliant with the first and second protocols; and
the second set of bits is compliant with the first protocol.
6 . The device of claim 1 , where:
the first signaling components comprise a first amplifier configured to amplify the data stream at a first level; and
the second signaling components comprise a second amplifier configured to amplify the data stream at a second level.
7 . The device of claim 6 , where the second level is greater than the first level.
8 . The device of claim 6 , where the second amplifier is configured to amplify the data stream after amplification via the first amplifier.
9 . The device of claim 6 , where the second amplifier is configured to amplify the data stream to a second power level via amplification from an incoming power level of the data stream.
10 . The device of claim 1 , where:
the first protocol is configured to operate at a first bit rate; and
the second protocol is configured to operate at a second bit rate different from the first.
11 . The device of claim 10 , where the logic is further configured to determine a stream bit rate of the data stream to determine the stream protocol.
12 . The device of claim 1 , where the logic is further configured to:
receive the data stream over an input cable;
determine a cable length for the input cable; and
responsive to the determination of the cable length, forgo activation of an amplifier of the second signaling components when the stream protocol is compliant with the second protocol.
13 . A method, comprising:
receiving, at a frontend, a data stream;
determining that the data stream is compliant with a first protocol;
activating a first stage of the frontend, the first stage compliant with the first protocol and a second protocol; and
bypassing a second stage of the frontend, the second stage compliant with the second protocol.
14 . The method of claim 13 , where determining that the data stream is compliant with the first protocol comprises determining a bit rate of the data stream.
15 . The method of claim 13 , where bypassing the second stage comprises bypassing a converter element configured to generate a set of bits compliant with the second protocol.
16 . The method of claim 13 , where:
the first protocol comprises a IEEE 40GBASE-T compliant protocol; and
the second protocol comprises a IEEE 10GBASE-T compliant protocol.
17 . The method of claim 13 , where bypassing comprises changing an input amplifier of the frontend from a second amplifier of the second stage to a first amplifier of the first stage.
18 . The method of claim 17 , where bypassing comprises activating a bypass network to maintain an input parameter of the frontend.
19 . A device, comprising:
a frontend comprising:
a first amplifier stage configured to amplify an incoming data signal at a first level, the first level being compliant with a first protocol;
a second amplifier stage configured to amplify the incoming data signal at a second level, the second level being compliant with a second protocol;
a first converter element configured to generate a first set bits based on the incoming signal, the first set of bits compliant with the first and second protocols; and
a second converter element configured to generate a second set of bits based on the incoming signal, the second set of bits compliant with the second protocol; and
logic, in operative communication with the frontend, the logic configured to:
determine a stream protocol for the incoming signal; and
responsive to the determination:
when the stream protocol is compliant with the second protocol, activate the second amplifier stage and the second converter element; and
when the stream protocol is compliant with the first protocol, deactivate the second amplifier stage and the second converter element.
20 . The device of claim 19 , where:
the first protocol is configured to operate at a first bit rate;
the second protocol is configured to operate at a second bit rate different from the first; and
the logic further configured to determine the stream protocol based on the bit rate of the stream.