Method and apparatus for multiple physical layer interfaces within a single connector

1. An apparatus for providing an electrical communication interface enabling multiple physical layer connection standards, comprising:

a first receiver compliant with a first standard defining a first set of physical layer interface circuit electrical characteristics comprising a first standard operating voltage range set, wherein the first receiver is configured to operate within a first receiver operating voltage range set;

a first driver compliant with the first standard, wherein the first driver is configured to operate within a first driver operating voltage range set;

a second receiver compliant with a second standard defining a second set of physical layer interface circuit electrical characteristics comprising a second standard operating voltage range set, wherein the second receiver is configured to operate within a second receiver operating voltage range set, and wherein the second receiver operating voltage range set overlaps with the first receiver operating voltage range set and the first driver operating voltage range set;

a second driver compatible with the second standard, wherein the second driver is configured to operate within a second driver operating voltage range set, and wherein the second driver operating voltage range set overlaps with the first receiver operating voltage range set and the first driver operating voltage range set; and

one or more pins connected to the first receiver, the second receiver, the first driver, and the second driver, wherein the one or more pins supports connection with an electronic control unit compliant with at least one of the first standard or the second standard.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second standard defining the second set of physical layer interface circuit electrical characteristics is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)/Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) standard.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first standard defining the first set of physical layer interface circuit electrical characteristics is a Controller Area Network (CAN) standard.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second driver is compliant with a third standard defining a third set of set of physical layer interface circuit electrical characteristics, wherein the second standard is a full-duplex communication standard, and wherein the third standard is compatible with the second standard.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the third standard defining a third set of physical layer interface circuit electrical characteristics is an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)/Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) standard.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first pin of the one or more pins is connected to a logical high state input pin of the first receiver, a logical high state input pin of the second receiver, and a logical high state output pin of the first driver.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a second pin of the one or more pins is connected to a logical low state input pin of the first receiver, a logical low state input pin of the second receiver, and a logical low state output pin of the first driver.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a second pin of the one or more pins is connected to a logical high state input pin of the second driver and a third pin of the one or more pins is connected to a logical low state input pin of the second driver.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a microcontroller configured to control one or more of: a loopback mode input pin, an enable input pin, or a mode select pin indicating one of a high-speed mode, a low power mode, or a slope control mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first set of physical layer interface circuit electrical characteristics further comprises: a driver load impedance range, a receiver load impedance range, and a receiver input sensitivity.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first standard operating voltage range set comprises a receiver input voltage range and a driver output voltage range.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first receiver, the first driver, the second receiver, and the second driver are positioned on one single printed circuit board.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first receiver, the first driver, the second receiver, and the second driver are fabricated on an integrated circuit.