Multi-mode line driver circuit for the physical layer of a network connection, particularly of an ethernet communication, supporting different signal levels for different communication standards

A multi-mode line driver circuit for the physical layer of a network connection, particularly of an Ethernet communication, supporting different signal levels for different communication standards, comprising:

• at least one output for the network connection,
• at least two driver elements connected in parallel to the at least one output, wherein each driver element is connected to a positive supply voltage and a negative supply voltage, wherein each driver element comprises a resistor, a first switch and a second switch, wherein the resistor is connected with a first terminal to the output of the multi-mode line driver circuit and with the second terminal via the first switch to the positive supply voltage and via the second switch to the negative supply voltage,
• multiple coding blocks comprising an input for a digital signal to be transmitted over the network connection, wherein the coding blocks provide control signals for the first switch and the second switch of each of the at least two driver elements for connecting the resistor of each driver element either to the positive supply voltage or the negative supply voltage, thereby coding the digital signal at the input to an output signal at the output of the multi-mode line driver circuit according to a communication standard, and
• one or more multiplexers, wherein each of the multiple coding blocks can generate an output signal according to a certain communication standard and the one or more multiplexers select the signals of the coding block providing the currently desired communication standard.