Low power physical layer for SATA and SAS transceivers

A machine-readable medium, having encoded thereon program code, wherein, when the program code is executed by a machine, the machine implements a method of switching from a low-power mode of a device to an active mode, comprising:

• a) entering the low-power mode by shutting down i) logic devices of a physical layer of the device and ii) a decoding circuit of the device;
• b) detecting activity at an input of a receiver of the device while in low-power mode;
• c) switching, in response to the detected activity, from the low-power mode to the active mode by powering up i) the logic devices of the physical layer and ii) the decoding circuit when activity is detected, thereby responding to the detected activity as if it is a predetermined command.