Physical isolation between mac and phy ethernet connections

The apparatus of claim 9,

• wherein the first power domain further includes a motor and a position feedback block;
• wherein the first component includes a drive stage coupled to provide a drive current to the motor;
• wherein the second component which includes a current control loop block;
• and
• wherein the third component includes a speed/position circuit block coupled to receive a position feedback signal from the position feedback block and to provide control signals to the current control loop block;
• further including:
• a functional electrical isolation circuit disposed on a fourth circuit path that includes at least one signal lane that extends between the current control loop and the motor.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first power domain that includes a first component that operates at a first voltage level;
• a second power domain that includes a second component and a second media access controller (MAC) function circuit that operate at a second voltage level;
• and
• a third power domain that includes a physical media access (PHY) device that communicates with a first MAC function circuit that operate at a third voltage level;
• wherein the second voltage level is lower than the first voltage level;
• and
• wherein the third voltage level is unreferenced;
• further including:
• a first reinforced electrical isolation circuit disposed on a first circuit path that includes at least one signal lane that extends between the first power domain and the second power domain;
• and
• a second reinforced electrical isolation circuit disposed on a second circuit path that includes at least one signal lane that extends between the first MAC function circuit and the second MAC function circuit.