Methods and apparatus for a common denominator transceiver design for data transmission

A transceiver for exchanging data with a transmission channel using one of a 100BaseT2, 100BaseTX, and 100BaseT4 standards, comprising:

• a transmit circuit for converting digital data to analog data for transmission on said transmission channel using said one of said standards, including:
• a first a switch;
• a first digital-to-analog converter coupled to said first digital switch;
• a second digital-to-analog converter coupled to said first digital switch;
• and
• a second analog switch coupled to said first digital-to-analog converter and to said second digital-to-analog converter, said digital data being switched by said first digital switch into said first digital-to-analog converter and said second digital-to-analog converter to allow said first digital-to-analog converter and said second digital-to-analog converter to support sampling requirements of said one of said 100BaseT2,said 100BaseTX, and said 100BaseT4 standards.

A method for exchanging data with a transmission channel using one of a 100BaseT2, 100BaseTX and 100BaseT4 standards, comprising:

• receiving analog data from said transmission channel;
• switching said received analog data through a configurable analog switch;
• converting first analog data from said configurable analog switch to first digital data using a first reclock-enabled analog-to-digital converter;
• converting second analog data from said configurable analog switch to second digital data using a second reclock-enabled analog-to-digital converter;
• coupling said first digital data and said second digital data to a digital signal processing circuit using a configurable digital switch coupled to said first analog-to-digital converter and said second analog-to-digital converter;
• and
• performing signal processing on at least one of said first digital data and said second digital data received via said configurable digital switch.

An apparatus for exchanging data with a transmission channel using one of a 100BaseT2, 100BaseTX and 100BaseT4 standards, comprising:

• a receive circuit for receiving analog data from said transmission channel, including
• a configurable analog switch arranged to receive data from said transmission channel;
• a first reclock-enabled analog-to-digital converter coupled to said configurable analog switch, said first reclock-enabled analog-to-digital converter being configured to receive first analog data from said configurable analog switch and converting said first analog data to first digital data;
• a second reclock-enabled analog-to-digital converter coupled to said configurable analog switch, said second reclock-enabled analog-to-digital converter being configured to receive second analog data from said configurable analog switch and converting said second analog data to second digital data;
• a configurable digital switch coupled to said first analog-to-digital converter and said second analog-to-digital converter;
• and
• digital signal processing circuitry coupled to said configurable digital switch, said digital signal processing circuitry performs signal processing on at least one of said first digital data and said second digital data received via said configurable digital switch.

A transceiver for exchanging data with a transmission channel using one of a first standard, a second standard, and a third standard, said first standard employing a first set of analog channels consisting essentially of two bidirectional analog channels and requiring a first sampling rate, a second standard employing a second set of analog channels consisting essentially of two unidirectional analog channels and requiring a second sampling rate, a third standard employing a third set of analog channels consisting essentially of two unidirectional analog channels and two bidirectional analog channels and requiring a third sampling rate, comprising:

• a receive circuit for receiving analog data from said transmission channel, including:
• a first analog switch;
• a first analog-to-digital converter coupled to said first analog switch;
• a second analog-to-digital converter coupled to said first analog switch;
• and
• a second digital switch coupled to said first analog-to-digital converter and to said second analog-to-digital converter, said analog data being switched by said first analog switch into said first analog-to-digital converter and said second analog-to-digital converter to allow said first analog-to-digital converter and said second analog-to-digital converter to support sampling requirements of said one of said first, second, and third standards.

A transceiver for exchanging data with a transmission channel using one of a 100BaseT2, and 100BaseTX standards, comprising:

• a receive circuit for receiving analog data from said transmission channel, including:
• a first analog switch;
• a first analog-to-digital converter coupled to said first analog switch;
• a second analog-to-digital converter coupled to said first analog switch;
• and
• a second digital switch coupled to said first analog-to-digital converter and to said second analog-to-digital converter, said analog data being switched by said first analog switch into said first analog-to-digital converter and said second analog-to-digital converter to allow said first analog-to-digital converter and said second analog-to-digital converter to support sampling requirements of said one of said 100BaseT2 and said 100BaseTX standards.

A transceiver for exchanging data with a transmission channel using one of a 100BaseT2,and 100BaseT4 standards, comprising:

• a receive circuit for receiving analog data from said transmission channel, including:
• a first analog switch;
• a first analog-to-digital converter coupled to said first analog switch;
• a second analog-to-digital converter coupled to said first analog switch;
• and
• a second digital switch coupled to said first analog-to-digital converter and to said second analog-to-digital converter, said analog data being switched by said first analog switch into said first analog-to-digital converter and said second analog-to-digital converter to allow said first analog-to-digital converter and said second analog-to-digital converter to support sampling requirements of said one of said 100BaseT2 and said 100BaseT4 standards.

A transceiver for exchanging data with a transmission channel using one of a 100BaseT4, and 100BaseTX standards, comprising:

• a receive circuit for receiving analog data from said transmission channel, including:
• a first analog switch;
• a first analog-to-digital converter coupled to said first analog switch;
• a second analog-to-digital converter coupled to said first analog switch;
• and
• a second digital switch coupled to said first analog-to-digital converter and to said second analog-to-digital converter, said analog data being switched by said first analog switch into said first analog-to-digital converter and said second analog-to-digital converter to allow said first analog-to-digital converter and said second analog-to-digital converter to support sampling requirements of said one of said 100BaseT4 and said 100BaseTX standards.