Line driver method and apparatus

A line driver circuit, comprising:

• a plurality of output stages each operable to produce an output signal in compliance with a wireline communication technology;
• a pre-output stage operable to perform one or more functions common to the plurality of output stages;
• and
• circuitry operable to determine which wireline communication technology is implemented by the line driver circuit based on a mode input provided to the circuitry, couple to the pre-output stage each output stage operable to produce an output signal that complies with the wireline communication technology indicated by the mode input, and decouple from the pre-output stage each output stage that is not operable to produce an output signal that complies with the wireline communication technology indicated by the mode input,
• wherein the plurality of output stages are operable to meet signal requirements for at
• least two different ones of 1OBASE-T Ethernet, 1OOBASE-T Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 100 Gigabit Ethernet when coupled to the pre-output stage, or
• wherein one or more of the plurality of output stages are operable to meet signal requirements for a xDSL technology when coupled to the pre-output stage, and wherein one or more different ones of the plurality of output stages are operable to meet signal requirements for an E-carrier technology or T-carrier technology when coupled to the pre-output stage.

A method of configuring a line drive circuit, comprising:

• providing a plurality of output stages each operable to produce an output signal in compliance with a wireline communication technology;
• providing a pre-output stage operable to perform one or more functions common to the plurality of output stages;
• determining which wireline communication technology is implemented by the line driver circuit based on a mode input;
• coupling to the pre-output stage each output stage operable to produce an output signal that complies with the wireline communication indicated by the mode input;
• and
• decoupling from the pre-output stage each output stage that is not operable to produce an output signal that complies with the wireline communication technology indicated by the mode input, and
• programming an amount of bias provided to each output stage coupled to the pre-output stage based on the number of output stages coupled to the pre-output stage.