Reduced pin gigabit media independent interface

摘要

A medium access control (MAC) device includes a first set of transmit pins, a second set of transmit pins, and a first encoder. The first set receives (i) first transmit data signals and (ii) first transmit control signals from a host. The first transmit data signals are received on a first subset of the first set. The second set outputs (i) second transmit data signals and (ii) second transmit control signals to a physical layer (PHY) device. The second transmit data signals are output on a second subset of the second set. The second subset includes fewer transmit pins than the first subset. The first encoder encodes two of the first transmit control signals received on two of the first set of transmit pins to generate one of the second transmit control signals output on one of the second set of transmit pins.