Advanced single-chip USB-to-Ethernet controller with a Dual-PHY mode capacity for Ethernet PHY or USB-to-Rev-MII Bridging

摘要

This invention relates to a single-chip USB-to-Ethernet controller that can operate either as a standalone USB-to-Ethernet controller integrated circuit chip in one mode, or the Ethernet PHY or the USB-to-Rev-MII Bridging chip in another mode, namely Dual-PHY mode, to interface with an external Network Microcontroller's Ethernet MAC for providing Ethernet and USB Device interface in a network communication system and to provide a mechanism for auto-detection and auto-selection between the Ethernet interface and USB Device interface through some Station Management Register access wherein the Network Microcontroller's Ethernet MAC can access two PHY devices through the same Station Management Interface.