2. PHY?

What is PHY? Physical Layer from OSI Layers. Usually indicates the chip/part where parses incoming signal (via RF or cable) and then send it to next layer in standardized way. ADC. Analog singal to digital data. Raw Analog <–> Amplifing, Filtering, Equalizing <–> Decoding, Encoding, Error checking (CRC), Clock Data Recovery.. <–> Data Link

PHY Designs? Line Driver / Amplifier for better analog resolution PLL (Phase-Locked Loops) for CDR and matching clocks from incoming clock/data signal. DSP (Digital Singal Processor) for processing raw data to known format data.

Eth PHY. MAC. (Media Access Control) <-> PHY via MII GMII (Media Independant Interface) PHY just transform Ethernet Cable signal into data packet. From MAC, actual content of data is interpreted, MAC distinguishes each devices, de/encapsulates.

Line Driver? Part of transmission line signal. Make sure right signal arrived well. Matching impedence.. etc… (how? and what more?)

DSP Design? For example in Eth PHY what is processed in DSP? Deserialization? ( Parsing differential signals? => line driver maybe )