Small Footprint RMII 10/100 Ethernet Transceiver with HP Auto-MDIX Support

Datasheet

5.3.8.1Near-end Loopback

Near-end loopback is a mode that sends the digital transmit data back out the receive data signals for testing purposes as indicated by the blue arrows in Figure 5.1.The near-end loopback mode is enabled by setting bit register 0 bit 14 to logic one.

A large percentage of the digital circuitry is operational near-end loopback mode, because data is routed through the PCS and PMA layers into the PMD sublayer before it is looped back. The COL signal will be inactive in this mode, unless collision test (bit 0.7) is active. The transmitters are powered down, regardless of the state of TXEN.

10/100

TXD

 

 

 

X

 

TX

 

 

CAT-5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethernet

 

RXD

 

 

 

X

 

RX

XFMR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MAC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Digital

 

Analog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SMSC

Ethernet Transceiver

Figure 5.1 Near-end Loopback Block Diagram

5.3.8.2Far Loopback

Far loopback is a special test mode for MDI (analog) loopback as indicated by the blue arrows in Figure 5.3. The far loopback mode is enabled by setting bit register 17 bit 9 to logic one. In this mode, data that is received from the link partner on the MDI is looped back out to the link partner. The digital interface signals on the local MAC interface are isolated.

 

 

Far-end system

 

 

10/100 TXD X

TX

XFMR

CAT-5

Ethernet

RXD

X Digital

RX

 

MAC

 

 

 

Analog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SMSC

 

 

 

 

Ethernet Transceiver

 

 

 

 

Figure 5.2 Far Loopback Block Diagram

 

5.3.8.3Connector Loopback

Link

Partner

The LAN8720/LAN8720i maintains reliable transmission over very short cables, and can be tested in a connector loopback as shown in Figure 5.3. An RJ45 loopback cable can be used to route the

Revision 1.0 (05-28-09)

52

SMSC LAN8720/LAN8720i

 

DATASHEET