Fast Ethernet Octal PHY Chips Address Three Interface Types

Targeted for multi-port networking applications, the SEEQ octal PHY family of ICs offers eight independent channels in one chip. In addition, the fast Ethernet devices are said to be the first to feature all three industry interface standards: MII (Media Independent Interface), RMII (Reduced MII), and SMII (Serial MII). The VQ88220 offers MII and RMII interface options, while the VQ88221 provides RMII only in a reduced pin-count package.The VQ88222 has MII and SMII interface options and the VQ88223 is SMII-only with fewer pins. Both the RMII and SMII options significantly reduce the pin-count requirements of switch ASIC ICs and PCB interconnects to each PHY port for dual cost savings.