ICS1893BF Data Sheet - Release
Chapter 3 Overview of the ICS1893BF
Chapter 3 Overview of the ICS1893BF
The ICS1893BF is a stream processor. During data transmission, it accepts sequential nibbles from its
MAC (Media Access Control) converts them into a serial bit stream, encodes them, and transmits them
over the medium through an external isolation transformer. When receiving data, the ICS1893BF converts
and decodes a serial bit stream (acquired from an isolation transformer that interfaces with the medium)
into sequential nibbles. It subsequently presents these nibbles to its MAC Interface.
The ICS1893BF implements the OSI model’s physical layer, consisting of the following, as defined by the
ISO/IEC 8802-3 standard:
• Physical Coding sublayer (PCS)
• Physical Medium Attachment sublayer (PMA)
• Physical Medium Dependent sublayer (PMD)
• Auto-Negotiation sublayer
The ICS1893BF is transparent to the next layer of the OSI model, the link layer. The link layer has two
sublayers: the Logical Link Control sublayer and the MAC sublayer. The ICS1893BF can interface directly
to the MAC.
The ICS1893BF transmits framed packets acquired from its MAC Interface and receives encapsulated
packets from another PHY, which it translates and presents to its MAC Interface.
Note: As per the ISO/IEC standard, the ICS1893BF does not affect, nor is it affected by, the underlying
structure of the MAC frame it is conveying.
ICS1893BF, Rev. E, 8/11/09
August, 2009
Copyright © 2009, IDT, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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