scope:

In Scope

This A-PHY Specification document specifies the implementation of the A-PHY, including its layering, electrical characteristics, and its optional features.

Out of Scope

Protocol Adaptation Layers (PALs)

A single A-PHY can serve multiple protocols at the same time, and each protocol has its own interface to the Data Link Layer, called a Protocol Adaptation Layer (PAL). PALs are not part of this document.

Specific Channel Configurations

Different protocols employing A-PHY technology can have different constraints, which can require the use of different approaches for operation control. Therefore, while this document provides the features to enable stable, optimized Link configuration, it does not mandate specific configurations for specific channels.

Purpose

Long reach devices, and specifically automotive devices, face increasing bandwidth demands for each of their functions, as well as an increase in the number of functions integrated into the system.

Addressing this demand requires wide bandwidth, low pin count (serial), highly power-efficient (network) interfaces with sufficient flexibility to be attractive for multiple applications, while employing just a single physical layer technology.

A-PHY complements MIPI Alliance's existing D-PHY and C-PHY interfaces by addressing the long reach automotive channel.