What is the BRIGHTLANE™ series?

BRIGHTLANE™ is the name of a series of automotive Ethernet PHYs and switches that Infineon acquired from Marvell Technology in 2025.

Built on a standard digital CMOS process, the BRIGHTLANE™ automotive PHY solution supports IEEE 802.3ch (2.5G/5G/10GBASE-T1),  Compliant with global Ethernet standards such as IEEE 802.3bp (1000BASE-T1) and IEEE 802.3bw (100BASE-T1), these PHYs ensure the high-performance connectivity required for advanced zone architectures. All Multi-Gigabit PHYs enable high-speed data transmission and include the active circuitry required to implement physical layer functions over a single balanced twisted-pair cable, reducing wiring complexity. Their robust design ensures seamless operation between electronic control units, cameras, sensors, and controllers, supporting the data backbone required for connected cars.

Product features

• Low power consumption
• Compliant with global Ethernet standards
• Scalable lineup
• Excellent EMC characteristics and ESD resistance
• Compliant with AEC-Q100 standards
• Obtained ASPICE Level 2 certification
• ISO 21434 Cybersecurity Certification

Product lineup

100BASE-T1 PHY - 100Mbps communication supporting sensors/end ECUs

The 100BASE-T1 PHY is a 100Mbps Single Pair Ethernet (single twisted pair) PHY compliant with IEEE 802.3bw. As a high-speed communication platform replacing conventional CAN and LIN, it is widely used in the "edge areas" of vehicle networks, such as sensors and small-scale ECUs.

Infineon's BRIGHTLANE™ series includes power-saving features based on OPEN Alliance TC10, time synchronization based on PTP (IEEE 802.1AS), and even MACsec-compatible models.With low power consumption and diagnostic functions (cable diagnostics, signal quality indicators, etc.), it is a solution that supports edge connections in the era of zone architecture.

1000BASE-T1 PHY - Gigabit layer connecting zone ECUs to the core

1000BASE-T1 PHY is a 1Gbps single pair Ethernet PHY compliant with IEEE 802.3bp. It is increasingly being adopted in areas requiring high bandwidth, such as high-resolution cameras, ADAS sensors, and communications between zone ECUs and central computing.

Many products are dual-compatible with 100/1000Mbps, allowing for flexible support for standardized designs and future bandwidth expansion. MACsec-compatible models also enable encrypted communication on a link-by-link basis, contributing to enhanced security for in-vehicle networks, making them an important part of the "standard gigabit layer" of zone architecture.

Multi-Gigabit BASE-T1 PHY - Ultra-high-speed communications supporting next-generation backbones

The Multi-Gigabit BASE-T1 PHY is a single-pair Ethernet PHY that supports 2.5G/5G/10Gbps and complies with IEEE 802.3ch. It is gaining attention as the need for faster vehicle backbones increases with the advancement of software-defined vehicles (SDV) and centralized architectures.

In addition, it supports high-speed host interfaces, anticipating the aggregation of large volumes of sensor data and connection to central processing units. It also supports MACsec and PTP, achieving both high-speed communication and security/time synchronization, making it a lineup that will play a key role in the "core infrastructure layer" of future-generation in-vehicle networks.

100/1000BASE-T PHY - Ideal for external vehicle connectivity and gateway applications

The 100/1000BASE-T PHY is an automotive PHY that supports conventional 4-pair copper Ethernet (100BASE-TX/1000BASE-T). It is used in situations where connection to an existing Ethernet infrastructure is required, such as diagnostic ports, development applications, and gateway ECUs.

Equipped with power-saving features and a low-latency design using EEE (IEEE 802.3az), and supporting a variety of MAC interfaces such as RGMII and SGMII, it plays an important role as an "interface layer" that bridges the gap between the in-vehicle network and external networks.

Related article

This web page provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the evolution of automotive E/E architecture in three stages: "distributed → domain → zone."

The zonal approach aggregates ECUs based on physical area, and while it offers benefits such as reduced wiring and more efficient software management, it also brings with it challenges in safety, network design, and cybersecurity. It also touches on the importance of high-performance microcontrollers, in-vehicle Ethernet, and security measures to address these challenges.

Please take a look at the URL below.

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Infineon's automotive lineup

Among Infineon's wide-ranging portfolio of products, we have compiled a lineup of only automotive-grade products that have been certified to AEC-Q100/AEC-Q101.
We have many products that can be considered for a variety of applications, including microcontrollers, power semiconductors, memory, and sensors, so please take a look.