Passive coupling arrangement and distributed data processing system including such arrangements.

摘要

A high impedance tap for use in distributed signal transmission systems, comprising microstrip circuit (100) which has conductor strips (101 and 103), located on an insulating substrate (102) and interconnecting the connectors (105). The substrate (102) also carries at least some of the high impedance components of the branch line. The new tap design eliminates some of the random factors which, in prior art taps, led to unsatisfactory matching of those taps to the transmission line. The specification also discloses a transceiver circuit for use with the tap and capable of receiving and transmitting low-level serial phase-modulated tri-state signals; and the configuration of a bus access module.