Transmit/receive unit, and methods and apparatus for transmitting signals between transmit/receive units

Apparatus for transmitting and receiving data, comprising:

• a transmission line network having at least three input/output terminals;
• at least three transmit/receive units, respectively coupled to the at least three input/output terminals, each of the transmit/receive units having
• i) an active receiver having a receiver input coupled to a respective one of the input/output terminals;
• ii) an active driver having a driver input coupled to a driver output;
• iii) a termination resistor coupling the driver output to a respective one of the input/output terminals;
• and
• iv) a switching element configured to selectively couple the driver input to a DC voltage source.

Apparatus for transmitting and receiving data, comprising:

• a transmission line network having at least three input/output terminals;
• at least three transmit/receive units, respectively coupled to the at least three input/output terminals;
• and
• a control system configured to, depending on a desired direction of data flow over the transmission line network, i) dynamically place each of the transmit/receive units in a transmit mode or a receive mode, and ii) dynamically enable and disable an active termination of each transmit/receive unit.

Apparatus for transmitting and receiving data, comprising:

• a transmit/receive unit having
• i) an input/output terminal;
• ii) an active receiver having a receiver input coupled to the input/output terminal;
• ii) an active driver having a driver input coupled to a driver output;
• iii) a termination resistor coupling the driver output to the input/output terminal;
• and
• iv) a switching element configured to selectively couple the driver input to i) a DC voltage source, and alternately, ii) a signal source.