Abstract: In an integrated circuit chip utilizing CMOS technology, an embedded data bus is driven by embedded three state drivers, and the bus is in turn connected to provide a drive signal to embedded receivers and similar logic devices. An embedded threshold detector is provided to detect the occurrence of any invalid data signal (i.e. a non-"0" or a non-"1" signal level) on the data bus. The threshold detector's output signal is connected to off chip terminal means, to thereby enable off chip monitoring of the bus signal. The threshold detector's output signal is also ANDed with the bus signal, to thereby prevent the application of a potentially destructive invalid bus signal to the receivers and the like. Terminator circuit means provides a known invalid signal state on the bus when the bus is in its high impedance state due to all of the three state drivers being disabled.