Patent ID: 9323265
Filing Date: 2016-04-26
CPC Classification: G05F

Claim Text:
1. A multi-stage amplifier comprising a pass device configured to source a load current at an output voltage to an output node; wherein the load current is drawn from a high potential of the multi-stage amplifier; a first driver circuit configured to control the pass device based on a reference voltage and based on a first feedback voltage derived from the output voltage; a sink transistor arranged in series with the pass device and configured to sink a first current from the output node to a low potential of the multi-stage amplifier; wherein the output node corresponds to a midpoint between the pass device and the sink transistor; a bypass transistor configured to couple a sense voltage which is derived from the output voltage to the low potential, to sink a second current from the output node to the low potential; a second driver circuit configured to control the sink transistor and the bypass transistor, based on the reference voltage and based on a second feedback voltage derived from the output voltage; and a voltage divider arranged between the output node and the low potential and configured to derive the first feedback voltage, the second feedback voltage and the sense voltage from the output voltage, such that the sense voltage is higher than the first feedback voltage and such that the first feedback voltage is higher than the second feedback voltage.