Patent ID: 8233641

Claim:
An amplifier comprising: a plurality of amplifier output stages, including first and second amplifier output stages; a single preamplifier stage; and a selection circuit to couple an output of the single preamplifier to an input of a selected amplifier output stage of the plurality of output stages, and to couple a feedback loop from an output of the selected amplifier output stage to an input of the single preamplifier stage, wherein the selection circuit is configured to: deselect the first amplifier output stage by decoupling the first amplifier output stage from the single preamplifier stage and, after a first time delay, decoupling the feedback loop from the first amplifier output stage; and after deselecting the first amplifier output stage, select the second amplifier output stage by coupling the second amplifier output stage to the single preamplifier stage and, after a second time delay, ramp coupling the feedback loop from the second amplifier output stage to the single preamplifier stage.