Patent ID: 8373505

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an amplifier circuit including a high voltage supply rail, a low voltage supply rail, and an output stage; and a detection circuit electrically coupled to the amplifier output stage and configured to generate an indication when an output voltage at the output stage exceeds a specified output voltage threshold value, wherein the amplifier circuit further includes a bias circuit configured to: bias the amplifier circuit with a first bias current value when the output voltage is less than the specified output voltage threshold value, wherein the first bias current value biases the amplifier circuit with a first amplifier gain; and bias the amplifier circuit with a second bias current value when the output voltage exceeds the specified output voltage threshold value, wherein the second bias current value biases the amplifier circuit with a second amplifier gain that is greater than the first amplifier gain, wherein the bias circuit includes a current reference circuit and a current mirror circuit configured to mirror a multiple of the referenced current in the output stage; and wherein the bias circuit is configured to increase the multiple of the referenced current in the output stage to generate the second bias current.