Patent ID: 7385445

Claim:
An amplifier circuit, comprising: an amplifier path coupled between a first node and a second node, the amplifier path comprising one or more amplifiers; a bypass path coupled between the first node and the second node, the bypass path comprising two impedance inverting networks and a ground path that is selectively coupled to the bypass path at a third node located between the two impedance inverting networks; and a control system configured to control the ground path so that it is effectively coupled to the bypass path in a first amplifier mode and effectively decoupled from the bypass path in a second amplifier mode, wherein the control system is further configured to activate the one or more amplifiers of the amplifier path in the first mode and to deactivate at least one of the amplifiers of the amplifier path in the second mode, wherein the third node is configured to remain coupled to the two impedance inverting networks when the ground path is coupled to the bypass path.