Patent ID: 8494173

Claim:
An integrated circuit for a hearing device, comprising: a ground rail; a first power rail configured to carry a first voltage (V 1 ); a second power rail configured to carry a second voltage (V 2 ); a number of pads for connecting the integrated circuit to other components, the number of pads including at least one output pad, the at least one output pad having a first output pad; at least one output cell including a first output cell having a ground pin connected to the ground rail, a first power supply pin connected to the first power rail, a second power supply pin connected to the second power rail, a data pin, at least one voltage select pin, and an output pin wired to the first output pad; wherein the first output cell is configured to operate according to a first mode wherein the output pin has a first voltage amplitude, and according to a second mode wherein the output pin has a second voltage amplitude larger than the first voltage amplitude depending on a control signal applied to the at least one voltage select pin; wherein the first output cell comprises a first transistor having a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal, and wherein the first terminal of the first transistor is wired to the ground pin, the second terminal of the first transistor is connected to the data pin, the third terminal of the first transistor is wired to the output pin, and the fourth terminal of the first transistor is wired to the first terminal of the first transistor.