Patent ID: 8587374

Claim:
An amplifier comprising: a main amplification stage and an auxiliary amplification stage, wherein an input of the main amplification stage and an input of the auxiliary amplification stage are coupled to a common node, and an output of the main amplification stage is coupled to an output node; and first switch means for selectively coupling the output node to a reference voltage; second switch means for selectively coupling power to the auxiliary amplification stage; third switch means for selectively coupling power to the main amplification stage; and a controller arranged to activate the amplifier by controlling the first, second and third switch means, with the third switch means initially de-coupling power to the main amplification stage and the first switch means initially coupling the output node to the reference voltage, in the following sequential order: controlling the second switch means to couple power to the auxiliary amplification stage and to establish a quiescent voltage at the common node: controlling the third switch means to couple power to the main amplification stage; and controlling the first switch means to de-couple the output node from the reference voltage.