Patent ID: 7474158

Claim:
An amplifier circuit comprising: a first main cascode circuit comprising: a first main RF input adapted to receive a first RF input signal; a first main RF output; and a first main bias input adapted to establish an operating level for the first main cascode circuit; and a first normal mode cascode circuit comprising: a first normal mode RF input adapted to receive the first RF input signal; a first normal mode RF output coupled to the first main RF output; and a first normal mode bias input adapted to receive a mode select signal, such that: when the mode select signal is in a first state, the first main cascode circuit and the first normal mode cascode circuit amplify the first RF input signal to provide a combined first RF output signal at the first main RF output; and when the mode select signal is in a second state, the first main cascode circuit amplifies the first RF input signal to provide a first RF output signal at the first main RF output; while the first normal mode cascode circuit does not amplify the first RF input signal.