Integrated circuit devices having a control circuit for biasing an amplifier output stage and methods of operating the same

An integrated circuit device, comprising:

• an amplifier circuit that generates first and second output voltages;
• a first bias control circuit that is configured to generate a first bias control voltage or the first output voltage at an output thereof based on a state of a control signal;
• a second bias control circuit that is configured to generate a second bias control voltage or the second output voltage at an output thereof based on the state of the control signal;
• an output stage driver circuit that is responsive to the voltages generated at the outputs of the first and second bias control circuits;
• a switch that is operable responsive to the control signal;
• and
• a load connected to the output stage driver circuit via the switch;
• wherein an output current generated through the output stage driver circuit responsive to the first and second bias control voltages is less than an output current generated through the output stage driver circuit responsive to the first and second output voltages;
• and
• wherein the first and second bias control circuits are configured to generate the first and second bias control voltages at the outputs thereof, respectively, when the switch is in an open state responsive to the control signal and are configured to generate the first and second output voltages at the outputs thereof, respectively, when the switch is in a closed state responsive to the control signal.

A method of operating integrated circuit device, comprising:

• generating an output voltage;
• generating a bias control voltage at an output of a bias control circuit when a switch is in an open state responsive to a control signal;
• generating the output voltage at the output of the bias control circuit when the switch is in a closed state responsive to the control signal;
• and
• driving an output stage driver circuit using the voltage generated at the output of the bias control circuit;
• wherein an output current generated through the output stage driver circuit responsive to the bias control voltage is less than an output current generated through the output stage driver circuit responsive to the output voltage.

A method of operating an integrated circuit device, comprising:

• generating first and second output voltages;
• generating first and second bias control voltages at outputs of first and second bias control circuits, respectively, when a switch is in an open state responsive to a control signal;
• generating the first and second output voltages at the outputs of the first and second bias control circuits, respectively, when the switch is in a closed state responsive to the control signal;
• and
• driving an output stage driver circuit using the voltages generated at the outputs of the first and second bias control circuits;
• wherein an output current generated through the output stage driver circuit responsive to the first and second bias control voltages is less than an output current generated through the output stage driver circuit responsive to the first and second output voltages.