US Patent 9444416 Broadband amplifier topology with current shutdown

An apparatus includes a first depletion-mode transistor, a first enhancement-mode transistor, and a pull down switch. The first depletion-mode transistor has a common source configuration. The first enhancement-mode transistor has a common gate configuration. The first depletion-mode transistor and the first enhancement-mode transistor are coupled in a cascode arrangement. The pull down switch is operatively coupled between a gate of the enhancement-mode transistor and a circuit ground.