8.3.6.3 MOSFET V_DS Overcurrent Protection (VDS_OCP)

A MOSFET overcurrent event is sensed by monitoring the V_DS voltage drop across the external MOSFET R_DS(on). If the voltage across an enabled MOSFET exceeds the V_{VDS_OCP} threshold for longer than the t_{OCP_DEG} deglitch time, a VDS_OCP event is recognized and action is done according to the OCP_MODE. On hardware interface devices, the V_{VDS_OCP} threshold is set with the VDS pin, the t_{OCP_DEG} is fixed at 4 µs, and the OCP_MODE is configured for 8-ms automatic retry but can be disabled by tying the VDS pin to DVDD. On SPI devices, the V_{VDS_OCP} threshold is set through the VDS_LVL SPI register, the t_{OCP_DEG} is set through the OCP_DEG SPI register, and the OCP_MODE bit can operate in four different modes: V_DS latched shutdown, V_DS automatic retry, V_DS report only, and V_DS disabled.

The MOSFET V_DS overcurrent protection operates in cycle-by-cycle (CBC) mode by default. This can be disabled on SPI device variants through the SPI registers. When in cycle-by-cycle (CBC) mode a new rising edge on the PWM inputs will clear an existing overcurrent fault.

Additionally, on SPI devices the OCP_ACT register setting can be set to change the VDS_OCP overcurrent response between linked and individual shutdown modes. When OCP_ACT is 0, a VDS_OCP fault will only effect the half-bridge in which it occurred. When OCP_ACT is 1, all three half-bridges will respond to a VDS_OCP fault on any of the other half-bridges. OCP_ACT defaults to 0, individual shutdown mode.