7.3.2 Circuit Breaker

If the load current increases rapidly (for example, the load is short-circuited) the current in the sense resistor (R_S) may exceed the current limit threshold before the current limit control loop is able to respond. If the current exceeds twice the current limit threshold (105 mV/R_S), Q1 is quickly switched off by the 230-mA pulldown current at the GATE pin, and a fault timeout period begins. When the voltage across R_S falls below 105 mV the 230-mA pulldown current at the GATE pin is switched off, and the gate voltage of Q1 is then determined by the current limit or the power limit functions. If the TIMER pin reaches 4 V before the current limiting or power limiting condition ceases, Q1 is switched off by the 2-mA pulldown current at the GATE pin as described in Fault Timer and Restart.