The internal current limit circuit protects the LDO against high-load current faults or shorting events. The LDO is not designed to operate continuously at the I_SC current limit. During a current-limit event, the LDO sources constant current. Therefore, the output voltage falls when load impedance decreases. If a current limit occurs and the resulting output voltage is low, excessive power may be dissipated across the LDO, resulting in a thermal shutdown of the output.