7.3.4 Switch Current Limit and Short Circuit Protection (Hiccup-Mode)

The switch current limit prevents the device from high inductor current and from drawing excessive current from the battery or input voltage rail. Excessive current might occur with a heavy load/shorted output circuit condition. If the inductor peak current reaches the switch current limit, the high-side FET is turned off and the low-side FET is turned on to ramp down the inductor current. Once this switch current limits is triggered 32 times, the devices stop switching and enables the output discharge. The devices then automatically start a new startup after a typical delay time of 66μs has passed. This is named HICCUP short circuit protection. The devices repeat this mode until the high load condition disappears.