The BQ769142 device integrates Short Circuit in Discharge Protection (SCD) using a dedicated comparator that monitors the differential voltage across the SRN–SRP pins and triggers an SCD alert or fault when the voltage exceeds a programmable threshold VSCD. The VSCD threshold is programmable as 10 mV, 20 mV, 40 mV, 60 mV, 80 mV, 100 mV, 125 mV, 150 mV, 175 mV, 200 mV, 250 mV, 300 mV, 350 mV, 400 mV, 450 mV, and 500 mV, and is set by the Protections:SCD:Threshold configuration register. The SCD protection is enabled using the Settings:Protection:Enabled Protections A:[SCD] configuration bit.

The SCD circuitry triggers an alert signal when a short circuit event is first detected, then triggers a fault after a programmable detection delay, SCD_DLY, which can be set to fastest, or 15 µs to 450 µs in steps of 15 µs. The fastest setting can result in detection of a short circuit with only comparator delay, which may be < 1 µs depending on the overdrive of the threshold. The delay is set by the Protections:SCD:Delay configuration register.

When an SCD fault is triggered, the device will turn off the DSG FET if configured for autonomous FET control in Settings:Protection:DSG FET Protections A. The CHG FET may also be disabled autonomously, based on the setting in Settings:Protection:CHG FET Protections A. The device recovers (if configured for autonomous recovery) after a programmable delay given by Protections:SCD:Recovery Time.

The BQ769142 device also includes a Short Circuit in Discharge Latch (SCDL) protection, which can create a fault and Permanent Fail (PF) if multiple SCD failures occur within a programmable time window. Whenever an SCD fault is triggered, the SCDL latch counter is incremented. After the device recovers, it decrements the SCDL counter after a programmable time of Protections:SCDL:Counter Dec Delay if no further SCD faults are detected. If the SCDL counter reaches a programmable latch limit given by Protections:SCDL:Latch Limit, it triggers an SCDL fault and can also trigger an SCDL PF.

The SCDL protection is enabled using the Settings:Protection:Enabled Protections C:[SCDL] configuration bit. If the SCDL protection fault is triggered, the device begins recovery if the load detect feature (see Load Detect Functionality) is enabled and detects the load is removed, or if charging current is detected, or after a programmable time, or the host sends a 0x009C SCDL_RECOVER() subcommand. In order to recover based on charging current, the Settings:Protection:Protection Configuration[SCDL_CURR_RECOV] must be set, the device must be in series FET configuration, and the CHG FET must be enabled. The device will begin recovery from SCDL if a current is detected greater than or equal to Protections:SCDL:Recovery Threshold for Protections:SCDL:Recovery Time duration. If recovery is preferred based only on time, then the recovery based on charging current can be used, with the current threshold set to a small discharge current.

Short Circuit in Discharge Protection Operation provides further details.