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