The TPS25985x responds to output overcurrent conditions during steady-state by performing a circuit-breaker action after a user-adjustable transient fault blanking interval. This action allows the device to support a higher peak current for a short user-defined interval but also ensures robust protection in case of persistent output faults.

The device constantly senses the output load current and provides an analog current output (I_IMON) on the IMON pin which is proportional to the load current, which in turn produces a proportional voltage (V_IMON) across the IMON pin resistor (R_IMON) as per Equation 4.

The overcurrent condition is detected by comparing this voltage against the voltage on the IREF pin as a reference. The reference voltage (V_IREF) can be controlled in two ways, which sets the overcurrent protection threshold (I_OCP) accordingly.

• In the standalone or primary mode of operation, the internal current source interacts with the external IREF pin resistor (R_IREF) to generate the reference voltage. It is also possible to drive the IREF pin from an external low impedance reference voltage source as shown in Equation 5.
  Equation 5. $V_{IREF}=I_{IREF}\times R_{IREF}$
• In a primary and secondary parallel configuration, the primary eFuse or controller drives the voltage on the IREF pin to provide an external reference (V_IREF) for all the secondary devices in the chain.

The overcurrent protection threshold during steady-state (I_OCP) can be calculated using Equation 6.

After an overcurrent condition is detected, that is the load current exceeds the programmed current limit threshold (I_OCP), but stays lower than the short-circuit threshold (2 × I_OCP), the device starts discharging the ITIMER pin capacitor using an internal 2.07-μA pulldown current. If the load current drops below the current limit threshold before the ITIMER capacitor discharges by ΔV_ITIMER, the ITIMER is reset by pulling it up to V_INT internally and the circuit-breaker action is not engaged. This action allows short overload transient pulses to pass through the device without tripping the circuit. If the overcurrent condition persists, the ITIMER capacitor continues to discharge and after it falls by ΔV_ITIMER, the circuit-breaker action turns off the FET immediately. At the same time, the ITIMER cap is charged up to V_INT again so that it is at its default state before the next overcurrent event. This action ensures the full blanking timer interval is provided for every overcurrent event. Equation 43 can be used to calculate the R_IMON value for the desired overcurrent threshold.

The duration for which transients are allowed can be adjusted using an appropriate capacitor value from ITIMER pin to ground. The transient overcurrent blanking interval can be calculated using Equation 8.

Figure 8-4 illustrates the overcurrent response for TPS25985x eFuse. After the part shuts down due to a circuit-breaker fault, it either stays latched off (TPS259850 variant) or restarts automatically after a fixed delay (TPS259851 variant).

Figure 8-4 Steady-State Overcurrent (Circuit-Breaker) Response