Systems and methods for providing over-current protection in a switching power supply

A method for providing over-current protection in a switching power supply, the method comprising:

• driving at least one power field effect transistor (FET) in alternating activated and deactivated states based on a pulse-width associated with a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal;
• measuring a current associated with the at least one power FET;
• detecting if the measured current satisfies an over-current condition based on a first threshold and a second threshold, the second threshold being greater than the first threshold;
• narrowing the pulse-width associated with the PWM signal on a cycle-by-cycle basis if the measured current is substantially between the first threshold and the second threshold;
• and
• skipping N pulses of the PWM signal if the measured current is greater than the second threshold, where N is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1.

A switching power supply comprising:

• means for providing a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal to drive at least one power field effect transistor (FET) between alternating activated and deactivated states based on a pulse-width associated with the PWM signal;
• means for determining the presence of a current sense hole associated with a current, the current being associated with the at least one power FET in the activated state;
• means for adjusting the PWM signal to allow the current associated with the at least one power FET to be measured;
• means for measuring the current associated with the at least one power FET in the activated state;
• means for detecting an over-current condition based on the measured current being greater than a current threshold;
• and
• means for reducing a current associated with the switching power supply in response to the over-current condition.