Load driver circuit and load short-circuit detection circuit

A load driver circuit that controls driving of a load, comprising:

• a first terminal to which the load is connected at one end thereof;
• a second terminal to which a battery is connected at a negative electrode thereof, the battery being connected to another end of the load at a positive electrode thereof;
• a load switch element that has a current path connected to the first terminal at one end thereof and to the second terminal at another end thereof, the load switch element being turned on to supply a current from the battery to the load to drive the load and turned off to interrupt the supply of the current to the load to stop the operation of the load;
• a detection circuit comprising a first switch element connected to the first terminal at one end thereof, a detection capacitor connected to another end of the first switch element at one end thereof and to a first node at another end thereof, a detection resistor connected to the first node at one end thereof and to the second terminal at another end thereof, and a discharge resistor connected in parallel with the detection resistor and the detection capacitor between the another end of the first switch element and the second terminal, the discharge resistor being connected to the another end of the first switch element at one end thereof and to the second terminal at another end thereof, the detection circuit periodically detecting an inrush current that flows to the detection capacitor from the first terminal through the first switch element and outputting a detection signal responsive to a result of the detection at the first node;
• a peak hold circuit that holds a peak voltage of the detection signal and outputs the held peak voltage as a detection voltage;
• a comparison circuit that compares the detection voltage with a threshold voltage and outputs a comparison result signal responsive to a result of the comparison;
• a control circuit that controls the first switch element to switch on and off, controls a current detection operation of the detection circuit, and outputs a load control signal that controls the operation of the load;
• and
• a logic circuit that controls the load switch element based on the comparison result signal and the load control signal,
• wherein, when the load control signal indicates to drive the load,
• the logic circuit turns off the load switch element when the comparison result signal indicates that the detection voltage is equal to or higher than the threshold voltage, and
• turns on the load switch element when the comparison result signal indicates that the detection voltage is lower than the threshold voltage.