The over-current and over-temperature protections are completely independent functions. In a cool ambient environment the over-current regulation may operate for substantial periods before temperatures approach the threshold of the over-temperature thermal shutdown circuit. The only requirement for over-current protection to occur is that the applied VDS is sufficiently high enough (1.5V, depending on input voltage and temperature). In a hot enough ambient environment, the over-temperature will turn-off the output even if there is little or no dissipation in the device.

