The UC2832 and UC3833 series of precision linear regulators include all the control functions required in the design of very low dropout linear regulators. Additionally, they feature an innovative duty-ratio current limiting technique which provides peak load capability while limiting the average power dissipation of the external pass transistor during fault conditions. When the load current reaches an accurately programmed threshold, a gated-astable timer is enabled, which switches the regulator’s pass device off and on at an externally programmable duty-ratio. During the on-time of the pass element, the output current is limited to a value slightly higher than the trip threshold of the duty-ratio timer. The constant-current-limit is programmable on the UCx832 to allow higher peak current during the on-time of the pass device.