Questions:
What happens when the CL_DIS bit is set to "1" in the CURRLIM Register?
Does that mean that there will be NO current limit and the IO Link chip will drive the C/Q line or the DO line as much as the load needs, and if there is a short circuit, the MAX14827A will "burn" itself out?
Answers:
When current limit is disabled (CL_DIS bit is set to "1"), C/Q & DO can drive at higher load until the FET reaches saturation, typically around 600mA.
In the event of short-circuit, the device will enter thermal shutdown when the driver reaches +160°C.
Prior to that, the device will give a thermal warning at +140°C.
Each driver will have its own thermal monitoring circuits.
In the event of thermal shutdown, the device will only shutdown the driver which has exceed the thermal shutdown temperature.
With these protection features, the device will not be damaged.