Protection circuit and load current detection circuit

The present invention provides a small and inexpensive protection circuit capable of protecting a protection target with which a coil is connected in series from over-current and a load current detection circuit suitable for such a protection circuit. A load current detection circuitaccordingtothe presentinvention detects load current of a load with which a coil is connected in series. In this circuit, a series circuit of a resistor and a capacitor is connected in parallel with the coil, and voltage between both ends of the capacitor is derived as detection voltage reflecting load current of the load, and values of the respective elements are selected so that L1/R1=C2 · R2 is met when an inductance of the coil is L1, a resistance value of a resistance component in the coil is R1, a resistance value of the resistor in the series circuit is R2, and a capacitance of the capacitor in the series circuit is C2. The protection circuit according to the present invention utilizes the load current detection circuit according to the present invention.