Semiconductors use millions of transistors to perform calculations and store data in computer microprocessors.
Leakage current is the unintentional loss of electrical current or electrons. The term is often applied to computer microprocessors, which are the chips that perform calculations and process data. In fact, leaking is a problem that inhibits faster advances in computer performance. The term is also applied to electronics and consumer electronic devices.
Semiconductors use millions of transistors to perform calculations and store data in computer microprocessors. Transistors are devices used to amplify and switch electronic signals. Leakage current in semiconductors occurs at the transistor level. As semiconductor manufacturers continue to make transistors smaller to pack more into a chip, leakage problems are increasing. Smaller transistors have thinner insulating layers, causing more leakage currents.
Leaky transistors cause semiconductors to require more power to operate as they must replace the current lost by the leak. Leakage current also generates heat as it leaks, leading to degraded performance of the semiconductor. When heat from leaks combines with heat generated by normal semiconductor operation, it can become a significant problem. Excessive heat can eventually cause the circuit to fail. Designers can take several different approaches to reduce the number of leaks.
In electronics, leakage current refers to the unintentional loss of energy from a capacitor. A capacitor is a passive electrical component that can create an electric field and store energy. The capacitor slowly discharges all the time as some electrical current flows through the capacitor’s electronics, including transistors and diodes, all the time. Even when the capacitor is off, a small amount of current flows, causing the problem. Leakage current in electronics can also refer to the current flowing through a grounding conductor.
In the case of consumer electronics, leakage current can refer to the device drawing electrical current even when it is turned off. Some devices, such as cell phones, draw some power even when the battery is already fully charged. Some other battery-charged devices may draw some power even when in sleep mode, which is also known as leakage current. This is one reason experts recommend unplugging chargers for cell phones and other devices when not in use; Over time, this current leakage can build up and increase energy bills.