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Leakage current is the unintentional loss of electric current in computer microprocessors and electronics. Smaller transistors in semiconductors cause more leakage, requiring more power and generating heat, which can lead to circuit failure. Leakage current in electronics can refer to energy loss from a capacitor or devices drawing power when turned off. Unplugging devices can reduce energy bills.
Leakage current is the unintentional loss of electric current or electrons. The term is often applied to computer microprocessors, which are the chips that perform calculations and process data. In fact, leaks are a problem that inhibit faster progress in computer performance. The term also applies to electronics and consumer electronics 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 shrink transistor sizes to squeeze more onto a chip, leakage problems increase. Smaller transistors have thinner insulating layers, which cause more leakage current.
The loss in the transistors causes the semiconductors to require more power to operate, as they have to replace the current lost through leakage. The leakage current also generates heat as it dissipates, which leads to degraded performance for the semiconductor. When the heat from the leak is combined with the heat generated by the normal operation of the semiconductor, it can become a significant problem. Excessive heat can eventually cause circuit failure. Designers can take several approaches to reduce the amount 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 that can store energy. The capacitor always discharges slowly while some electric current always passes through the electronic components of the capacitor, including transistors and diodes. Even when the capacitor is off, the small amount of current flows through it, which causes the problem. Leakage current in electronics can also refer to the current flowing through a ground conductor.
For consumer electronic devices, leakage current can refer to the device drawing electric current, even when it is turned off. Some devices, such as cell phones, will draw some current, even when the battery is already fully charged. Some other battery-operated devices may draw some power, even in sleep mode, which is also referred to as leakage current. This is one reason experts recommend unplugging cell phone chargers and other devices when they’re not in use; over time, this leakage current can add up and increase your energy bills.
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