Although there are a number of techniques available to reduce leakage
current, there is still considerable room for improvement. Accordingly,
the present inventors devised, among other things, an exemplary method
which entails defining first and second leakage-reduction vectors for
respective first and second portions of an integrated circuit, such as a
microprocessor. The leakage-reduction vectors, in some embodiments, set
the first and second portion to minimum leakage states and thus promise
to reduce leakage power and extend battery life in devices that
incorporate this technology.