hardware//electronics//latch-up

Latch-up is a parasitic state in a chip that does not reach a full short circuit but draws unlimited current, and so drains the battery. It is triggered by overvoltage, through a chain that starts outside the chip:

Latch-up is a parasitic state in a chip that does not reach a full short circuit but draws unlimited current, and so drains the battery. It is triggered by overvoltage, through a chain that starts outside the chip:

1Electromagnetic pulse2Copper traces act as antennas3Voltage spike4Parasitic thyristor locks on

It is a critical concern in aerospace: airplanes are exposed to radiation and electromagnetic interference that can trigger latch-up in unshielded electronics.