When the I/Os are used to control LEDs, normally they are connected to V through a resistor as shown in Figure 9-2. For a P-port configured as an input, current consumption increases as V_I becomes lower than V. The LED is a diode, with threshold voltage V_T, and when a P-port is configured as an input the LED are off, but V_I is a V_T drop below V_CC.

For battery-powered applications, it is essential that the voltage of P-ports controlling LEDs is greater than or equal to V when the P-ports are configured as input to minimize current consumption. Figure 9-2 shows a high-value resistor in parallel with the LED. Figure 9-3 shows V less than the LED supply voltage by at least V_T. Both of these methods maintain the I/O V_I at or above V and prevent additional supply current consumption when the P-port is configured as an input and the LED is off.

Figure 9-2 High-Value Resistor in Parallel with LED

Figure 9-3 Device Supplied by a Lower Voltage