Micron Technology, Inc.
ARCHITECTURE FOR FAST CONTENT ADDRESSABLE MEMORY SEARCH

Abstract:

A search pattern is generated based on an input search word comprising a first sequence of bits. The search pattern comprises a first set of signals representing the input search word and a second set of signals representing a second sequence of bits comprising an inverse of the first sequence of bits. The search pattern is provided as input to search lines of a content addressable memory (CAM) block. The search pattern causes at least one string in the CAM block to be conductive and provide a signal to a page buffer connected to the string in response to the input search word matching a data entry stored on the string. A location of the data entry is determined based on data read from the page buffer and the location is output.