Content addressable memory array with maskable and resettable bits
US4890260A · kind A · utility
30Cited by
1References
5Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 1988 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F16/90339
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A content addressable memory array includes an array of M words containing bits configured in N bits for each word. One of the bits in each of the words is a settable skip bit, and during a search of the memory array, the array is examined to detect the presence therein of skip bits. If a skip bit is detected in any one of the words, that word containing the detected skip bit is eliminated from the search. Each word in the array also contains an empty bit which is used to indicate an empty word location in the array. When all empty bits are set, the array is automatically reset to empty or zero.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.