Dynamic content addressable memory cell
US6320777A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C15/043
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A dynamic content addressable memory (CAM) cell is disclosed which is suitable for constructing relatively high-speed and large-capacity CAM arrays, having binary and ternary storage capability. The cell comprises a pair of storage devices, comparing means and a pair of memory access devices. In a compare operation, the comparing means couples a match line to a discharge line during a mismatch between a pair of complementary search bits carried on a pair of search lines and a pair of complementary data bits stored in the memory. In a read or write operation, the pair of access devices are activated by a word line to couple the storage capacitors to a pair of bit lines. A `0` or a `1` data bit is stored when the two storage capacitors carry complementary charges. A `don't care` state is stored when both capacitors are discharged.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.