Ternary content addressable memory with data and mask data settable therewithin by one write cycle
US6646900B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2002 |
| Grant date | Nov 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C15/04
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A ternary content addressable memory device is disclosed which writes data into a data cell and writes mask data into a mask data cell in a ternary CAM cell unit by a single write cycle when the ternary content addressable memory device is used as a binary content addressable memory device. The content addressable memory device includes at least the ternary content addressable memory cell unit which stores ternary data representing three states of “0”, “1”, and “don't care”. The ternary content addressable memory cell unit include the data cell for storing binary data of “0” and “1”, and the mask cell for storing mask data for masking the binary data from a searching operation. The content addressable memory device includes a write circuit which writes the binary data into the data cell while writing the mask data in an unmask state into the mask cell at the same time, when the binary data is written into the ternary content addressable memory cell unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.