Content addressable memory devices with virtual partitioning and methods of operating the same
US6867991B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 2003 |
| Grant date | Mar 15, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 21, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C15/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
CAM devices and methods of operating CAM devices include mapping search word portions to partitions and virtual subpartitions in a CAM core. Some embodiments of the invention can provide, for example, a hybrid CAM device that includes a mapping circuit for implementing such partitioning and virtual subpartitioning that is implemented in memory, such as a random access memory (RAM) or a combination of CAM and RAM, that is integrated with the CAM core. In some embodiments, a CAM device includes a search word input, a CAM core comprising a plurality of CAM cells, and a virtual partitioning circuit that selectively enables a partition in the CAM core for search of a portion of a search word at the search word input responsive to the search word, and that provides a mapping of the search word to a comparand input to the CAM core. The mapping defines a virtual subpartition in the CAM core. The invention may be embodied as apparatus and methods.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.