Technique for CAM width expansion using an external priority encoder
US7466576B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 2006 |
| Grant date | Dec 16, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 1, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11C15/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique that provides width expansion of two CAMs of varying widths by combining match results from two CAMs by integrating the two CAMs. In one embodiment, a synchronizer circuit triggers the operation of an External Priority Encoder module which can be used to cascade two CAMs to form a wider CAM. When the External Priority Encoder module is used with the CAM, the External Priority Encoder module will receive MATCH signals and control signals from individual CAMs residing on either side, and will be triggered by the last arriving signal between two ports associated with two CAMs. In case one of the ports is disabled the External Priority Encoder module relies totally on the control signal from the other port for operation. The synchronizer circuit has the ability to handle mismatches between the CAMs as well as differentiating valid and invalid combinations between the CAMs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.