TCAM device and operating method thereof

A ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) device comprising:

• a driver configured to provide a search voltage corresponding to search data to a data line;
• a memory cell comprising a first resistor and a second resistor for storing cell data, wherein the search voltage provided through the data line is divided by the first resistor and the second resistor and wherein the memory cell determines whether the search data matches with the stored cell data, based on the divided voltage;
• a matching line discharged according to whether the search data matches with the stored cell data;
• and
• a bias circuit configured to provide the memory cell with an on voltage used to determine whether the search data matches with the stored cell data,
• wherein the bias circuit comprises:
• a voltage determination circuit comprising a third resistor and a fourth resistor connected in series to divide a voltage provided through a dummy data line pair;
• and
• a source follower configured to generate the on voltage based on a voltage divided by the third resistor and the fourth resistor.

A method for a search operation of a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) including a memory cell, the method comprising:

• providing a search voltage corresponding to search data to the memory cell;
• dividing the search voltage, by a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series in the memory cell;
• transmitting the divided voltage to an input terminal of a discharge circuit in the memory cell based on a level of the divided voltage, by a limiter circuit in the memory cell;
• discharging a matching line based on the divided voltage, by the discharge circuit;
• and
• discharging the transmitted voltage by the limiter circuit after the search operation is completed.