Memory apparatus and method for data searching and comparing thereof

A data search and comparing method for a memory apparatus, the method comprising:

• storing a storage data in a plurality of CAM cells of a plurality of memory strings;
• performing data searching on the plurality of memory strings by a search data, wherein, during performing data searching, a string voltage is applied to the plurality of memory strings and the search data is input for comparing with the storage data stored in the plurality of CAM cells of the plurality of memory strings;
• sensing, by a sensing amplifier circuit, a plurality of string currents generated from the plurality of memory strings corresponding to a plurality of string resistances to generate a plurality of sensing results, wherein on each of the plurality of memory strings, the string voltage and a string resistance of the plurality of string resistances corresponding to a number of mismatched bit(s) between the search data and the storage data enables a string current of the plurality of string currents;
• and
• based on the sensing results, determining the plurality of sensing results including at least one of an all-matched degree, a partially matched degree or an all-mismatched degree determined based the number of mismatched bit(s) between the search data and the storage data.

A 3D memory apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of computing arrays, configured to store a plurality of databases, each of the plurality of computing arrays comprising a plurality of blocks, each of the plurality of blocks comprising a plurality of memory strings, each of the plurality of memory strings including a plurality of CAM cells;
• a sensing amplifier circuit coupled to the plurality of memory blocks via a plurality of master bit lines;
• a counting circuit coupled to the sensing amplifier circuit;
• and
• a register coupled to the counting circuit,
• wherein during a data searching operation, a string voltage is applied to the plurality of memory strings of a selected block of the plurality of blocks, and a search data is input for comparing with a storage data stored in the plurality of CAM cells of the plurality of memory strings of the selected block,
• wherein, on each of the plurality of memory strings of the selected block, the string voltage and the string resistance corresponding to a number of mismatched bit(s) between the search data and the storage data enables a string current,
• wherein the string current on each of the plurality of memory strings is sensed by the sensing amplifier circuit to generate a plurality of sensing results of the selected block, the plurality of sensing results including at least one of an all-matched degree, a partially matched degree or an all-mismatched degree determined based the number of mismatched bit(s) between the search data and the storage data,
• wherein the counting circuit is configured to count the plurality of sensing results to generate a plurality of matching scores, and the register is configured to store the plurality of matching scores from the counting circuit.