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AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsPaul Gutwin, Jonathan B. Ashbrook, Michael Bogaczyk, Albert M. Chu, Ezra Hall, Daryl Seitzer
Estimating the term…
A system and method is disclosed for simultaneously searching and refreshing a memory array of a dynamic content addressable memory (DCAM). According to the disclosed invention, the information stored in a row of DCAM cells being refreshed is transferred from the memory array into sense amplifiers, during a read phase of a refresh operation. A search for a matching entry can then be performed, with respect to the information that is transferred to the sense amplifiers. To determine if there is a match, search information is simultaneously compared to the information that has been transferred to the sense amplifiers and to the information that is stored in other rows of DCAM cells of said memory array. Finally, the refresh of that row is completed by restoring the information from the sense amplifiers to that row of DCAM cells.
A method of searching a dynamic content addressable memory (DCAM) comprising:
A method of simultaneously searching and refreshing a memory array of a dynamic content addressable memory (DCAM) comprising:
An integrated circuit of the type including a dynamic type content addressable memory (DCAM) including a memory array having first DCAM cells and second DCAM cells, sense amplifiers coupled to said first DCAM cells, a first matchline coupled to said first DCAM cells and a second matchline coupled to said second DCAM cells, said integrated circuit further comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.