Power Limiting in a Content Search System

A content search system configured to maintain its power consumption below a specified power limit, comprising:

• a plurality of content addressable memory (CAM) blocks each having an array of CAM cells;
• and
• a configuration memory for storing a block limit value indicating a maximum number of the CAM blocks that can be concurrently searched without exceeding the specified power limit.

A content search system configured to maintain its power consumption below a specified power limit during a search operation, comprising:

• a plurality of content addressable memory (CAM) blocks each having an array of CAM cells;
• and
• governor logic having a first input to receive a block limit value indicating a maximum number of the CAM blocks that can be concurrently searched without exceeding the specified power limit, having a second input to receive a search request that requests a number of the CAM blocks for the search operation, and having an output to generate a search enable signal.