Hybrid ims cam cell, memory device and data search method

A hybrid in-memory search (IMS) content addressable memory (CAM) memory device including:

• a hybrid IMS CAM memory array including a plurality of hybrid IMS CAM cells, a plurality of word lines and a plurality of bit lines, the hybrid IMS CAM cells coupled to the plurality of word lines and the plurality of bit lines;
• a word line driving circuit coupled to the word lines, based on a plurality of search data, the word line driving circuit applying a plurality of search voltages to the hybrid IMS CAM cells for searching the hybrid IMS CAM cells;
• a bit line driving circuit coupled to the bit lines, for applying a plurality of bit line driving voltages to the bit lines;
• and
• a sensing amplifier coupled to the hybrid IMS CAM cells, for receiving a plurality of sensing currents from the hybrid IMS CAM cells to decide whether the search data is matched with a plurality of storage data stored in the hybrid IMS CAM cells,
• wherein
• the hybrid IMS CAM cell includes a first IMS CAM cell and a second IMS CAM cell, coupled to the first IMS CAM cell,
• the first IMS CAM cell and the second IMS CAM cell are of different types, when the hybrid IMS CAM cell stores a storage data, the first IMS CAM cell stores a first part of the storage data and the second IMS CAM cell stores the storage data or a second part of the storage data, and
• wherein in data searching, a first part of the search data is decoded into a first search voltage and a second search voltage for searching the first part of the storage data stored in the first IMS CAM cell, and the search data or a second part of the search data is decoded into a third search voltage and a fourth search voltage for searching the storage data or the second part of the storage data stored in the second IMS CAM cell.

A hybrid in-memory search (IMS) content addressable memory (CAM) data search method including:

• storing a storage data in a hybrid IMS CAM cell, the hybrid IMS CAM cell including a first IMS CAM cell and a second IMS CAM cell, coupled to the first IMS CAM cell, wherein the first IMS CAM cell and the second IMS CAM cell are of different types, and when the hybrid IMS CAM cell stores the storage data, the first IMS CAM cell stores a first part of the storage data and the second IMS CAM cell stores the storage data or a second part of the storage data;
• searching the hybrid IMS CAM cell by a search data, wherein in data searching, a first part of the search data is decoded into a first search voltage and a second search voltage for searching the first part of the storage data stored in the first IMS CAM cell, and the search data or a second part of the search data is decoded into a third search voltage and a fourth search voltage for searching the storage data or the second part of the storage data stored in the second IMS CAM cell;
• sensing a sensing current from the hybrid IMS CAM cell to generate a sensing result;
• and
• determining whether the search data is matched with the storage data based on the sensing result.