Content addressable memory with simultaneous write and compare function
AssigneeNetLogic Microsystems, Inc.
InventorMichael E. Ichiriu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A content addressable memory (CAM) device having a simultaneous write and compare function. The CAM device includes a plurality of rows of CAM cells, and match lines and word lines coupled to the rows of CAM cells. The CAM device further includes a plurality of switching circuits coupled to the word lines and the match lines, each switching circuit being adapted to selectively disable assertion of a match signal on a corresponding one of the match lines based, at least in part, on the state of a corresponding one of the word lines.
Claims21
A content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising:
- a CAM array including a plurality of compare lines;
- an error detection circuit coupled to the CAM array to detect an error in a first data value stored therein;
- a write circuit coupled to the CAM array to overwrite the first data value with a corrected data value in a write operation;
- and
- circuitry to output a comparand value onto the plurality of compare lines simultaneously with the write operation.
A method of operation within a content addressable memory device, the method comprising:
- outputting a comparand value onto compare lines coupled to an array of CAM cells;
- and
- activating a word line coupled to a selected row of the CAM cells while the comparand value is output onto the compare lines.
A content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising:
- an array of CAM cells;
- means for outputting a comparand value onto compare lines coupled to the array of CAM cells;
- and
- means for activating a word line coupled to a selected row of the CAM cells while the comparand value is output onto the compare lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.