Content-addressable memory architecture with column muxing

Details Content-addressable memory architecture with column muxing Content-addressable memory architecture with column muxing

1999-01-13

2000-04-04

Nelms, David

Static information storage and retrieval

Associative memories

Ferroelectric cell

36523006, 36523002, G11C 1500

Patent

active

060469234

ABSTRACT:
Content-addressable memory (CAM) is reconfigured using column muxing, such that, for example, for 2:1 column muxing, each pair of vertically adjacent cells in a conventional cell array is reconfigured as a pair of horizontally adjacent cells in the cell array of the present invention. This reconfiguration doubles the number of columns in the cell array of CAM memory having a given size, but reduces the number of rows by a factor of two. This two-fold reduction in the number of rows reduces the bit-line loading by a factor of two, thereby improving CAM performance. In addition, the sharing of search-data lines between columns in the cell array allows column support circuitry to be laid out within a two-column pitch, which affords a more efficient layout of this circuitry relative to prior-art CAM memory whose column support circuitry was laid out within a one-column pitch. The sharing of search-data lines also allows a more efficient layout for the cell array, resulting in array layout reductions greater than 20%. Moreover, column decoders can be used to halve the number of sense amplifiers needed in the column support circuitry, thereby further reducing the layout size for such circuitry.

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