Abstract: A memory configurable to be used in an RTA mode includes an input latch configured to receive an input address bus and to generate a latched address bus that corresponds to a memory location. An address flop is configured to save the latched address and to generate a flopped address. A first block address pre-decoder stage is configured to generate a pre-decoded latched address to an RTA generation logic in response to the latched address bus; and a second block address pre-decoder configured to generate a pre-decoded flopped address to the RTA generation logic in response to the flopped address. The RTA generation logic generates an RTA enable signal one clock cycle before a memory block access, to activate a memory block corresponding to the memory location, such that an array supply voltage of the memory block starts charging one clock cycle before a memory block access.

Abstract: A memory configurable to be used in an RTA mode includes an input latch configured to receive an input address bus and to generate a latched address bus that corresponds to a memory location. An address flop is configured to save the latched address and to generate a flopped address. A first block address pre-decoder stage is configured to generate a pre-decoded latched address to an RTA generation logic in response to the latched address bus; and a second block address pre-decoder configured to generate a pre-decoded flopped address to the RTA generation logic in response to the flopped address. The RTA generation logic generates an RTA enable signal one clock cycle before a memory block access, to activate a memory block corresponding to the memory location, such that an array supply voltage of the memory block starts charging one clock cycle before a memory block access.

Abstract: A segmented ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) search architecture is disclosed. In one embodiment, a TCAM device with a row of TCAM cells includes a first segment of the TCAM cells for determining a match of corresponding search bits of a search string with a first portion of a stored string in the first segment of the TCAM cells, an evaluation module for generating a search enable signal if the match of the corresponding search bits with the first portion of the stored string is determined, and a second segment of the TCAM cells for determining a match of remaining search bits of the search string with a remaining portion of the stored string in response to the search enable signal.

Abstract: A method and circuit for termination of internal cycle and its associated tracking circuits in high performance self timed compiler memories is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of timing the precharging of BLs in a self timed compiler memory array includes initiating an internal clock during the start of a read/write cycle by a control block, triggering DWL and WLs to go high upon initiating the internal clock by the control block, triggering DBL and BLs to go low upon the DWL and WLs going high by the control block, generating a reset BL signal upon the DWL going high and the DBL going low by the tracking circuit, disabling the DBL from going further low upon receiving the reset BL signal by the tracking circuit, and precharging the DBL to go high upon receiving the reset BL signal by the precharge circuit.

Abstract: A novel schematic for executing search, write and valid bit clear operations in one cycle in a CAM system that includes a plurality of CAM blocks is disclosed. In one embodiment, the plurality of CAM blocks are organized into at least one rectangular array having rows each having a plurality of CAM blocks, a group of CAM cells and associated read/write bit lines connecting the group of CAM cells to an addressed search circuit. The write operation depends on the output of the search operation, wherein the same data is written in to the CAM when the search operation results in a miss in a given cycle. Further, during the same cycle a valid bit clear operation is also performed. The resulting CAM cell provides a high speed three port operation.

Abstract: A segmented ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) search architecture is disclosed. In one embodiment, a TCAM device with a row of TCAM cells includes a first segment of the TCAM cells for determining a match of corresponding search bits of a search string with a first portion of a stored string in the first segment of the TCAM cells, an evaluation module for generating a search enable signal if the match of the corresponding search bits with the first portion of the stored string is determined, and a second segment of the TCAM cells for determining a match of remaining search bits of the search string with a remaining portion of the stored string in response to the search enable signal.

Abstract: A method and circuit for termination of internal cycle and its associated tracking circuits in high performance self timed compiler memories is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of timing the precharging of BLs in a self timed compiler memory array includes initiating an internal clock during the start of a read/write cycle by a control block, triggering DWL and WLs to go high upon initiating the internal clock by the control block, triggering DBL and BLs to go low upon the DWL and WLs going high by the control block, generating a reset BL signal upon the DWL going high and the DBL going low by the tracking circuit, disabling the DBL from going further low upon receiving the reset BL signal by the tracking circuit, and precharging the DBL to go high upon receiving the reset BL signal by the precharge circuit.

Abstract: A novel schematic for executing search, write and valid bit clear operations in one cycle in a CAM system that includes a plurality of CAM blocks is disclosed. In one embodiment, the plurality of CAM blocks are organized into at least one rectangular array having rows each having a plurality of CAM blocks, a group of CAM cells and associated read/write bit lines connecting the group of CAM cells to an addressed search circuit. The write operation depends on the output of the search operation, wherein the same data is written in to the CAM when the search operation results in a miss in a given cycle. Further, during the same cycle a valid bit clear operation is also performed. The resulting CAM cell provides a high speed three port operation.

Abstract: A novel match/mismatch emulation scheme for an addressed location in a CAM system that includes a plurality of CAM blocks. The plurality of CAM blocks are organized into at least one rectangular array having rows each having a plurality of CAM blocks, a group of CAM cells and associated read/write bit lines connecting the group of CAM cells to an addressed search circuit. During debug mode, where the individual array cells do not participate in search, all the cells in the debug column behave the same way to emulate a match/mismatch on all words. The circuit provides a control input to include address evaluation of a debug cell in a row. The circuit also provides simultaneous switching noise analysis on an evaluating row. The resulting CAM cell provides a circuit to test individual rows for defects and noise analysis.

Abstract: A novel match/mismatch emulation scheme for an addressed location in a CAM system that includes a plurality of CAM blocks. The plurality of CAM blocks are organized into at least one rectangular array having rows each having a plurality of CAM blocks, a group of CAM cells and associated read/write bit lines connecting the group of CAM cells to an addressed search circuit. During debug mode, where the individual array cells do not participate in search, all the cells in the debug column behave the same way to emulate a match/mismatch on all words. The circuit provides a control input to include address evaluation of a debug cell in a row. The circuit also provides simultaneous switching noise analysis on an evaluating row. The resulting CAM cell provides a circuit to test individual rows for defects and noise analysis.

Abstract: A technique that provides highly scalable width expansion architecture for cascading CAMs to facilitate searching of increased wordlengths. In one example embodiment, this is achieved by combining a plurality of CAM devices in a serial cascade arrangement. Each CAM device of the serial cascade arrangement receives a portion of the search word. Each of the CAM devices in the serial cascade arrangement includes a CAM, a plurality of GMAT lines, a dummy match line, and a GMAT interface circuitry. The GMAT interface circuitry facilitates driving the match signals from a substantially previous CAM to a substantially adjacent CAM. The last CAM device is coupled to a match latch and a priority encoder.

Abstract: A technique to pre-charge a CAM block array that includes a plurality of CAM blocks that is organized into at least one rectangular array having rows each having a plurality of CAM blocks, a group of CAM cells and associated read/write bit lines connecting the group of CAM cells to a write/search driver and one or more precharge circuits. In one example embodiment, this is accomplished by precharging each read/write bit line substantially after completing a read cycle using the one or more precharge circuits. Then, precharging each read/write bit line substantially after completing a write cycle using a write/search bit line decoder and driver circuit, followed by precharging each search bit line in the CAM block array using the write/search bit line decoder and driver circuit substantially after completing a search operation.

Abstract: A novel array fault testing for a TCAM system that includes a plurality of TCAM blocks that is organized into at least one rectangular array having rows each having a plurality of TCAM blocks, a group of TCAM cells and associated read/write bit lines connecting the group of TCAM cells to write driver and decoding block. The data decode bypass circuit of the TCAM cell provides a raw write feature to detect faults in a full suite of memory related tests. The debug input of the data debug bypass circuit of the TCAM cell when asserted in the test mode enables the TCAM cell to write raw, unencoded data into the array, and when deasserted in the test mode, enables the testing of the TCAM array. The resulting TCAM cell provides exhaustive fault testing thereby detecting and eliminating faults in TCAM.

Abstract: A technique that provides highly scalable width expansion architecture for cascading CAMs to facilitate searching of increased wordlengths. In one example embodiment, this is achieved by combining a plurality of CAM devices in a serial cascade arrangement. Each CAM device of the serial cascade arrangement receives a portion of the search word. Each of the CAM devices in the serial cascade arrangement includes a CAM, a plurality of GMAT lines, a dummy match line, and a GMAT interface circuitry. The GMAT interface circuitry facilitates driving the match signals from a substantially previous CAM to a substantially adjacent CAM. The last CAM device is coupled to a match latch and a priority encoder.

Abstract: An area efficient stacked TCAM cell for fully parallel search. The TCAM cell includes a top half circuit portion interconnected with a replicated bottom half circuit portion such that there is a shared match line between each of the half circuit portions. Each TCAM cell includes a pair of memory elements that is connected to a pair of associated compare circuits such that the interconnections between the memory elements and the compare circuits are substantially vertical in active MOS layers and substantially horizontal in metal layers. The memory elements and the compare circuits are connected such that they facilitate shorter interconnections and sharing of terminals at the boundary of adjacent cells. The resulting stacked TCAM cell provides shorter match lines, shared bit lines, and reduced silicon area to facilitate improved routing and performance.

Abstract: An area efficient stacked TCAM cell for fully parallel search. The TCAM cell includes a top half circuit portion interconnected with a replicated bottom half circuit portion such that there is a shared match line between each of the half circuit portions. Each TCAM cell includes a pair of memory elements that is connected to a pair of associated compare circuits such that the interconnections between the memory elements and the compare circuits are substantially vertical in active MOS layers and substantially horizontal in metal layers. The memory elements and the compare circuits are connected such that they facilitate shorter interconnections and sharing of terminals at the boundary of adjacent cells.

Abstract: A technique to enhance performance and reduce silicon area for a TCAM system which includes a plurality of CAM blocks that are organized into at least one rectangular array having rows each having a plurality of CAM blocks, a group of TCAM cells and associated read/write bit lines connecting the group of CAM cells to search bit lines. Each TCAM cell in the TCAM architecture includes a pair of memory elements that is connected to a pair of associated compare circuits such that the interconnections between the memory elements and the compare circuits are substantially vertical in active MOS layers and substantially horizontal in the metal layers to facilitate sharing of adjacent cells thereby providing reduced silicon area and a short aspect ratio.

Abstract: A technique to pre-charge a CAM block array that includes a plurality of CAM blocks that is organized into at least one rectangular array having rows each having a plurality of CAM blocks, a group of CAM cells and associated read/write bit lines connecting the group of CAM cells to a write/search driver and one or more precharge circuits. In one example embodiment, this is accomplished by precharging each read/write bit line substantially after completing a read cycle using the one or more precharge circuits. Then, precharging each read/write bit line substantially after completing a write cycle using a write/search bit line decoder and driver circuit, followed by precharging each search bit line in the CAM block array using the write/search bit line decoder and driver circuit substantially after completing a search operation.