The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 07, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 14, 1994
Kel D Winters, Moscow, ID (US);
Advanced Hardware Architectures, Inc., Moscow, ID (US);
Abstract
A content addressable memory cell includes six transistors connected together to perform memory read, memory write, and matching operations. This cell has the ability to perform typical memory write and memory read operations as well as the capability of signalling whether or not its stored data matches data that is being searched for. A cross-coupling scheme is used in the memory cell so that a high potential will always be stored on the gate of a transistor whose source is at ground. This cross-coupling scheme increases the amount of charge stored on the storage transistor and decreases the required frequency of refresh operations. In addition to the transistors configured to store data, an additional transistor configured as a diode is used as a rapid discharge path to maximize the efficiency of the cell during a read operation. During a match operation another transistor is utilized to discharge the Match line quickly in the event the stored data does not match the data that is being searched for.