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:
Dec. 18, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 09, 2000
Subramani Kengeri, San Jose, CA (US);
Hemraj K. Hingarh, Saratoga, CA (US);
Silicon Access Networks, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A ternary state content addressable memory (CAM) cell that includes two DRAM cells. In addition to a port for controlling and transmitting data to the CAM, another port is exclusively used for refreshing the DRAM cells. A refresh word line is coupled to the two DRAM cells for performing DRAW cell refresh. A refresh bit line is coupled to the first of the two DRAM cells for refreshing this first DRAM cell. A refresh bit line is coupled to the second of the two DRAM cells for refreshing this second DRAM cell. Problematic power consumption and voltage swing found in a conventional CAM are overcome in the CAM. A swing line (SL) is coupled to said first and second DRAM cells and a local match line (LML) of said CAM cell, said SL having an adjustable voltage level for changing voltage swing in said LML to regulate trade-off between power consumption and speed of said CAM cell.