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:
Nov. 26, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 02, 2001
Jonathan B. Ashbrook, Huntington, VT (US);
Robert E. Busch, Essex Junction, VT (US);
Albert M. Chu, Essex Junction, VT (US);
Daryl M. Seitzer, Richmond, VT (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method and structure for a content addressable memory (CAM) array having a plurality of memory cells. Each of the memory cells has capacitive storage devices, transistors connected to the storage devices, a wordline connected to and controlling the transistors, bitlines connected to the storage devices through the transistors, combined search and global bitlines connected to the capacitive storage devices. These cells are further arranged into columns, each containing multiplexers connected to the combined search and global bitlines, data-in lines connected to the multiplexers, and search-data lines connected to the multiplexers. Further, the multiplexers select between the data-in lines and the search-data lines to allow the combined search and global bitlines to be alternatively used as data lines and search lines. Also, in the invention each of the columns further has drivers between the multiplexers and the combined search and global bitlines. The drivers drive signals between the multiplexers and the combined search and global bitlines during search and write operations.