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:
Jul. 10, 2007
Filed:
Oct. 28, 2005
Michael Thaithanh Phan, Cary, NC (US);
Chiaming Chai, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Jeffrey Todd Bridges, Raleigh, NC (US);
Jeffrey Herbert Fischer, Cary, NC (US);
Michael ThaiThanh Phan, Cary, NC (US);
Chiaming Chai, Chapel Hill, NC (US);
Jeffrey Todd Bridges, Raleigh, NC (US);
Jeffrey Herbert Fischer, Cary, NC (US);
QUALCOMM Incorporated, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A CAM bank is functionally divided into two or more sub-banks, without replicating CAM driver circuits, by disabling all match line discharge circuits in the bank, and selectively enabling the discharge circuits in entries comprising sub-banks. At least one selectively actuated switching circuit is interposed between the virtual ground node of each discharging comparator in the discharge circuit of a sub-bank and circuit ground. When the switching circuit is in a non-conductive state, the virtual ground node is maintained at a voltage level sufficiently above circuit ground to preclude discharging a connected match line within the CAM access time. When the switching circuit is placed in a conductive state, the virtual ground node is pulled to circuit ground and the connected match line may be discharged by a miscompare. Control signals, which may be decoded from address bits, are distributed to the switching circuits to define the CAM sub-banks.