Accelerated searching for content-addressable memory

Abstract

A sensing circuit for use with a CAM circuit including multiple match lines and multiple CAM cells connected to the match lines includes at least one charge sharing circuit and at least one switching circuit connected to the charge sharing circuit. The switching circuit is operative to selectively connect the charge sharing circuit to a corresponding one of the match lines as a function of a first control signal supplied to the switching circuit. The sensing circuit further includes at least one comparator circuit connected to the corresponding match line and operative to generate an output signal indicative of a match between search data supplied to at least a given one of the CAM cells connected to the corresponding match line and data stored in the given CAM cell. The charge sharing circuit is operative to remove an amount of charge on the corresponding match line so as to reduce a voltage on the corresponding match line in conjunction with a search operation of the CAM cell.