Multiport content addressable memory device and timing signals

Claim 2

A synchronous content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising: a CAM array having a plurality of rows of CAM cells coupled to a plurality of match lines; a first port coupled to the CAM array and for receiving comparand data; a comparand register coupled to receive the comparand data from the first port, and further coupled to provide the comparand data to the CAM array; a second port for receiving a compare instruction for the CAM device; an instruction decoder coupled to receive the compare instruction from the second port and configured to decode the compare instruction, wherein the compare instruction instructs the CAM device to compare the comparand data with data stored in the plurality of rows of CAM cells and to provide match results on the plurality of match lines; a priority encoder coupled to receive the match results from the plurality of match lines and configured to generate a match address; a third port coupled to the priority encoder to output the match address from the CAM device; and a timing generator coupled to receive a clock signal and a signal from the instruction decoder indicative of the decoded compare instruction, wherein in response to the clock signal and the signal from the instruction decoder the timing generator is configured to provide first and second timing signals to the comparand register and the priority encoder, respectively, to synchronize when the match address is output to the third port relative to the clock signal.

Claim 3

The synchronous CAM device of claim 1 , further comprising a storage element coupled between the plurality of match lines and the priority encoder.

Claim 4

The synchronous CAM device of claim 2 , wherein the storage element is configured to couple the match results from the CAM array to the priority encoder in response to a third timing signal, and wherein the third timing signal is generated in response to the clock signal and the signal from the instruction decoder.

Claim 5

The synchronous CAM device of claim 1 , further comprising an address decoder coupled to receive the match address from the priority encoder and to provide a decoded match address to the CAM array.

Claim 6

The synchronous CAM device of claim 4 , wherein the address decoder is configured to provide the decoded match address to the CAM array in response to a third timing signal, wherein the third timing signal is generated in response to the clock signal and the signal from the instruction decoder.

Claim 7

The synchronous CAM device of claim 4 , further comprising means for sensing data stored in at least one of the CAM cells at the decoded match address.

Claim 8

The synchronous CAM device of claim 6 , wherein the sensing means further for providing the sensed data to the third port in response to a third timing signal, and wherein the third timing signal is generated in response to the clock signal and the signal from the instruction decoder.

Claim 9

The CAM device of claim 4 , further comprising a storage element coupled between the plurality of match lines and the priority encoder.

Claim 10

The CAM device of claim 4 , wherein the CAM device executes the instruction in one clock cycle of the clock signal.

Claim 11

The CAM device of claim 4 , wherein the CAM device executes the instruction in two clock cycles of the clock signal.

Claim 12

The synchronous CAM device of claim 4 , further comprising a storage element coupled between the priority encoder and the address decoder.

Claim 13

The synchronous CAM device of claim 11 , wherein the storage element further is configured to couple the match results from the priority encoder to the address decoder in response to a third timing signal, and wherein the third timing signal is generated in response to the clock signal and the signal from the instruction decoder.

Claim 14

The CAM device of claim 1 , further comprising a clock input configured to receive a clock signal.

Claim 15

The synchronous CAM device of claim 1 , wherein the CAM device executes the compare instruction in one clock cycle of the clock signal.

Claim 16

The synchronous CAM device of claim 1 , wherein the CAM device executes the compare instruction in two clock cycles of the clock signal.

Claim 17

The CAM device of claim 1 , further comprising a storage element coupled between the priority encoder and the address decoder.

Claim 18

The CAM device of claim 1 , further comprising an address selector coupled between the priority encoder and the address decoder, the address selector configured to couple either the match address or another address to the address decoder in response to the compare instruction.

Claim 19

The synchronous CAM device of claim 1 , wherein the timing generator is configured to provide third, fourth, fifth, and sixth timing signals in response to the clock signal and the signal from the instruction decoder, and wherein the synchronous CAM device further comprises: a first storage element coupled to the timing generator and coupled between the match lines and the priority encoder, wherein the first storage element is configured to couple the match results from the CAM array to the priority encoder in response to the third timing signal from the timing generator; a second storage element coupled to the timing generator and the priority encoder, wherein the second storage element is configured to output the match results from the priority encoder in response to the fourth timing signal; an address decoder coupled to the timing generator and the second storage element, the address decoder configured to provide a decoded match address to the CAM array in response to the fifth timing signal; and means for sensing data stored in at least one of the CAM cells at the decoded match address, wherein the sensing means for providing the sensed data to the third port in response to the sixth timing signal.

Claim 20

The synchronous CAM device of claim 18 , wherein the CAM device executes the compare instruction in one clock cycle of the clock signal.

Claim 21

The synchronous CAM device of claim 18 , wherein the CAM device executes the compare instruction in two clock cycles of the clock signal.

Claim 22

A synchronous content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising: a CAM array having a plurality of rows of CAM cells, wherein each CAM cell comprises: a memory cell coupled to first and second bit lines and for storing a bit and a second bit, wherein the first bit is the complement of the second bit, and wherein the first bit line is for carrying the first bit and the second bit line is for carrying the second bit; a compare circuit coupled to the memory cell and first and second compare lines, the first compare line for carrying a comparand data bit and the second compare line for carrying the logical complement of the comparand data bit, the compare circuit comprising: first and second transistors coupled in series between a power terminal and a match line, wherein the first transistor has its gate coupled to receive the first bit from the memory cell, and the second transistor has its gate coupled to receive the second comparand data bit from the second compare data line; and third and fourth transistors coupled in series between the memory cell and the match line, wherein the third transistor has its gate coupled to receive the second bit from the memory cell, and the fourth transistor has its gate coupled to receive the first comparand data bit from the first compare data line; and a first port coupled to the CAM array and configured to receive the first and second comparand data bits; a second port coupled to the CAM array and configured to receive an instruction for the CAM device; and a third port coupled to the CAM array, wherein the instruction instructs the CAM device to compare the first and second comparand data bits with the first and second data bits stored in at least one of the plurality of rows of CAM cells and output a match address to the third port, wherein the match address corresponds to the address of the at least one of the plurality of rows of CAM cells.

Claim 23

A synchronous content addressable memory (CAM) device comprising: a CAM array having a plurality of rows of CAM cells, wherein each CAM cell comprises: a memory cell coupled to first and second bit lines and for storing a bit and a second bit, wherein the first bit is the complement of the second bit, and wherein the first bit line is for carrying the first bit and the second bit line is for carrying the second bit; a compare circuit coupled to the memory cell and first and second compare lines, the first compare line for carrying a comparand data bit and the second compare line for carrying the logical complement of the comparand data bit, the compare circuit comprising: first and second transistors coupled in series between a power terminal and a match line, wherein the first transistor has its gate coupled to receive the first bit from the memory cell, and the second transistor has its gate coupled to receive the second comparand data bit from the second compare data line; and third and fourth transistors coupled in series between the memory cell and the match line, wherein the third transistor has its gate coupled to receive the second bit from the memory cell, and the fourth transistor has its gate coupled to receive the first comparand data bit from the first compare data line; and a first port coupled to the CAM array and configured to receive the first and second comparand data bits; a second port coupled to the CAM array and configured to receive an instruction for the CAM device; and a third port coupled to the CAM array, wherein the instruction instructs the CAM device to compare the first and second comparand data bits with the first and second data bits stored in at least one of the plurality of rows of CAM cells and output a match address to the third port, wherein the match address corresponds to the address of the at least one of the plurality of rows of CAM cells.