摘要 |
A CAM bank is functionally divided into two or more sub-banks, without replication CAM driver circuits, by disabling all match line discharge circuits in the bank, and selectively enabling the discharge circuits in 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 decode from address bits, are distributed to the switching circuits to defined the CAM sub-banks.
|