DEVICES AND METHODS FOR COMPARING DATA IN A CONTENT-ADDRESSABLE MEMORY

摘要

The invention provides a content-addressable memory cell formed by two transistors that are configured so that one of the transistors is for storing a data bit and the other for is storing the complement of the data bit. Each transistor has a back control gate that can be controlled to block the associated transistor. The device also includes a comparison circuit that is configured to operate the first and second transistors in read mode while controlling the back control gate of each of the transistors so as to block the passing transistor if a proposed bit and the stored bit correspond. Then, the presence or absence of current on a source line linked to the source of each of the transistors indicates whether the proposed bit and the stored bit are identical or not. The invention also provides methods for operating the content-addressable memory cells of this invention, as well as content-addressable memories having a plurality of the content-addressable memory cells of this invention.