Content addressable memory having programmable combinational logic circuits

摘要

A content addressable memory (CAM) device includes a plurality of independently configurable CAM groups, each CAM group including a number of CAM rows and a programmable combinational logic circuit. Each CAM row includes a plurality of CAM cells coupled to a match line that generates a row match signal during a compare operation between a search key and data stored in the CAM row. The programmable combinational logic circuit logically combines the row match signals to generate a corresponding group match signal according to a respective one of a plurality of selectable logical operations selected by a corresponding function select signal.