Content addressable memory having redundant circuit

摘要

In a content addressable memory (CAM), a spare CAM word serving as a redundant circuit is mounted in addition to a plurality of CAM words, and a storage section for holding information indicating whether there is a defective CAM word in the plurality of CAM words, and if there is one or more defective CAM word, address information of the defective CAM word. Control is applied according to the address information of the defective CAM word such that the defective CAM word is replaced with the spare CAM word. The search output of the defective CAM word is replaced with that of the spare CAM word. The spare CAM word serving as a redundant circuit is mounted without increasing a circuit scale and an output delay time, and a produce yield is improved.