PROGRAMMABLE MULTIPLE WORD WIDTH CAM ARCHITECTURE

摘要

A content addressable memory (CAM) that is capable of providing multiple word matching is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a CAM (200) includes a word array (206) of data word registers (208-0 to 208-ni). Each data word register (208-0 to 208-ni) provides a word match value (MATCH0-MATCHni) that indicates if an applied comparand value is the same as a data word stored within a data word register (208-0 to 208-ni). Word match values (MATCH0-MATCHni) are received by a match detect circuit (202) that provides a number of encoding values (ENC0-ENCni). In a single word match mode, a comparand value is applied and the encoding values (ENC0-ENCni) can represent single word match values. In a multiple word match mode, a sequence of comparand values are applied and the resulting word match values stored. The resulting encoding values (ENC0-ENCni) can represent the logical combination of multiple word match values.