A Novel Match-Line Sensing Technique for Low Power CAM array

Content-addressable memory (CAM), also called associative memory, is a type of computer memory that is used in applications that require very high speed search operations to be performed. Large-capacity CAMs are advantageous in applications which need high-speed look-up tables. It is used extensively in CPU design, computer networking devices and cache controllers. CAM, due to its high power consumption and large silicon area, is used only when less costly methods of searching cannot be applied. Due to constant switching, the match-lines and MLSA happen to be the most power-hungry components of the CAM. This is a major drawback of CAM and power becomes a design main parameter that needs to be minimized. This paper presents a novel low power match-line sensing approach to reduce the power consumption in a CAM memory array. Using the proposed method, the power consumed in an example 3x4 CAM array is reduced greatly compared to conventional methods.