Design of low-power FinFET-based TCAMs with unevenly-segmented matchlines for routing table applications

The paper presents the design of FinFET-based TCAMs with unevenly-segmented matchlines (USM). Each matchline in the TCAM is partition into uneven segments based on statistical profile gathered from routing tables. In the USM scheme, those segments with all TCAM cells storing `don't care' do not involve in the charging and discharging of the matchline, leading to lower power dissipation. Four types of FinFET TCAM cells are considered in this work. With the USM scheme, a FinFET TCAM using Hybrid-2 TCAM cells can reduce power dissipation by 35.2% when the matchline is partitioned into three segments.