Charge Recycling using Folded Match line in NOR-type CAM for Reduced Dynamic Power

Today, Content Addressable Memory (CAM) is used in a variety of applications, especially such as network routers. Because network routers need high speed, CAM is using NOR type rather than NAND type. However, due to frequent discharge of match line (ML), the power consumption of NOR type CAM is considerable. In this paper, we propose a low power NOR CAM using folded ML and charge recycling. The folded ML structure can reduce the ML voltage swing, and charge recycling can save pre-charge power, so the power consumption of the proposed CAM can be reduced. This proposed CAM has about 75.3% power consumption saving effect compared to conventional NOR type CAM assuming a network router application.