System and method for low power searching in content addressable memories using sampling search words to save power in compare lines

摘要

An invention is provided for lowLow power searching in a CAM usinguses sample words to save power in the compare lines. The inventionA method includes comparing a sample section of stored data to a corresponding sample section of search data on a plurality of rows in the CAM. If a sample section of the stored data on any row of the plurality of rows is equivalent to the corresponding sample section of the search data, a remaining section of search data is allowed to propagate to the local compare lines coupled to the remaining section of the stored data of each row. However, if the sample section of the stored data is different from the corresponding sample section of the search data, the local compare lines coupled to the remaining section of the stored data on each row are latched.