TCAM
Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM)
The Savarti Ternary Content-Addressable Memory (TCAM) is a comprehensive custom IP solution that delivers enterprise-class performance across the challenging environments typical of networking systems. The custom TCAM instances has been designed and optimized with the following considerations in order of importance: performance, power and area.
In addition to a full set of standard features, Savarti’s TCAM also provides a comprehensive set of user-selectable features. A user can select only those features that are needed for a specific application to optimize performance, power and area.
| Area | Performance | Power Management | Testability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Full-custom design in 28nm | NA | No |
| 2 | Optimized memory with required power supply voltage | NA | Yes |
| 3 | Hand-crafted layout with optimized Performance, Power and Area | NA | No |
| 4 | Complete static operation | NA | Yes |
| 5 | Hit/Miss Flag | NA | Yes |
| 6 | Valid bit per row data | NA | Yes |
| 7 | Registered inputs and outputs, except CS | NA | Yes |
| 8 | Row valid input to select rows participated in Compare Mode | NA | Yes |
| 9 | Mask input for bit-write and masked key to be search | NA | Yes |
Flexibility
In contrast to pre-defined, packaged component CAM products, Savarti’s custom TCAM provides users the flexibility of choosing and compiling only select features to serve their specific needs. This effective integration method, combined with full custom, pitch-matched floor-planning and layout for each basic cell, result in a highly compact embedded CAM instance.
Smart Power Management
Smart Power Management (SPM) architecture allows users to reduce power consumption by up to 75% for low power applications. In the search operation, a user can select a single table in Multi-Table Partition (MTP) mode, or a vertical segmented block of the CAM array in Multi-Width Search (MWS) mode. The remaining unselected portions of the CAM array will not be activated during the search operation to save power.
Multi-Width Search Modes (MWS)
TCAM supports the option of multiple width search mode. A user can select from four different search modes: quarter-word (QW), half-word (HW), single-word (SW) and double-word (DW).
Multi-Table Partition with Addressable Tag Bits (MTP)
MTP allows users to partition the CAM array into several tables with variable depths using additional tag-bits for table selection. The depth of each table is the user’s choice, as long as each table has the same value for tag-bits. The user can select single table search to save power, or perform full searches across all tables simultaneously.
Easily Cascadable
For array efficiency and easy expansion of width and depth, cascading circuits are built in to avoid additional glue logic for building larger blocks.