Patent ID: 8130525

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for producing a configurable content-addressable memory (CAM) cell design, said method comprising: inputting, to a computer, a configurable CAM cell design, said configurable CAM cell design comprising: a first sub-cell design comprising a static random access memory (SRAM)-based ternary CAM cell connected to a first pair of search-lines and a first match-line output; and a second sub-cell design comprising comparison circuitry connected to a second pair of search-lines and a second match-line output; selecting, by using said computer, one of a first metal overlay design and a second metal overlay design to electrically connect said first and second sub-cell designs as one of a binary CAM design including two binary CAM cells with a single search port, and a ternary CAM design including a single ternary CAM cell with two search ports, respectively; wherein said first metal overlay design comprises: connections between storage data nodes of a first binary CAM cell, and said first match-line output and said second match-line output; and connections between storage data nodes of a second binary CAM cell, and said first match-line output and said second match-line output; and wherein said second metal overlay design comprises: parallel connections between storage data nodes producing a first ternary CAM cell output and a second ternary CAM cell output, and said first match-line output and said second match-line output, respectively; and outputting, by said computer, one of said binary CAM design including two binary CAM cells with a single search port, and said ternary CAM cell design including a single ternary CAM cell with two search ports according to said selecting of said first or said second metal overlay design, respectively.