Patent ID: 7920398

Claim:
A content addressable memory (CAM) device having any number of rows, each of the rows comprising: a plurality of CAM cells coupled to a match line; a match line detector circuit coupled to the match line and configured to detect a voltage of the match line and to generate a pre-charge feedback signal in response to the detected match line voltage, wherein the match line detector circuit asserts the feedback signal if the detected match line voltage exceeds a threshold voltage of the match line detector circuit, and de-asserts the feedback signal if the detected match line voltage is below the threshold voltage of the match line detector circuit; and a pre-charge circuit coupled between the match line and a supply voltage and having a first input to receive the feedback signal, wherein the pre-charge circuit is configured to adaptively charge the match line in response to the feedback signal, wherein the pre-charge circuit charges the match line if the feedback signal is de-asserted, and clamps the match line voltage if the feedback signal is asserted.