Patent Document ID: 20160267993
Application ID: 15163927
Patent Status: 0

Claim One:
1. A method of operating a memory, comprising: storing a value of an attribute of a feature vector to a pair of memory cells of a string of series-connected memory cells of the memory by programming each memory cell of the pair of memory cells to a respective data state of N possible data states with N being an integer value greater than two, wherein each possible value of the attribute of the feature vector is represented by a respective combination of two data states of the N possible data states; searching for an exact match to a particular value of the attribute of the feature vector by applying respective voltage levels to control gates of the pair of memory cells to activate both memory cells of the pair of memory cells only when the value of the attribute of the feature vector is the particular value; and searching for an inexact match to the particular value of the attribute of the feature vector by applying respective voltage levels to the control gates of the pair of memory cells to activate both memory cells of the pair of memory cells when the value of the attribute of the feature vector is within a range of possible values of the attribute of the feature vector including the particular value.