Parameter variations in MOS CAM with a mutual inhibition network

A MOS implementation of mutual inhibition is combined with a standard content addressable memory (CAM) to produce a relaxative content addressable memory (RCAM) that automatically relaxes to the nearest match to an input. The operation of the RCAM is similar to the Hamming neural net. A simplified transistor model is employed to obtain a closed-form solution for the convergence time of the circuit, which can be used to design the circuit to meet specific performance goals. The model is used to find the settle time and the effects of parameter variation on the validity of the output. Chips were fabricated using 2- mu m double metal CMOS technology through MOSIS.>