IP Library Granted Patent US 8,238,173
Granted Patent B2
US 8,238,173 · App. 12/503,916 · Granted Aug 7, 2012

Using storage cells to perform computation

Assignee: ZikBit Ltd
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,238,173
App. No.
12/503,916
Granted
Aug 7, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

An in-memory processor includes a memory array which stores data and an activation unit to activate at least two cells in a column of the memory array at generally the same time thereby to generate a Boolean function output of the data of the at least two cells. Another embodiment shows a content addressable memory (CAM) unit without any in-cell comparator circuitry.

Claims (14)

1. A NOR device comprising:

a plurality of memory cells which store data; and

an activation unit to activate at least two of said memory cells in a column at time thereby to generate a NOR output of said data of said at least two memory cells, and wherein said activation unit comprises:

a multiple row decoder to activate at least one cell in each of more than one row of said memory cells at a time; and

an output unit at least to write the NOR'd output of at least one column of activated cells into said memory cells.

2. The NOR device according to claim 1 and wherein said memory cells form a memory array having at least a first portion to store said data and at least a second portion available for processing.

3. An in-memory processor comprising:

a memory array which stores data; and

an activation unit to activate at least two cells in a column of said memory array at the same time thereby to generate a Boolean function output of said data of said at least two cells, wherein said activation unit comprises:

a multiple row decoder to activate at least one cell in each of more than one row of said memory array at a time;

and an output unit at least to write the output of at least one column of said activated cells into said memory array, said output being said Boolean function of the said activated cells in each said column.

4. The processor according to claim 3 and wherein said memory array has at least a first portion to store said data and at least a second portion available for processing.

5. The processor according to claim 3 wherein said output unit comprises a selectively activatable inverter and wherein also comprising a controller to instruct said row decoder as to which cells to activate and to instruct said output unit when to activate said inverter thereby to generate said Boolean function.

6. The processor according to claim 3 and wherein said Boolean function is one of: OR, NOR, AND and NAND.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 4, 2016
From: GSI TECHNOLOGY ISRAEL LTD.
To: GSI TECHNOLOGY INC.
Reel/Frame 040510/0832 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 8, 2016
From: MIKAMONU GROUP LTD.
To: GSI TECHNOLOGY ISRAEL LTD.
Reel/Frame 037805/0551 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2014
From: ZIKBIT LTD.
To: MIKAMONU GROUP LTD.
Reel/Frame 034056/0263 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2009
From: AKERIB, AVIDAN; AGAM, OREN; EHRMAN, ELI; MEYASSED, MOSHE
To: ZIKBIT LTD.
Reel/Frame 023408/0217 →
Continuity (1)
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