Abstract
A Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) chip is to be modified to associatively search data in it as it is being refreshed in the chip and to communicate in a linear systolic array. In a preliminary logic design of a (1024×4096) associative memory chip based on a 4 Mbit DRAM, the ∼6 transistors per sense amplifier in a DRAM are expanded by ∼9 transistors per sense amplifier in the modified chip. The chip size is only slightly increased, and it is manufactured using the same processes, in the same plant, as a DRAM chip; thus should cost about the same as a DRAM. A large array of such modified DRAMs could store a terabit database and search all of it every 60 microseconds. Bit pattern searching and search-rewrite algorithms could be economically performed over very large amounts of data. The concepts and the design of the simple modified DRAM will be discussed in the paper.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Texas Instruments, “TMS44101 4,194,304-bit Dynamic Access Memory”, MOS Memory Data Book, 1991, pp. 5–107-5–124.
V. Bush, “As We May Think”,Atlantic Monthly, 1947, p. 101 ff.
K.E. Batcher, “STARAN Parallel Processor System Hardware”,Proc. 1974 National Computing Conf., AFIPS proc. 1974, vol. 43, pp. 405–410.
C.Y. Lee, “Intercommunicating Cells, Basis for a Distributed Logic Computer”,Proceedings Fall Joint Computer Conf., 1962, pp. 130–136.
C.Y. Lee and M.C. Paul, “A Content Addressable Distributed Logic Memory with Application to Information Retrieval”,Proc. IEEE, vol. 51, pp. 924–932.
B.A. Crane and J.A. Githens, “Bulk Processing in Distributed Logic Memory”,IEEE Trans. Computers, vol. EC 14, 1965, pp. 186–196.
D. Slotnick, “Logic-per-Track Discs”Advances in Computers, vol. 10, 1971, pp. 291–296.
G.J. Lipovski, “Architectural Features of CASSM: A Context Addressed Segment Sequential Memory”,Proc. 5th Int'l. Symposium on Computer Architecture, 1978, pp. 31–38.
D. Hills, “Methods and Apparatus for Routing Message Packets”, Patent No. 4,598,4000.
H. Fuchs, J. Poulton, A. Paeth, and A. Bell, “Developing Pixel-Planes, A Smart Memory-based Raster Graphics System”,1982 Conference on Advanced Research in VLSI, Cambridge: MIT Press, 1982, pp. 371–380.
G.J. Lipovski, “Dynamic Memory with Logic-in-Refresh”, Patent No. 4,989,180, Filed: March 10, 1989, Granted: Jan. 29, 1991.
I. Robinson, “Chameleon: A Pattern Matching Memory System”, Hewlett Packard Tech. Report HPL-SAL089-24, April 19, 1989.
I. Robinson, “The Pattern Addressable Memory: Hardware for Associative Processing”, in (J.G. Delgado-Firas and W.R. Moore, eds.),VLSI for Artificial Intelligence, Boston: Kluwer Academic, 1989, pp. 119–129.
J.P. Wade and G.S. Sodini, “A Ternary Content Addressable Search Engine”,IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 24, 1989, pp. 1003–1013.
G.J. Lipovski, “Dynamic Systolic Associative Memory Chip”,Proc. Application Specific Array Processors, Princeton, NJ, 1990, pp. 481–492.
Texas Instruments, “TMS48C121 131,072 by 8-bit Multiport Video RAM”, MOS Memory Data Book, 1991, pp. 8–91.
J.L. Hennesey and D.A. Patterson,Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach, San Mateo, CA: Morgan Kaufmann, 1990, p. 17 (figure 1.5).
T. Koulopoulos, “Text Retrieval—True Management—A New Way to Look at the World”, Delphi Consulting Group White Paper, Information Week, October 22, 1990, pp. 1–16.
G.J. Lipovski and P. Vaughan, “A Fetch-And-Op Implementation for Parallel Computers”,15th Annual Int'l. Symp. on Computer Architeture, 1988, pp. 384–392.
Joe Neal, private communication.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lipovski, G.J. A four megabit Dynamic Systolic Associative Memory chip. J VLSI Sign Process Syst Sign Image Video Technol 4, 37–51 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00930617
Received:
Revised:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00930617