Associative Memory

The word of information stored in Ram & Rom

identified by its address location.
The memory access time depend on location of
information.
There are many algorithms develop to minimize
the access time.
Searching of an item by its content rather than
address can reduce access time.
Such kind of memory where search based on
content of memory than address this type of
memory known as associative memory& content
addressable memory.
In this memory input like word to word stored in
memory and give resultant output.


Type of memory
There are two types of memory.
1. Auto- associative memory
2. Hetero- associative memory
In auto- associative memory gives matching result of
by comparing current input pattern and pattern
stored in memory.
In hetero-associative memory gives unmatched
result by comparing current input pattern and
pattern stored in memory.

Explained with following procedure.
1.Suppose an associative memory contain number of
words with n bit per word.
A words looks like .
10100100
2. The content of argument resister (A) are compared
with the content in memory.
3. Key register work as mask register. It consist of n
number of bits. The 1 bit in this register show the bit
position in argument resister to be matched with bit
position in associative memory.
For example
Argument resister (A)

Key resister (K)

101010100100
Read write operation on associative
memory.
Transfer of information from memory word to outside
environment called read operation and transfer to
outside environment to be stored in memory called
write operation.
Write operation on associative memory
It has two memory cycle to write data. first cycle
Write in one binary circuit of address storage cell
Second write in binary circuit of address cell.
Read operation on associative
If more than one word in memory match with word in
argument register, match word read in sequence by
apply read signal.