Reliable Multistate RRAM Devices for Reconfigurable CAM and IMC Applications

This paper presents the design and implementation of a reconfigurable Content Addressable Memory (CAM) architecture integrated with an analog tunable selector, aimed at improving the flexibility, energy efficiency, and density of search-based memory systems. Traditional CAMs suffer from high power consumption due to parallel comparisons and lack adaptability for evolving workloads. In the proposed design, resistive memory (RRAM) elements are employed for compact data storage, while the analog tunable selector—implemented using a voltage-controlled switching mechanism—enables dynamic adjustment of matching thresholds and access conditions. This allows for reconfigurable search operations, supporting both exact and approximate matching modes, which is particularly useful in error-tolerant applications like image recognition and associative computing. The circuit-level design is validated through simulations in LTspice, demonstrating correct match/mismatch detection and significant potential for low-power operation. This architecture opens the path toward intelligent memory systems capable of adaptive behavior with minimal area and power overhead.

Index Terms— Resistive Random-Access Memory (RRAM), Multistate Memory, Reconfigurable Content Addressable Memory (CAM), In-Memory Computing (IMC), Non-Volatile Memory, Reliability, Variability, Low-Power Design, Emerging Memory Devices.