A TCAM-based Periodic Event Generator for Multi-Node Management in the Body Sensor Network

Low-power periodic event generation is essential for a node controller in the network system with centralized control and the timer interrupt generation for various devices in a CPU. The proposed TCAM-based periodic event generator manages the issuing events with the programmed value and the number of the events is equal to the number of the word line of the TCAM block. The NAND-type TCAM cell operates with as low as 0.6 V supply voltage and the low-energy match line precharge reduces the search line transition which causes most of the search energy dissipation. The implemented event generator consumes 184-nJ energy to schedule events of 255 nodes for 24-hours, which is less than 10% of energy consumption of conventional hardware timer blocks.