Content addressable memory for electronic warfare sensor signature identification

It is proposed that content addressable memory (CAM) can be used to reduce or eliminate the pattern identification bottleneck in EW (electronic warfare) systems. CAM may be used to perform all or part of this identification function in parallel across all known patterns in a pulse data buffer within a few machine cycles. Initial analysis using CAM in the pattern bit-byte recognition operations of the processing has identified a possible four to one gain in processing responses for this function under current data set characteristics. This gain is realized when CAM is used for partial identification. A possible eight to one gain in processing may be achieved when total identification is performed by the CAM device. It is pointed out that the expected increase in size and complexity of future systems tends to improve the advantages of systems which use CAM technology