Draw the block diagram of the associative memory organization.

(i) Input register: This is a buffer register. It holds the data to be written into the associative memory or the information to be searched for.

(ii) Mask register: The principal use of this register is to mask off some portions of the input register to form a key. Typically, the input information might contain several fields such as last name, account number, annual salary and soon.

(iii) Output register: The register functions as the destination for data being retrieved from the associative store.

(iv) Associative array: This is a collection of basic memory cells organized in the form of an array.

(v) Match logic: This is a combination circuit whose purpose is to detect is there is a math between the given key K and the associative value stored in the cellular array.

(vi) Match register: The purpose of this resister is to latch the result generated by the match logic.

(vii) Selection logic: Typically the hardware computers the matching word, retrieves it from the associative array and routes it to the output register.