Bull Hn Information Systems, Inc.

Honeywell Bull, Inc.

Eugene Nusinov

Thomas F Joyce

Richard P Brown

A segment descriptor unit (SDU) includes a divided random access memory (RAM), a content addressable memory (CAM) and decoder circuits interconnected for performing dynamic and static address translation operations within a minimum of chip area and power. The CAM is arranged to store a number of entries which include segment number and validity information associated with a corresponding number of segment descriptors. The RAM contains locations allocated for storing segment descriptor words (SDW's) and working data. Each SDW is logically divided into two fields, a static translation word (STW) field containing all of the bits required for performing a static address translation operation and an access control word (ACW) field containing all of the bits required for verifying compliance with system security. The bits of each STW and ACW are stored in alternate bit positions of the SDW locations. Each pair of RAM bit locations couple to a common read/write amplifier and multiplexer circuit. Through the use of microinstruction commands coded to specify different address translation functions, the STW and ACW fields selected by the CAM are read out from RAM during different intervals for carrying out the steps of those operations.

Segment descriptor unit for performing static and dynamic address

A translator is organized to include at least a pair of content addressable memories (CAMs), each for storing a different portion of the total number of bits of each of the words to be translated. The outputs from each CAM are logically combined within a multiple input random access memory (RAM). Both CAMs are interrogated simultaneously and deliver the results of comparing the word portions of an input word and the CAM contents to the RAM in substantially less time then required for a single CAM memory. The results are logically combined with in the RAM which, in response to a match condition, delivers the results of the translation as an output.

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Sharon, MA, United States of America

Eugene Nusinov