Enabling access to a subset of content addressable memory fields

摘要

A content addressable memory (CAM) system comprises at least one entry 20 having a plurality of fields 22, 24, 26, 28, at least one input selector 30 that enables access to only a subset of fields and a match evaluator 40 that compares the enabled subset of fields to a search value. This system could be a translation look-aside buffer and could be used in a memory cache system for a processor.