Translation lookaside buffer for multiple page sizes

摘要

The invention provides for a content addressable memory (CAM). The CAM includes an input port and a plurality of locations to store page addresses for comparing to an address received from the input port. Each location includes a plurality of lower cells and at least one page size mask cell to send signals to an associated one of the lower cells. The associated one of the lower cells produces a match signal in response to either the page size cell sending a mask signal or to the portion page address stored therein matching a corresponding portion of the address received from the input port. Each location produces a match signal in response to each cell therein producing a match signal. The invention provides for a method of translating logical to physical addresses. The method includes comparing a input logical address to a plurality of stored page logical addresses and sending a match signal to a data array in response to a portion of the input logical address matching one of the stored page logical addresses. The stored page logical addresses have a plurality of lengths. The method also includes transmitting a physical address to an output line in response to the data array receiving a match signal for a corresponding page logical address.