HYBRID-ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY, CONSISTS OF A NON-ASSOCIATIVE BASE MEMORY AND AN ASSOCIATIVE SURFACE.

摘要

1. A hybrid associative store comprising a non-associative base store (B-SP) and an associative area (ASS-FL), where the base store (B-SP) is divided in groups of individually selectable data units, and in the associative area (ASS-FL) a number of logic-linking units - corresponding to the number of data units in each group - is provided, in each case for a plurality of bits, where said logic-linking units each check a data unit in associative fashion so that the associative area (ASS-FL) can in each case be supplied with groups of data units which can be checked in parallel, characterised in that - that in order to carry out both association relations and logic-linking functions the logic-linking unit (ALV...) of the associative area (ASS-FL) comprises one single arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) which has an operating width (e. g. eight bits) for in each case one character as data unit and which is provided with two operand registers (A-REG, B-REG) and at least one result register (C-REG), - that the arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) is connected to an analysis device (ANZ-ST) which derives the displays from the respective result signals, and to an analysis device (T-ST) which generates a hit signal (T) by correlating the particular desired association relation with the displays, - that a controllable masking device (A-MASK and B-MASK) is provided between the operand input of the arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) and the associated operand register (A-REG, B-REG), and - that under the control of selector switches (A-MUX, B-MUX), in association with control commands (CMD) of a superordinate control device, association relations or logic-linking functions can be selectively carried out, where, in order that association relations may be carried out the data unit to be tested is fed from the base store (B-SP) to the first operand register (e.g. B-REG) and the required search argument (SBM) is supplied to the other operand register (A-REG) and where the respective association zone within the data unit is specified by masking devices (A-MASK and B-MASK) in association with a mask control unit (M-ST).