Xilinx Inc. (San Jose, Calif.) has released the LavaCore Java soft 32-bit processor core, which targets embedded Java applications and such smart Internet appliances as wireless phones, set-top boxes, distributed and secure network computers.

According to the company, the 32-bit configurable processor core was developed by Xilinx AllianceCore partner Derivation Systems Inc. (Carlsbad, Calif.).

The companies said Java has typically been undermined by long byte-code execution times in standard CPUs, which is unacceptable for embedded Java applications. The new core, however, targeting Virtex-II devices, eliminates that drawback by executing Java byte codes directly in hardware.

The LavaCore processor has 32-bit address and data buses that are designed to add optional modules, including local memory, a floating-point unit, Data Encryption Standard encryption engine and garbage collector.

The instruction set implements Java virtual machine (JVM) instructions, allowing designers to include them in embedded systems requiring small memory footprints and short Java applet run-times.

In addition, the companies claim, the LavaCore processor is compact and user-configurable for specialized applications where only a subset of the JVM instructions is needed.

The processor core software tools include Java application linker/builder, debugger and a run-time environment. Engineers can use the configuration environment, which is available for an extra fee, to develop customized versions of the LavaCore processor.

The companies said the processor core is available for immediate use in the Xilinx family of field-programmable gate arrays. The netlist version of the LavaCore processor core and software tool suite is available from Derivation Systems (www.derivation.com) and includes the Linker/builder, debugger and run-time environment starting at $12,000.

The data sheet for the core can be downloaded from the Xilinx IP Center at www.xilinx.com/ipcenter.

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