CPU Shack - Rockwell Avionics JEM CPU

Rockwell Avionics & Communications Announces Java™ Milestone

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Sept. 23, 1997) -- The world's first microprocessor to directly execute the Java™ instruction set - and first working devices – have been developed by Rockwell Avionics & Communications, which is now exploring their use in advanced avionics applications.

The new JEM1™ microprocessor developed by A&C's Advanced Technology Center is the first in the JEM family of low-cost, low-power embedded CPUs that feature direct execution of the entire Java Virtual Machine instruction set, with no Java interpreter or just-in-time compiler required. It is intended mainly for use as a microcontroller core in applications such as telecommunications and navigation.

Rockwell Collins, Inc. reached agreement in March 1997 with Sun Microsystems to begin an ongoing cooperative effort to integrate Java into A&C processor technology.

"Java has the potential to provide new, previously impossible avionics capabilities," said Gene Schwarting, director of strategic management for the Collins General Aviation Division of Rockwell Avionics & Communications. "Implementing Java could allow us to provide our customers with quicker software upgrades for their systems, and could additionally support completely new capabilities."

The JEM1 core is only six square millimeters in 0.5 micron CMOS. Features include an interrupt controller; two programmable timers with prescaler; 32-, 16- and 8-bit external data bus support; two power-saving modules; and an IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) test interface.

"We applaud Rockwell for this important accomplishment in developing a Java processor" said Dhaval Ajmera, director of product marketing, Sun Microelectronics, a division of Sun Microsystems. "We expect the technology exchange agreement between Sun and Rockwell to open new doors for designers who want to create innovative products for targeted applications in the low-cost, high-volume arena."

As a largely "transparent" computer language that works across a wide range of operating systems, Sun Microsystem's Java language provides a robust platform-independent approach to programming complex networks, Schwarting said. "Java's blend of portability, security and advanced networking capabilities has characteristics that appear useful in adding advanced capabilities to Collins avionics systems through software restructuring, instead of expensive hardware replacement," Schwarting said. "We are actively assessing Java's potential for offering higher levels of operational capability as we confront a rapid pace of change in operational requirements."

Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun Logo and Java are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Rockwell is a global electronics company with leadership market positions in industrial automation, semiconductor systems and avionics and communications, with projected fiscal 1997 sales of approximately $8 billion and 44,000 employees. In March, Rockwell announced that it planned to spin off its automotive components business. This transaction is expected to be completed on September 30.