Chip Stacks JVM, SRAM, Flash

March 17, 2003

Java processor chip includes a memory interface that shares stacked SRAM and flash memory chips with a host CPU.

Java-enabled cell phones with a small footprint require packages like Nanoamp's SmartCombo multichip carrier (MCP) solution, which combines a Java virtual machine (JVM), SRAM/PSRAM, and flash memory into a single, compact package. The logical architecture is similar to Nazomi's (www.nazomi.com) JA108, which interposes a Java processor and memory controller between the host processor and the memory subsystem.

Like the JA108, the MOCA-J (Memory Oriented Coprocessor Accelerator for Java) executes Java bytecodes from memory, while the host processor can access its applications from the same memory. The MOCA-J memory interface coordinates memory access. Java performance can be over 100 times faster than a Java interpreter running on the host processor.

The key to NanoAmp's solution is the MCP and low-power support. The company supplies the MOCA-J die, and it can provide the SRAM or PSRAM die, as well as the flash memory die.

NanoAmp Solutions Inc.
www.nanoamp.com

See associated figure

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William G. Wong | Senior Content Director - Electronic Design and Microwaves & RF

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