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Transmeta

Transmeta Corporation
Company typePrivate
IndustryIntellectual property licensing
Founded1995 (1995)
Defunct2009 (2009)
FateAcquired by Novafora, patent portfolio sold to Intellectual Ventures.
HeadquartersSanta Clara, California
Key people
Murray A. Goldman, David Ditzel, Colin Hunter
ProductsMicroprocessors, Microprocessor patents
RevenueIncrease $2.48 million (2007)[1]
Decrease $61.121 million (2007)[1]
Decrease $66.812 million (2007)[1]
Number of employees
24 (2009)[2]
ParentNovafora

Transmeta Corporation was an American fabless semiconductor company based in Santa Clara, California. It developed low power x86 compatible microprocessors based on a VLIW core and a software layer called Code Morphing Software.

Code Morphing Software (CMS) consisted of an interpreter, a runtime system and a dynamic binary translator. x86 instructions were first interpreted one instruction at a time and profiled, then depending upon the frequency of execution of a code block, CMS would progressively generate more optimized translations.[3][4][5]

The VLIW core implemented features specifically designed to accelerate CMS and translations. Among the features were support for general speculation, detection of memory aliasing and detection of self modifying x86 code.[3][4][5]

The combination of CMS and the VLIW core allowed for the achievement of full x86 compatibility while maintaining performance and reducing power consumption.[3][4][5]

Transmeta was founded in 1995 by Bob Cmelik, Dave Ditzel, Colin Hunter, Ed Kelly, Doug Laird, Malcolm Wing and Greg Zyner.[6][7]

Its first product, the Crusoe processor, was launched on January 19, 2000. Transmeta went public on November 7, 2000. On October 14, 2003, it launched its second major product, the Efficeon processor. In 2005, Transmeta increased its focus on licensing its portfolio of microprocessor and semiconductor technologies. [8] After layoffs in 2007, Transmeta made a complete shift away from semiconductor production to IP licensing. [9] In January 2009, the company was acquired by Novafora[10] and the patent portfolio was sold to Intellectual Ventures. Novafora ceased operations in August 2009. Intellectual Ventures licenses the Transmeta IP to other companies on a non-exclusive basis.[11]

Transmeta produced two x86 compatible CPU architectures: Crusoe and Efficeon – internal code names were 'Fred' and 'Astro'. These CPUs have appeared in subnotebooks, notebooks, desktops, blade servers, tablet PCs, a personal cluster computer, and a silent desktop, where low power consumption and heat dissipation are of primary importance.

Before the 2009 acquisition by Novafora, Transmeta had moderate success licensing its IP. Licensors for Transmeta technology are Intel (with a perpetual, non-exclusive license to all Transmeta patents and patent applications, including any that Transmeta might acquire before December 31, 2017),[12] Nvidia (with non-exclusive license to Transmeta's LongRun and LongRun2 technologies and other intellectual property),[13] Sony (LongRun2 licensee),[14] Fujitsu (LongRun2 licensee)[15] and NEC (LongRun2 licensee).[16]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference SEC_10K2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Company Profile for Transmeta Corp (TMTA)". Archived from the original on December 2, 2009. Retrieved October 3, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "The Technology Behind Crusoe Processors, Transmeta Corporation" (PDF). January 19, 2001. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 19, 2001. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c David R. Ditzel (June 21, 2008). Experiences with Dynamic Binary Translation (ISCA AMAS-BT Workshop Keynote) (PDF). ISCA 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c James C. Dehnert; Brian K. Grant; John P. Banning; Richard Johnson; Thomas Kistler; Alexander Klaiber; Jim Mattson (March 27, 2003). The Transmeta Code Morphing Software: Using Speculation, Recovery, and Adaptive Retranslation to Address Real-Life Challenges. CGO 2003.
  6. ^ Vance, Ashlee (September 21, 2007). "Semi-Coherent Computing Episode 7 – Podcast – Chip pioneer David Ditzel talks Transmeta, Sun and Bell Labs". Theregister.co.uk. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  7. ^ Geppert, Linda; Perry, Tekla (May 2000). "Transmeta's Magic Show". IEEE Spectrum. 37 (5). IEEE: 26–33. doi:10.1109/6.842131.
  8. ^ "Sony licenses Transmeta power-saving technology: Chipmaker looks to licensing to reach profitability". January 24, 2005.
  9. ^ "Transmeta Quits Microprocessor Business: Transmeta to Focus on IP Licensing". X-bit labs. February 2, 2007. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  10. ^ "Transmeta Corporation 8-K". Securities and Exchange Commission. January 28, 2009.
  11. ^ "Acquires Transmeta Patent Portfolio". Intellectual Ventures. January 28, 2009. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  12. ^ "Transmeta Corporation – Transmeta Announces Settlement of Patent Litigation, Technology Transfer and License Agreement with Intel". Investor.transmeta.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  13. ^ Crothers, Brooke (August 7, 2008). "Transmeta licenses low-power tech to Nvidia". News.cnet.com. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  14. ^ "Transmeta licences low-power tech to Sony". January 24, 2005.
  15. ^ "Fujitsu licenses Transmeta's LongRun tech". December 2, 2004.
  16. ^ "NEC licenses Transmeta technology, takes stake in company". March 25, 2004.
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