Editing Transmeta (section)

{{Short description|American semiconductor design company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Transmeta Corporation
| logo = [[File:Transmeta logo.svg|240px|Transmeta Corporation]]
| type = Private
| fate = Acquired by [[Novafora]], patent portfolio sold to [[Intellectual Ventures]].
| foundation = {{start date and age|1995}}
| defunct = {{end date and age|2009}}
| location = [[Santa Clara, California]]
| key_people = [[Murray A. Goldman]], [[David Ditzel]], Colin Hunter
| num_employees = 24 (2009)<ref name=zenobank>{{cite web |url=http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=TMTA&page=quotesearch |title=Company Profile for Transmeta Corp (TMTA) |access-date=October 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091202195113/http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=TMTA&page=quotesearch |archive-date=December 2, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| parent = Novafora
| industry = [[Intellectual property|Intellectual property licensing]]
| products = [[Microprocessor]]s, [[Microprocessor]] patents
| revenue = {{Increase}} $2.48 million (2007)<ref name="SEC_10K2007"/>
| operating_income = {{Decrease}} -$61.121 million (2007)<ref name="SEC_10K2007"/>
| net_income = {{Decrease}} -$66.812 million (2007)<ref name="SEC_10K2007"/>
}}

'''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 (computing)|interpreter]], a [[runtime system]] and a [[Binary translation#Dynamic binary translation|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.<ref name="Tech_Behind_Crusoe">{{cite web|url=http://www.transmeta.com/crusoe/download/pdf/crusoetechwp.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010119175600/http://www.transmeta.com/crusoe/download/pdf/crusoetechwp.pdf |archive-date=2001-01-19 |title=The Technology Behind Crusoe Processors, Transmeta Corporation |date=January 19, 2001 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Exper_With_DBT">{{cite conference|url=http://amas-bt.ece.utexas.edu/2008proceedings/Ditzel_Experience_with_Dynamic_BT_sm.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203022004/http://amas-bt.ece.utexas.edu/2008proceedings/Ditzel_Experience_with_Dynamic_BT_sm.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 3, 2013|title=Experiences with Dynamic Binary Translation (ISCA AMAS-BT Workshop Keynote)|conference=ISCA 2008|date=June 21, 2008|author=David R. Ditzel}}</ref><ref name="TMTA_Code_Morph_SW">{{cite conference|title=The Transmeta Code Morphing Software: Using Speculation, Recovery, and Adaptive Retranslation to Address Real-Life Challenges|url=http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=776261.776263&coll=DL&dl=GUIDE&CFID=379586314&CFTOKEN=14522525|conference=CGO 2003|date=March 27, 2003|author1=James C. Dehnert|author2=Brian K. Grant|author3=John P. Banning|author4=Richard Johnson|author5=Thomas Kistler|author6=Alexander Klaiber|author7=Jim Mattson}}</ref>

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.<ref name="Tech_Behind_Crusoe"/><ref name="Exper_With_DBT"/><ref name="TMTA_Code_Morph_SW"/>

The combination of CMS and the VLIW core allowed for the achievement of full x86 compatibility while maintaining performance and reducing power consumption.<ref name="Tech_Behind_Crusoe"/><ref name="Exper_With_DBT"/><ref name="TMTA_Code_Morph_SW"/>

Transmeta was founded in 1995 by [[Bob Cmelik]], [[Dave Ditzel]], Colin Hunter, Ed Kelly, [[Doug Laird]], [[Malcolm Wing]] and [[Greg Zyner]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Vance |first=Ashlee |author-link=Ashlee Vance |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/21/scc_episode7_david_ditzel/ |title=Semi-Coherent Computing Episode 7 – Podcast – Chip pioneer David Ditzel talks Transmeta, Sun and Bell Labs |publisher=Theregister.co.uk |date=September 21, 2007 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Magic_Show">{{cite journal |last1=Geppert |first1=Linda |last2=Perry |first2=Tekla |date=May 2000 |title=Transmeta's Magic Show |journal=IEEE Spectrum|publisher=IEEE |volume=37|issue=5|pages=26–33|doi=10.1109/6.842131 }}</ref>

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.
<ref name="TMTA_Sony">{{cite web|url=http://www.infoworld.com/t/hardware/sony-licenses-transmeta-power-saving-technology-466|title=Sony licenses Transmeta power-saving technology: Chipmaker looks to licensing to reach profitability|date=January 24, 2005}}</ref> After layoffs in 2007, Transmeta made a complete shift away from semiconductor production to IP licensing.
<ref name="TMTA_Quits_Proc_Biz">{{cite web |url=http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20070207230938.html |title=Transmeta Quits Microprocessor Business: Transmeta to Focus on IP Licensing |publisher=X-bit labs |date=February 2, 2007 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003164000/http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20070207230938.html |archive-date=October 3, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In January 2009, the company was acquired by [[Novafora]]<ref name="SEC_8K20090128">{{cite web|title=Transmeta Corporation 8-K|publisher=Securities and Exchange Commission|date=January 28, 2009|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1001193/000095013409001305/f51260e8vk.htm}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intellectualventures.com/index.php/news/press-releases/intellectual-ventures-acquires-transmeta-patent-portfolio |title=Acquires Transmeta Patent Portfolio |publisher=Intellectual Ventures |date=2009-01-28 |access-date=2014-03-03}}</ref>

Transmeta produced two [[x86]] compatible [[CPU architecture]]s: [[#Crusoe|Crusoe]] and [[#Efficeon|Efficeon]] – internal code names were 'Fred' and 'Astro'. These CPUs have appeared in [[subnotebook]]s, [[laptop|notebook]]s, [[desktop computer|desktops]], [[blade server]]s, [[Tablet computer|tablet PC]]s, 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),<ref name="Intel_Settlement">
{{cite web
 |title       = Transmeta Corporation – Transmeta Announces Settlement of Patent Litigation, Technology Transfer and License Agreement with Intel
 |publisher   = Investor.transmeta.com
 |url         = http://investor.transmeta.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=271024
 |access-date  = November 13, 2011
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120317185049/http://investor.transmeta.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=271024
 |archive-date = March 17, 2012
 |df          = mdy-all
}}
</ref>
Nvidia (with non-exclusive license to Transmeta's ''[[LongRun]]'' and ''LongRun2'' technologies and other intellectual property),<ref name="NVidia_License">
{{cite web
 | last = Crothers
 | first = Brooke
 | title = Transmeta licenses low-power tech to Nvidia
 | publisher = News.cnet.com
 | date = August 7, 2008
 | url = http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10009604-64.html
 | access-date = November 13, 2011
}}
</ref>
Sony (LongRun2 licensee),<ref name="Sony_License">
{{cite web
 | url = http://www.tomshardware.com/news/transmeta-licences-low,571.html
 | title = Transmeta licences low-power tech to Sony
| date = January 24, 2005
}}
</ref>
Fujitsu (LongRun2 licensee)<ref name="Fujitsu License">
{{cite web
 | url = http://www.tomshardware.com/news/fujitsu-licenses-transmetas-longrun-tech,421.html
 | title = Fujitsu licenses Transmeta's LongRun tech
| date = December 2, 2004
}}
</ref>
and NEC (LongRun2 licensee).<ref name="NEC_License">
{{cite web
 | url = http://www.tomshardware.com/news/nec-licenses-transmeta-technology,13.html
 | title = NEC licenses Transmeta technology, takes stake in company
| date = March 25, 2004
}}
</ref>