Imagination META

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The META is a 32-bit multithreaded microprocessor developed by Metagence Technologies Division from Imagination Technologies. [1] First version of META were developed in 2001 as META-1 multithreaded DSP core aimed for audio, radio and video processing. [2] META HTP core family was announced in 2007 and is based on META-2 architecture. [3] [4]

META family consists of Meta HTP applications processors (400–700 MHz on 65L  65G process [3] ), META MTP Embedded Processors and Meta LTP Embedded Microcontrollers. [5]

It is supported by the Linux kernel as of version 3.9. [6] [7] [8]

In 2018 March, LWN.net reported that Imagination Technologies redirected its focus away from Meta after its purchase of MIPS Technologies in 2012. This has led to a proposal on Linux development mailing lists to remove support for the architecture from the kernel which became effective with the release of Linux 4.17 in June 2018. [9] [10]

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References

  1. Henry Davis (2006-03-20). "Inside the Imagination Technologies Meta processor". EETimes.
  2. "Imagination Technologies Announces New Revolutionary DSP Cores and Metagence Technologies Division". Imagination Technologies. 2001-05-08.
  3. 1 2 "Imagination Technologies META HTP Multi-Threaded Processor IP Core". Design and Reuse. 2007-10-31.
  4. Peter Clarke (2007-11-07). "Meta HTP extends support for different operating systems". EE Times Europe.
  5. Product Description on Imagination Technologies website
  6. Pull new ImgTec Meta architecture from James Hogan
  7. "Linux 3.9 has been released". Kernel Newbies. 1.5. New architecture: Meta Imagination processors
  8. Richard Chirgwin (2013-05-01). "Linux kernel 3.9 lands. Power management, new processors, SSD caching and more". The Register. The new kernel is now ported to .. Imagination Meta ATP and HTP processor cores – an embedded Linux play .. the Imagination devices turn in in digital radios.
  9. Jonathan Corbet (2018-02-26). "Shedding old architectures and compilers in the kernel". LWN.net. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
  10. Linus Torvalds (2018-06-03). "Linux 4.17 Release Notes". lkml.org. Retrieved 2018-06-18.