At the forefront of its march into yet untapped CPU processor core market is it 32-bit multi-threading Meta core processor that incorporates a multiply of threads for parallel processing of multiple instructions. .
When asked about if Imagination has a plan to make a dent into ARM Holding’s tight grip into CPU processor market with its Meta core, Tony King, vice-president said, “Yes. We are very proud of our Meta processor core. As the market matures with high-level OS software like Android and Linux creating a complete applications platform, the dependency on low-level instruction sets of a CPU is going away.”
Added he “We believe our Meta core can combine Android on one thread with Dolby audio on another thread, and the third thread can be used for other applications. This combination is making it uniquely well suited for a next generation of SOCs. This (SOC) is well suited for smartphones, particularly, set-top-boxes and TVs. We plan for much broader world of Internet everything.”
Running on Linux, Android, and various RTOSes (real time OSes) like Imagination’s MeOS , the Meta processor is typical of parallelism computing architecture, which Imagination bets will be an ultimate processor engine of SOCs.
According to Imagination, the multithreading architecture can enable Android, RTOSes and DSP to share memory system and processor engine more efficiently than conventional multi-core approaches, outmaneuvering them in power consumption.
Moreover, each thread of the Meta core can be configured for general DSP to combines two capabilities –processor core ad DSP core –into one single processor.
Imagination’s Meta processor has been widely deployed across a wide variety of audio products. Imagination recently got a Dolby MS11 certification for the Meta processors, paving the way for the processor to decode a wide range of multi-stream audio standards, including Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital, HE AAC with Dolby metadata and all HE AAC/AAC bit-streams.
The breadth and depth of its technology portfolio plays out in favor of Imagination, too. Imagination Technologies has a wide range of processor core and software IPs from well-know PowerVR GPU and video processor, Ensigma communications and radio processor, HelloSoft video and voice over IP and voice over LTE software solutions.
“Customers finally come to us as one- stop-shop for everything –computing, communications and multimedia processing. This can create tremendously effective way to be able to the market,” said vice president Tony King.
“The key point is that Imagination is the only company to have this unique portfolio across all aspects of SOC processor,” added he