The Intel Integrated Sensor Hub “ISH” allows for offloading sensor polling and other tasks to a low-power co-processor to help reduce overall system power consumption for extending battery life with tablets, embedded devices, and 2-in1 laptops.
The Intel Integrated Sensor Hub has been supported by the mainline Linux kernel for nearly one decade and that open-source driver has also relied on proprietary firmware for operation. The proprietary/closed-source firmware isn’t a surprise compared to other complex Intel devices but it’s been carrying a rather burdening license that is now being simplified.
The Intel ISH firmware binaries ship as part of linux-firmware.git that is then picked up by nearly all Linux distributions out there to provide a pleasant Linux hardware experience with having all the firmware/microcode present on the system. License files included albeit no guarantee they are ever viewed by end-users especially considering the myriad of different licenses for these firmware files.
Unlike some of the other closed-source firmware files shipped by Intel for Linux systems, the Intel ISH firmware ended up being over-burdening with the use of their Limited Distribution License Agreement. As of today though the ISH firmware files are being made available under a much simpler redistribution license.
Those curious about the licensing before/after change can find it via this linux-firmware.git merge.
