Intangible Assets

12 Months Ended

Jan. 27, 2013

Notes to financial statements [Abstract]

Intangible Assets

Amortizable Intangible Assets

The components of our amortizable intangible assets are as follows:

	January 27, 2013								January 29, 2012
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net  Carrying Amount		Weighted Average Useful Life	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net  Carrying Amount		Weighted Average Useful Life
	(In thousands)							(In years)	(In thousands)							(In years)
Acquisition-related intangible assets	$	172,039	$	(96,389	)	$	75,650	6.9	$	172,039	$	(79,261	)	$	92,778	6.0
Patents and licensed technology	407,002		(170,320		)	236,682		7.0	352,386		(119,028		)	233,358		7.3
Total intangible assets	$	579,041	$	(266,709	)	$	312,332		$	524,425	$	(198,289	)	$	326,136

Amortization expense associated with intangible assets for fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011 was $68.4 million, $59.0 million and $30.0 million, respectively. Amortization expense increased compared to the prior year primarily due to the addition of a patent portfolio and from in-process technology from the acquisition of Icera Inc. that we deemed to be complete in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, at which point we began to amortize it over its estimated useful life of five years. Future amortization expense for the net carrying amount of intangible assets at January 27, 2013 is estimated to be $68.4 million in fiscal year 2014, $68.3 million in fiscal year 2015, $59.7 million in fiscal year 2016, $44.1 million in fiscal year 2017, $40.5 million in fiscal year 2018 and $31.3 million in fiscal years subsequent to fiscal year 2018 until fully amortized.