Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
Jul. 26, 2015
Notes to financial statements [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes We recognized income tax expense of $46 million and $84 million for the three and six months ended July 26, 2015, respectively, and $27 million and $53 million for the three and six months ended July 27, 2014, respectively. Income tax expense as a percentage of income before tax, or our effective tax rate, was 64.0% and 34.3% for the three and six months ended July 26, 2015, respectively, and 17.2% and 16.8% for the three and six months ended July 27, 2014, respectively. Our income tax expense for the three months ended July 26, 2015 included a charge of $27 million for the write-down of a deferred tax asset related to our Icera modem operations, partially offset by a $13 million tax benefit related to the restructuring and other charges. The increase in our effective tax rate in the three months ended July 26, 2015 as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year was primarily due to the tax related charges in connection with the wind-down of the Icera modem operations, an increase in the amount of earnings subject to U.S. tax, and increase of permanent tax differences related to stock-based compensation in the six months ended July 26, 2015. Our effective tax rate on income before tax for the six months ended July 26, 2015 of 34.3% was lower than the U. S. federal statutory rate of 35% due primarily to income earned in jurisdictions where the tax rate is lower than the U.S. federal statutory tax rate. Further, our actual effective tax rate for the six months ended July 26, 2015 of 34.3% differs from our annual projected effective tax rate for this period of 22.2% due to certain discrete items, including the tax related charges attributable to the wind-down of the Icera modem operations, partially offset by tax benefits recognized upon the expiration of statutes of limitations in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions. Our effective tax rate on income before tax for the six months ended July 27, 2014 of 16.8% was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due primarily to income earned in jurisdictions where the tax rate is lower than the U.S. statutory tax. For the six months ended July 26, 2015, there have been no material changes to our tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions. Additionally, there have been no other material changes to our unrecognized tax benefits and any related interest or penalties since the fiscal year ended January 25, 2015, other than the recognition of tax benefits upon the expiration of statute of limitation in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions in the six months ended July 26, 2015. While we believe that we have adequately provided for all uncertain tax positions, or tax positions where it is believed not more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination, amounts asserted by tax authorities could be greater or less than our accrued position. Accordingly, our provisions on federal, state and foreign tax related matters to be recorded in the future may change as revised estimates are made or the underlying matters are settled or otherwise resolved with the respective tax authorities. As of July 26, 2015, we do not believe that our estimates, as otherwise provided for, on such tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.

Income Taxes

We recognized income tax expense of $46 million and $84 million for the three and six months ended July 26, 2015, respectively, and $27 million and $53 million for the three and six months ended July 27, 2014, respectively. Income tax expense as a percentage of income before tax, or our effective tax rate, was 64.0% and 34.3% for the three and six months ended July 26, 2015, respectively, and 17.2% and 16.8% for the three and six months ended July 27, 2014, respectively.

Our income tax expense for the three months ended July 26, 2015 included a charge of $27 million for the write-down of a deferred tax asset related to our Icera modem operations, partially offset by a $13 million tax benefit related to the restructuring and other charges.

The increase in our effective tax rate in the three months ended July 26, 2015 as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year was primarily due to the tax related charges in connection with the wind-down of the Icera modem operations, an increase in the amount of earnings subject to U.S. tax, and increase of permanent tax differences related to stock-based compensation in the six months ended July 26, 2015.

Our effective tax rate on income before tax for the six months ended July 26, 2015 of 34.3% was lower than the U. S. federal statutory rate of 35% due primarily to income earned in jurisdictions where the tax rate is lower than the U.S. federal statutory tax rate. Further, our actual effective tax rate for the six months ended July 26, 2015 of 34.3% differs from our annual projected effective tax rate for this period of 22.2% due to certain discrete items, including the tax related charges attributable to the wind-down of the Icera modem operations, partially offset by tax benefits recognized upon the expiration of statutes of limitations in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions.

Our effective tax rate on income before tax for the six months ended July 27, 2014 of 16.8% was lower than the U.S. federal statutory rate of 35% due primarily to income earned in jurisdictions where the tax rate is lower than the U.S. statutory tax.

For the six months ended July 26, 2015, there have been no material changes to our tax years that remain subject to examination by major tax jurisdictions. Additionally, there have been no other material changes to our unrecognized tax benefits and any related interest or penalties since the fiscal year ended January 25, 2015, other than the recognition of tax benefits upon the expiration of statute of limitation in certain non-U.S. jurisdictions in the six months ended July 26, 2015.

While we believe that we have adequately provided for all uncertain tax positions, or tax positions where it is believed not more-likely-than-not that the position will be sustained upon examination, amounts asserted by tax authorities could be greater or less than our accrued position. Accordingly, our provisions on federal, state and foreign tax related matters to be recorded in the future may change as revised estimates are made or the underlying matters are settled or otherwise resolved with the respective tax authorities. As of July 26, 2015, we do not believe that our estimates, as otherwise provided for, on such tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next twelve months.