Income Taxes	9 Months Ended
Oct. 25, 2015
Notes to financial statements [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes We recognized income tax benefit of $1 million for the three months ended October 25, 2015 and income tax expense of $83 million, $36 million and $90 million for the nine months ended October 25, 2015 and three and nine months ended October 26, 2014, respectively. Income tax benefit as a percentage of income before tax was 0.5% for the three months ended October 25, 2015 and income tax expense as a percentage of income before tax was 16.9%, 17.3% and 17.0% for the nine months ended October 25, 2015 and three and nine months ended October 26, 2014, respectively. Our income tax benefit for the three months ended October 25, 2015 included a tax benefit of $49 million from a tax reserve release related to our Icera modem operations upon the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations. In addition to this benefit, our income tax expense for the nine months ended October 25, 2015 also included a $27 million charge for the write-down of a deferred tax asset related to our Icera modem operations, partially offset by the tax benefit related to restructuring and other charges. The decrease in our effective tax rate in the three months ended October 25, 2015 as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year was primarily due to the favorable impact of the benefit from the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations, partially offset by an increase in the amount of earnings subject to U.S. tax. Our effective tax rate for the nine months ended October 25, 2015 of 16.9% 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, and certain discrete events including the tax benefit recognized upon the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations and other tax benefits related to the Icera modem operations, partially offset by the write-down of a deferred tax asset related to Icera. Our effective tax rate for the nine months ended October 26, 2014 of 17.0% 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 and favorable discrete events primarily attributable to the tax benefit recognized upon the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations. For the nine months ended October 25, 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 aforementioned recognition of tax benefits upon the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations in the nine months ended October 25, 2015. While we believe that we have adequately provided for all uncertain tax positions, or tax positions where we believe it is 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 October 25, 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 benefit of $1 million for the three months ended October 25, 2015 and income tax expense of $83 million, $36 million and $90 million for the nine months ended October 25, 2015 and three and nine months ended October 26, 2014, respectively. Income tax benefit as a percentage of income before tax was 0.5% for the three months ended October 25, 2015 and income tax expense as a percentage of income before tax was 16.9%, 17.3% and 17.0% for the nine months ended October 25, 2015 and three and nine months ended October 26, 2014, respectively.

Our income tax benefit for the three months ended October 25, 2015 included a tax benefit of $49 million from a tax reserve release related to our Icera modem operations upon the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations. In addition to this benefit, our income tax expense for the nine months ended October 25, 2015 also included a $27 million charge for the write-down of a deferred tax asset related to our Icera modem operations, partially offset by the tax benefit related to restructuring and other charges.

The decrease in our effective tax rate in the three months ended October 25, 2015 as compared to the same period in the prior fiscal year was primarily due to the favorable impact of the benefit from the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations, partially offset by an increase in the amount of earnings subject to U.S. tax.

Our effective tax rate for the nine months ended October 25, 2015 of 16.9% 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, and certain discrete events including the tax benefit recognized upon the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations and other tax benefits related to the Icera modem operations, partially offset by the write-down of a deferred tax asset related to Icera.

Our effective tax rate for the nine months ended October 26, 2014 of 17.0% 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 and favorable discrete events primarily attributable to the tax benefit recognized upon the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations.

For the nine months ended October 25, 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 aforementioned recognition of tax benefits upon the expiration of applicable statutes of limitations in the nine months ended October 25, 2015.

While we believe that we have adequately provided for all uncertain tax positions, or tax positions where we believe it is 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 October 25, 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.