Consolidated Variable Interest Entities - Assets & Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2006	Sep. 01, 2011	Sep. 01, 2011 IM Flash [Member]		Sep. 02, 2010 IM Flash [Member]		Sep. 01, 2011 MP Mask Technology Center, LLC [Member]		Sep. 02, 2010 MP Mask Technology Center, LLC [Member]
Assets
Cash and equivalents			$ 327	[1]	$ 246	[1]
Receivables			252	[1]	154	[1]
Inventories			227	[1]	160	[1]
Other current assets			11	[1]	8	[1]
Total current assets			817	[1]	568	[1]	24	[1]	35	[1]
Property, plant and equipment, net			4,121	[1]	2,894	[1]
Other noncurrent assets			66	[1]	57	[1]	143	[1]	85	[1]
Total assets			5,004	[1]	3,519	[1]
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			458	[1]	140	[1]
Deferred income			125	[1]	127	[1]
Equipment purchase contracts			37	[1]	8	[1]
Current portion of long-term debt			8	[1]	7	[1]
Total current liabilities			628	[1]	282	[1]	31	[1]	6	[1]
Long-term debt			58	[1]	62	[1]
Other noncurrent liabilities			4	[1]	4	[1]
Total liabilities			690	[1]	348	[1]
Proceeds for entering into license agreement with Photronics	72
Term of license agreement with Photronics (in years)	10Y
Deferred income and other noncurrent liabilities related to license agreement with Photronics		$ 34

[1] Amounts exclude intercompany balances that are eliminated in our consolidated balance sheets.