Note 9 - Deferred Income and Allowances on Sales to Distributors (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Deferred Income and Allowances on Sales to Distributors
Deferred revenue on shipments to distributors	$ 302,815,000		$ 529,332,000
Deferred cost of sales on shipments to distributors	(30,536,000)		(42,044,000)
Deferred income on shipment to distributors	272,279,000		487,288,000
Advances to distributors	(648,000)		(66,495,000)
Other deferred revenue	8,245,000	[1]	7,918,000	[1]
Total	279,876,000		428,711,000
Deferred Income and Allowances on Sales to Distributor Activity
Deferred revenue, beginning of period	428,711,000		281,885,000
Deferred revenue recognized upon shipment to distributors	5,189,404,000		7,771,347,000
Deferred costs of sales recognized upon shipments to distributors	(279,875,000)		(456,872,000)
(Increase) decrease in advances to distributors	65,847,000		(5,618,000)
Revenue recognized upon sell-through to end customers	(1,260,208,000)		(1,361,037,000)
Costs of sales recognized upon sell through to end customers	283,308,000		385,894,000
Earned distributor price concessions	(4,021,944,000)	[2]	(6,008,166,000)	[2]
Returns	(127,646,000)		(178,355,000)
(Decrease) increase in other deferred revenue	2,279,000		(367,000)
Deferred revenue, end of period	279,876,000		428,711,000
Deferred Income and Allowances on Sales to Distributors Textuals [Abstract]
Minimum percentage of average aggregate price concessions on list price	65.00%
Maximum percentage of average aggregate price concessions on list price	0.80
Advances recognized in other current assets	9,100,000		66,300,000
financingofdistributorinventorypurchase	$ 9,100,000		$ 66,300,000

[1] Principally represents revenue deferred on our software and intellectual property licenses.

[2] Average aggregate price concessions typically range from 65% to 80% of our list price on an annual basis, depending upon the composition of our sales, volumes and factors associated with the timing of shipments to distributors.