Note 6 - Investments in privately held companies	12 Months Ended
Jan. 28, 2012
Schedule of Other Investments Not Readily Marketable [Text Block]	6. Investments in and Notes receivable from privately held companies Investments in privately held companies During fiscal 2009, we purchased shares of preferred stock in two privately held venture capital funded technology companies (“Issuer A” and “Issuer B”) at a total investment cost of $3.0 million. In the third quarter of fiscal 2010, we purchased a convertible note from Issuer A with a face value equal to the cost of $3.0 million, which is convertible into the issuer’s preferred stock under certain circumstances, bears interest at a rate of 9% per annum and became callable after November 30, 2009. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, we purchased additional shares of preferred stock in Issuer B at a cost of $1.0 million. In the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we purchased shares of preferred stock in another privately held technology company (“Issuer C”) at a total investment cost of $1.0 million. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, we purchased shares of preferred stock in another privately held technology company (“Issuer D”) at a total investment cost of $1.0 million. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, we also purchased a convertible note from another privately held technology company (“Issuer E”) with a face value equal to the cost of $0.3 million. This amount of $0.3 million will convert to a quantity of equity upon any closing of financing prior to December 31, 2012. In the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we purchased shares of preferred stock in another privately held technology company (“Issuer F”) at a total investment cost of $2.0 million. In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we made an equity investment of $0.2 million in a privately held joint venture (“Issuer G”). As of January 28, 2012, we have investments in the amount of zero, net of impairment reserve, in Issuer A, $2.0 million in Issuer B, $1.0 million in Issuer C, $1.0 million in Issuer D, $0.3 million in Issuer E, $2.0 million in Issuer F and $0.2 million in Issuer G for a total investment of $6.4 million in these seven companies. Three of our four directors held equity interests in Issuer A in which we had invested an aggregate of $5.0 million and one of these directors was also a director of Issuer A. In the aggregate, these equity and debt interests did not rise to the level of a material or a controlling interest in Issuer A. Our board of directors appointed our director who had no interest in Issuer A to evaluate each investment in Issuer A and to recommend appropriate action to the board of directors. All investment transactions with Issuer A were approved and recommended by this independent director and made as the result of a negotiation process. During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, Issuer A determined that additional funding would be required to continue operations. Issuer A held discussions with various parties, and a third party made a preliminary offer to purchase substantially all of its assets at a price that would not allow us to collect any amount on our investments in Issuer A. Based on the available information, we determined that the value of our investment in Issuer A had suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value. Accordingly, at July 31, 2010, we recorded an impairment charge of $5.2 million to fully write down the carrying value of the preferred stock equity investment and fully reserve the convertible note receivable, including accrued interest, due to our expected inability to collect any amounts in connection with these investments. Subsequently, this issuer was liquidated in bankruptcy and we received no amounts. Accordingly, as of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, the convertible note in Issuer A was valued at zero. As of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, our equity investments in privately held companies were valued at $6.4 million and $4.3 million, respectively, representing their cost, net of reserve for impairment. Notes receivable from privately held companies In June 2010, we loaned $0.2 million and received a promissory note from Issuer B. This note bore interest at a rate of 3% per annum and was fully repaid in December 2011. In November 2010, we loaned an additional $1.0 million to Issuer B and received a secured promissory note. This promissory note is secured by the assets of Issuer B, bearing interest at a rate of 5% per annum, and is scheduled to be fully repaid by June 2013. In January 2012, we loaned $2.5 million to a privately-held venture capital funded technology company (“Issuer H”), pursuant to a strategic agreement dated January 25, 2012. This loan was made in exchange for a secured promissory note, bearing interest at a rate of 3% per annum. The note plus the accrued interest is due 36 months from the agreement date. The note is secured by the assets of Issuer H. Additionally, pursuant to this agreement we have the right, subject to certain conditions, for one year from the agreement date, to acquire all the outstanding securities of Issuer H for $11.2 million. As of January 28, 2012, these conditions had not been met and we had not determined whether we intend to exercise this right. This right will expire in January 2013. We have a variable interest in Issuer H and it is a variable interest entity, however, we have concluded that we are not the primary beneficiary of Issuer H because we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Issuer H’s financial performance. As of January 28, 2012, our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with Issuer H was limited to our $2.5 million note receivable. As of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, our notes receivable from privately held companies were valued at $3.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively, representing their cost.

Note 6 - Investments in privately held companies

12 Months Ended

Jan. 28, 2012

Schedule of Other Investments Not Readily Marketable [Text Block]

6. Investments in and Notes receivable from privately held companies

Investments in privately held companies

During fiscal 2009, we purchased shares of preferred stock in two privately held venture capital funded technology companies (“Issuer A” and “Issuer B”) at a total investment cost of $3.0 million. In the third quarter of fiscal 2010, we purchased a convertible note from Issuer A with a face value equal to the cost of $3.0 million, which is convertible into the issuer’s preferred stock under certain circumstances, bears interest at a rate of 9% per annum and became callable after November 30, 2009. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010, we purchased additional shares of preferred stock in Issuer B at a cost of $1.0 million. In the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we purchased shares of preferred stock in another privately held technology company (“Issuer C”) at a total investment cost of $1.0 million. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, we purchased shares of preferred stock in another privately held technology company (“Issuer D”) at a total investment cost of $1.0 million. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011, we also purchased a convertible note from another privately held technology company (“Issuer E”) with a face value equal to the cost of $0.3 million. This amount of $0.3 million will convert to a quantity of equity upon any closing of financing prior to December 31, 2012. In the second quarter of fiscal 2012, we purchased shares of preferred stock in another privately held technology company (“Issuer F”) at a total investment cost of $2.0 million. In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we made an equity investment of $0.2 million in a privately held joint venture (“Issuer G”).

As of January 28, 2012, we have investments in the amount of zero, net of impairment reserve, in Issuer A, $2.0 million in Issuer B, $1.0 million in Issuer C, $1.0 million in Issuer D, $0.3 million in Issuer E, $2.0 million in Issuer F and $0.2 million in Issuer G for a total investment of $6.4 million in these seven companies. Three of our four directors held equity interests in Issuer A in which we had invested an aggregate of $5.0 million and one of these directors was also a director of Issuer A. In the aggregate, these equity and debt interests did not rise to the level of a material or a controlling interest in Issuer A. Our board of directors appointed our director who had no interest in Issuer A to evaluate each investment in Issuer A and to recommend appropriate action to the board of directors. All investment transactions with Issuer A were approved and recommended by this independent director and made as the result of a negotiation process.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2011, Issuer A determined that additional funding would be required to continue operations. Issuer A held discussions with various parties, and a third party made a preliminary offer to purchase substantially all of its assets at a price that would not allow us to collect any amount on our investments in Issuer A. Based on the available information, we determined that the value of our investment in Issuer A had suffered an other-than-temporary decline in value. Accordingly, at July 31, 2010, we recorded an impairment charge of $5.2 million to fully write down the carrying value of the preferred stock equity investment and fully reserve the convertible note receivable, including accrued interest, due to our expected inability to collect any amounts in connection with these investments. Subsequently, this issuer was liquidated in bankruptcy and we received no amounts. Accordingly, as of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, the convertible note in Issuer A was valued at zero.

As of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, our equity investments in privately held companies were valued at $6.4 million and $4.3 million, respectively, representing their cost, net of reserve for impairment.

Notes receivable from privately held companies

In June 2010, we loaned $0.2 million and received a promissory note from Issuer B. This note bore interest at a rate of 3% per annum and was fully repaid in December 2011. In November 2010, we loaned an additional $1.0 million to Issuer B and received a secured promissory note. This promissory note is secured by the assets of Issuer B, bearing interest at a rate of 5% per annum, and is scheduled to be fully repaid by June 2013. In January 2012, we loaned $2.5 million to a privately-held venture capital funded technology company (“Issuer H”), pursuant to a strategic agreement dated January 25, 2012. This loan was made in exchange for a secured promissory note, bearing interest at a rate of 3% per annum. The note plus the accrued interest is due 36 months from the agreement date. The note is secured by the assets of Issuer H. Additionally, pursuant to this agreement we have the right, subject to certain conditions, for one year from the agreement date, to acquire all the outstanding securities of Issuer H for $11.2 million. As of January 28, 2012, these conditions had not been met and we had not determined whether we intend to exercise this right. This right will expire in January 2013. We have a variable interest in Issuer H and it is a variable interest entity, however, we have concluded that we are not the primary beneficiary of Issuer H because we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact Issuer H’s financial performance. As of January 28, 2012, our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with Issuer H was limited to our $2.5 million note receivable.

As of January 28, 2012 and January 29, 2011, our notes receivable from privately held companies were valued at $3.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively, representing their cost.