Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	9 Months Ended
Oct. 29, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements
Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]	1. Organization and summary of significant accounting policies Organization and nature of operations: Sigma Designs, Inc. (referred to collectively in these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as “Sigma,” “we,” “our”, “the Company” and “us”) is a provider of intelligent media platforms for use in a variety of ever-growing devices from home entertainment and security systems to energy management appliances. We sell our products into two primary target markets which are the Internet of Things Devices (“IoT Devices”) and Connected Smart TV Platforms markets. Our integrated semiconductor solutions serve as the foundation for some of the world’s leading consumer products, including televisions, set-top boxes and wired connectivity solutions which are primarily targeted for the Connected Smart TV Platforms market, and consumer electronics sold in the IoT Devices market. A majority of our primary products are semiconductors that are targeted toward end-product manufacturers, Original Equipment Manufacturers, or OEMs, and Original Design Manufacturers, or ODMs. We derive a portion of our revenue from licensing and other activities, including licensing of our software development kits, engineering support services for hardware and software, engineering development for customization of chipsets and other accessories. Basis of presentation: The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sigma Designs, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. In November 2015, we completed our acquisition of Bretelon, Inc. (referred to as “Bretelon”). The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of Bretelon commencing as of the acquisition date. See Note 6 for further discussion. We operate and report quarterly financial results that consist of 13 weeks and end on the last Saturday of the period. The third quarter of fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 ended on October 29, 2016 (91 days) and October 31, 2015 (91 days), respectively. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). They do not include all disclosures required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended January 30, 2016, included in our fiscal 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on April 4, 2016, referred to as our fiscal 2016 Annual Report. The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited; however, they contain all normal recurring accruals and adjustments that, in our opinion, are necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position at October 29, 2016 and January 30, 2016, the consolidated results of our operations for the three and nine months ended October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015, and the consolidated cash flows for the nine months ended October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended October 29, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for future quarters or the full year. There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting policies during the nine months ended October 29, 2016, as compared to the critical accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 2016. For a complete summary of our significant accounting policies, refer to Note 1, "Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”, in Part II, Item 8 of our fiscal 2016 Annual Report. Recent accounting pronouncements Recent accounting pronouncements expected to impact our operations that are not yet effective are summarized as follows: In October 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (“ASU 2016-16”), which requires the recognition of the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs. ASU 2016-16 is effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (“ASU 2016-13”), which modifies the measurement of expected credit losses for financial assets held. ASU 2016-13 is effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. In May 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients (“ASU 2016-12”). The update clarifies certain issues related to transitioning to the new revenue guidance, as well as, assessing collectability, recognition of noncash consideration and presentation of sales and other similar taxes in revenue transactions. ASU 2016-12 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The effective date for this ASU is the same as the effective date for ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard update will have on our consolidated financial statements. In April 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing (“ASU 2016-10”). The update provides guidance on accounting for licenses of intellectual property (“IP”) and identifying performance obligations. The amendments clarify how an entity should evaluate its promise when granting a license of IP. They also clarify when a promised good or service is separately identifiable and allow entities to disregard items that are immaterial in the context of the contract. ASU 2016-10 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The effective date for this ASU is the same as the effective date for ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers . We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard update will have on our consolidated financial statements. In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting (“ASU 2016-09”). The amendment simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payments, including immediate recognition of all excess tax benefits and deficiencies in the income statement, changing the threshold to qualify for equity classification up to the employees’ maximum statutory tax rates, allowing an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures as they occur, and clarifying the classification on the statement of cash flows for the excess tax benefit and employee taxes paid when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard update will have on our consolidated financial statements.

1. Organization and summary of significant accounting policies

Organization and nature of operations:

Sigma Designs, Inc. (referred to collectively in these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as “Sigma,” “we,” “our”, “the Company” and “us”) is a provider of intelligent media platforms for use in a variety of ever-growing devices from home entertainment and security systems to energy management appliances. We sell our products into two primary target markets which are the Internet of Things Devices (“IoT Devices”) and Connected Smart TV Platforms markets. Our integrated semiconductor solutions serve as the foundation for some of the world’s leading consumer products, including televisions, set-top boxes and wired connectivity solutions which are primarily targeted for the Connected Smart TV Platforms market, and consumer electronics sold in the IoT Devices market. A majority of our primary products are semiconductors that are targeted toward end-product manufacturers, Original Equipment Manufacturers, or OEMs, and Original Design Manufacturers, or ODMs. We derive a portion of our revenue from licensing and other activities, including licensing of our software development kits, engineering support services for hardware and software, engineering development for customization of chipsets and other accessories.

Basis of presentation:

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Sigma Designs, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation. In November 2015, we completed our acquisition of Bretelon, Inc. (referred to as “Bretelon”). The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the results of operations of Bretelon commencing as of the acquisition date. See Note 6 for further discussion.

We operate and report quarterly financial results that consist of 13 weeks and end on the last Saturday of the period. The third quarter of fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 ended on October 29, 2016 (91 days) and October 31, 2015 (91 days), respectively.

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”) for interim financial information and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). They do not include all disclosures required by US GAAP for complete financial statements. Therefore, these financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended January 30, 2016, included in our fiscal 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on April 4, 2016, referred to as our fiscal 2016 Annual Report.

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited; however, they contain all normal recurring accruals and adjustments that, in our opinion, are necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position at October 29, 2016 and January 30, 2016, the consolidated results of our operations for the three and nine months ended October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015, and the consolidated cash flows for the nine months ended October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended October 29, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for future quarters or the full year.

There have been no significant changes in our critical accounting policies during the nine months ended October 29, 2016, as compared to the critical accounting policies described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 2016. For a complete summary of our significant accounting policies, refer to Note 1, "Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies”, in Part II, Item 8 of our fiscal 2016 Annual Report.

Recent accounting pronouncements

Recent accounting pronouncements expected to impact our operations that are not yet effective are summarized as follows:

In October 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-16,

Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory

(“ASU 2016-16”), which requires the recognition of the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs. ASU 2016-16 is effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13,

Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments

(“ASU 2016-13”), which modifies the measurement of expected credit losses for financial assets held. ASU 2016-13 is effective for us beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and early adoption is permitted. The adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-12,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients

(“ASU 2016-12”). The update clarifies certain issues related to transitioning to the new revenue guidance, as well as, assessing collectability, recognition of noncash consideration and presentation of sales and other similar taxes in revenue transactions. ASU 2016-12 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The effective date for this ASU is the same as the effective date for ASU 2014-09,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

. We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard update will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In April 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-10,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing

(“ASU 2016-10”). The update provides guidance on accounting for licenses of intellectual property (“IP”) and identifying performance obligations. The amendments clarify how an entity should evaluate its promise when granting a license of IP. They also clarify when a promised good or service is separately identifiable and allow entities to disregard items that are immaterial in the context of the contract. ASU 2016-10 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. The effective date for this ASU is the same as the effective date for ASU 2014-09,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

. We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard update will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09,

Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting

(“ASU 2016-09”). The amendment simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payments, including immediate recognition of all excess tax benefits and deficiencies in the income statement, changing the threshold to qualify for equity classification up to the employees’ maximum statutory tax rates, allowing an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures as they occur, and clarifying the classification on the statement of cash flows for the excess tax benefit and employee taxes paid when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted in any interim or annual period. We are currently evaluating the impact that this standard update will have on our consolidated financial statements.