Investments	9 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2011
Investments [Abstract]
Investments	7. Investments Long-term investments consist of AAA rated auction rate securities (most of which are backed by the U.S. Federal or state and municipal government guarantees) held as available-for-sale investments. As of November 30, 2007 and prior period-end dates, investments in auction rate securities were classified as short-term in nature. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, such investments became subject to adverse market conditions, and the liquidity typically associated with the financial markets for such instruments became restricted as auctions began to fail. Given the circumstances, these securities were subsequently classified as long-term (or short-term if stated maturity dates were within one year of the reported balance sheet date), reflecting the restrictions on liquidity and the Company's intent to hold until maturity (or until such time as the principal investment could be recovered through other means, such as issuer calls and redemptions). See Note 3 - Fair Value for further discussion on related issues and matters, including fair valuation. On November 23, 2010, the Company invested $2.0 million in EqcoLogic, N.V. (“EqcoLogic”), a privately held Belgian corporation based in Brussels, Belgium. SMSC holds approximately 18.0% of the total outstanding equity of EqcoLogic on a fully diluted basis. The purchase of the equity shares has been accounted for as a cost-basis investment and is included in the Investments in equity securities caption on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Investments

9 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2011

7. Investments

Long-term investments consist of AAA rated auction rate securities (most of which are backed by the U.S. Federal or state and municipal government guarantees) held as available-for-sale investments. As of November 30, 2007 and prior period-end dates, investments in auction rate securities were classified as short-term in nature. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008, such investments became subject to adverse market conditions, and the liquidity typically associated with the financial markets for such instruments became restricted as auctions began to fail. Given the circumstances, these securities were subsequently classified as long-term (or short-term if stated maturity dates were within one year of the reported balance sheet date), reflecting the restrictions on liquidity and the Company's intent to hold until maturity (or until such time as the principal investment could be recovered through other means, such as issuer calls and redemptions). See Note 3 - Fair Value for further discussion on related issues and matters, including fair valuation.

On November 23, 2010, the Company invested $2.0 million in EqcoLogic, N.V. (“EqcoLogic”), a privately held Belgian corporation based in Brussels, Belgium. SMSC holds approximately 18.0% of the total outstanding equity of EqcoLogic on a fully diluted basis. The purchase of the equity shares has been accounted for as a cost-basis investment and is included in the Investments in equity securities caption on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet.