National Semiconductor acquisition-related costs (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] positions	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Minimum [Member] Y	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Maximum [Member] Y	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Distributor contract termination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Distributor contract termination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Distributor contract termination [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Distributor contract termination [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 National [Member] Distributor contract termination [Member] Distributors	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Inventory related [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Inventory related [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Inventory related [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Inventory related [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] As recorded in COR [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] As recorded in COR [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] As recorded in COR [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] As recorded in COR [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Amortization of intangible assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Amortization of intangible assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Amortization of intangible assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Amortization of intangible assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Retention bonuses [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Retention bonuses [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Retention bonuses [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Retention bonuses [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Stock-based compensation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Stock-based compensation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Stock-based compensation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Stock-based compensation [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Employment reductions announced at closing [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Employment reductions announced at closing [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Employment reductions announced at closing [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Employment reductions announced at closing [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Employment reductions announced at closing [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Employment reductions announced at closing [Member] Amount to be paid later in the year [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Change of control [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Change of control [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Change of control [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Change of control [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Transaction and other costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Transaction and other costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] Transaction and other costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] Transaction and other costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] As recorded in Acquisition charges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] As recorded in Acquisition charges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 National [Member] As recorded in Acquisition charges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 National [Member] As recorded in Acquisition charges [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Acquisition-related costs	$ 106	$ 147	$ 363	$ 162	$ 106	$ 154	$ 384	$ 169				$ 0	$ 0	$ 21	$ 0		$ 0	$ 7	$ 0	$ 7	$ 0	$ 7	$ 21	$ 7	$ 81	$ 6	$ 244	$ 6	$ 5	$ 6	$ 53	$ 6	$ 4	$ 41	$ 14	$ 41	$ 3	$ 12	$ 17	$ 12	$ 45		$ 0	$ 41	$ 0	$ 41	$ 13	$ 41	$ 35	$ 56	$ 106	$ 147	$ 363	$ 162
Business Acquistion, Number of distributors discontinued																1
Identified intangible assets subject to amortization, Weighted Average Useful Life (Years)										2	10
Approximate number of jobs eliminated									350
Business Acquisition, Portion of cost recognized related to announced employment reductions already paid																																									34
Business Acquisition, Portion of cost recognized related to announced employment reductions to be paid																																							11
Business Acquisition, Portion of cost recognized related to announced employment reductions to be paid in remainder of current fiscal year																																										$ 4