Restructuring charges/other (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	9 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 Restructuring charges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Restructuring charges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Restructuring charges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Restructuring charges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Gain on transfer of Japan substitutional pension [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Gain on transfer of Japan substitutional pension [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Gain on transfer of Japan substitutional pension [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Gain on transfer of Japan substitutional pension [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Other [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Other [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Previous Actions [Member] Jobs	Sep. 30, 2012 Previous Actions [Member] Employee severance and benefits charges reserves [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Previous Actions [Member] Business restructuring impairments and other charges [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member] facilities	Sep. 30, 2012 Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member] Employee severance and benefits charges reserves [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member] Business restructuring impairments and other charges [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member] Accelerated depreciation of facility assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member] Accelerated depreciation of facility assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member] Other exit costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member] Other exit costs [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Total costs expected to be recognized from announcement date to middle of next fiscal year [Member] Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Total costs expected to be recognized from announcement date to middle of next fiscal year [Member] Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member] Employee severance and benefits charges reserves [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Total costs expected to be recognized from announcement date to middle of next fiscal year [Member] Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member] Accelerated depreciation of facility assets [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Total costs expected to be recognized from announcement date to middle of next fiscal year [Member] Semiconductor manufacturing facilities in Hiji, Japan, and Houston, Texas [Member] Other exit costs [Member]
Restructuring and Related Cost [Line Items]
Restructuring charges/other	$ (122)	$ 0	$ (99)		$ 0	$ 14	$ 0	$ 37	$ 0	$ (144)	$ 0	$ (144)	$ 0	$ 8	$ 0	$ 8	$ 0						$ 14	$ 37	$ 149						$ 4	$ 13	$ 10	$ 24
Restructuring and related activities, Number of facilities closing																										2
Additional restructuring and related charges																																			215	135	30	50
Number of jobs eliminated (in jobs)																		3,900
Changes in Accrued Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning accrual			116																13		7						96		0
Restructuring charges			37																0		0						3		34
Non-cash items			(11)	[1]															0	[1]	0	[1]					3	[1]	(14)	[1]
Payments			(29)																(5)		(1)						(6)		(17)
Remaining accrual	$ 113		$ 113																$ 8		$ 6						$ 96		$ 3

[1] Reflects charges for accelerated depreciation and curtailment/special termination benefits relating to the postretirement benefit plans.