Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Acquisitions (Details)

v2.4.0.6
Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
projects
businesses
Sep. 25, 2011
businesses
Sep. 26, 2010
businesses
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Stock-based awards assumed in Atheros acquisition   $ 106,000,000  
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D) remaining 27,000,000 150,000,000  
Number of In-process research and development projects remaining 5    
Acquired in-process research and development estimated completion period remaining 1    
Effective date of acquisition   May 24, 2011  
Total cash consideration, net of cash acquired   3,100,000,000  
Cash acquired   233,000,000  
Stock-based awards assumed in Atheros acquisition   106,000,000  
Current Assets   926,000,000  
Other assets   78,000,000  
Total assets   3,782,000,000  
Liabilities   (313,000,000)  
Total   3,469,000,000  
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member] | Technology-based [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Amortizable intangible assets   692,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life of intangible assets acquired   4 years 0 months 0 days  
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member] | Marketing-related [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Amortizable intangible assets   50,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life of intangible assets acquired   6 years 0 months 0 days  
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member] | Customer-related [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Amortizable intangible assets   114,000,000  
Weighted-average useful life of intangible assets acquired   3 years 0 months 0 days  
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member] | In-process research and development [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Useful life of intangible assets acquired, minimum 4    
Useful life of intangible assets acquired, maximum 5    
Atheros Communications, Inc. [Member] | QCT [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Goodwill   1,772,000,000  
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Number of businesses acquired 8 9 6
Cash consideration paid for businesses acquired 774,000,000 466,000,000 50,000,000
Acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D) remaining 62,000,000    
Number of In-process research and development projects remaining 10    
Acquired in-process research and development estimated completion period remaining 3    
Goodwill recognized from businesses acquired, expected to be deductible for tax purposes 71,000,000 234,000,000  
Goodwill 519,000,000 276,000,000  
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | Technology-based [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Amortizable intangible assets 164,000,000 150,000,000 32,000,000
Weighted-average useful life of intangible assets acquired 6 years 0 months 0 days 5 years 0 months 0 days 11 years 0 months 0 days
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | In-process research and development [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Useful life of intangible assets acquired, minimum 4    
Useful life of intangible assets acquired, maximum 9    
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | QCT [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Goodwill 366,000,000    
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | QTL [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Goodwill 22,000,000    
Acquirees other than Atheros [Member] | Nonreportable segments [Member]
     
Acquisitions [Abstract]      
Goodwill $ 131,000,000