v2.4.0.6
Supplemental Financial Information - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Property, plant and equipment additional write-off $ 1,000,000 $ 1,000,000 $ 7,000,000
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment resulting from acquisition 11,000,000 10,000,000 21,000,000
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment related to write-downs and impairment charges 2,000,000 6,000,000 21,000,000
Impairment of assets held for sale     30,000,000
Amortization of identified intangible assets 262,000,000 291,000,000 281,000,000
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange differences (4,000,000) 9,000,000 (20,000,000)
Total interest expense, net (266,000,000) (307,000,000) (318,000,000)
Net gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt (161,000,000) (32,000,000) 57,000,000
Gain on sale of securities and other financial assets     8,000,000
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange results 28,000,000 128,000,000 (331,000,000)
Amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs 32,000,000 27,000,000 31,000,000
Interest on capital lease obligations   10,000,000 13,000,000
Net investment in U.S. dollar functional currency 1,700,000,000    
F/X result on net investment hedge instruments 26,000,000 (203,000,000)  
Cash balance 617,000,000 743,000,000 898,000,000
Dividend distribution 40,000,000 67,000,000 2,000,000
Income taxes receivable current 3,000,000 14,000,000  
Portion of finished goods stored at customer locations 20,000,000 15,000,000  
Allowance for obsolescence 61,000,000 62,000,000  
Property, Plant and Equipment Gross 2,103,000,000 2,065,000,000  
Property and equipment, capital leases 12,000,000 18,000,000  
Other accrued liabilities 489,000,000 474,000,000  
U.S. Dollar-Denominated Notes and Short-Term Loans [Member]
     
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange results 9,000,000 124,000,000 (307,000,000)
Intercompany Financing Result [Member]
     
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange results 3,000,000 (7,000,000) 16,000,000
Foreign Currency Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
     
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange results 16,000,000 10,000,000 (43,000,000)
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]
     
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange results (1,000,000) 1,000,000 2,000,000
Foreign Currency Remaining Items [Member]
     
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange results 1,000,000 0 1,000,000
U.S. Dollar-Denominated Notes [Member] | Net Investment Hedge [Member]
     
F/X result on net investment hedge instruments 26,000,000 (203,000,000)  
Digital Television and Set Top Box [Member]
     
Loss on disposal of business     (26,000,000)
NuTune [Member]
     
Loss on disposal of business     (7,000,000)
Other Accrued Liabilities [Member]
     
Other accrued liabilities 137,000,000 138,000,000  
Other Accrued Liabilities [Member] | Legal Settlement [Member]
     
Other accrued liabilities 50,000,000    
Other Accrued Liabilities [Member] | Sale Of Sound Solution Business [Member]
     
Other accrued liabilities   45,000,000  
Virage Logic's Shares [Member]
     
Gain on sale of securities and other financial assets     7,000,000
SSMC [Member]
     
Cash balance 288,000,000 261,000,000  
Dividend percentage to joint venture 38.80%    
Dividend distribution 100,000,000 170,000,000  
TSMC [Member]
     
Dividend distribution 39,000,000 66,000,000  
Land [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment Gross 59,000,000 62,000,000  
Land and Buildings [Member] | United States [Member]
     
Result on disposal of property   (17,000,000)  
Equipment [Member] | Netherlands [Member]
     
Result on disposal of property   5,000,000  
Building [Member]
     
Property, Plant and Equipment Gross 452,000,000 432,000,000  
Building [Member] | UK [Member]
     
Result on disposal of property   2,000,000  
Building [Member] | Germany [Member]
     
Result on disposal of property     5,000,000
Capital leases [Member]
     
Property and equipment, capital leases 77,000,000 75,000,000  
Accumulated depreciation on capital leases $ 65,000,000 $ 57,000,000