Significant Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Apr. 02, 2016
Significant Accounting Policies
Significant Accounting Policies	1. Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein are unaudited; however, they contain all normal recurring accruals and adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the condensed consolidated financial position of Silicon Laboratories Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) at April 2, 2016 and January 2, 2016, the condensed consolidated results of its operations for the three months ended April 2, 2016 and April 4, 2015, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended April 2, 2016 and April 4, 2015, and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended April 2, 2016 and April 4, 2015. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated results of operations for the three months ended April 2, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year. The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not include certain footnotes and financial presentations normally required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Therefore, these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto for the year ended January 2, 2016, included in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 5, 2016. The Company prepares financial statements on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year that ends on the Saturday closest to December 31. Fiscal 2016 will have 52 weeks and fiscal 2015 had 52 weeks. In a 52-week year, each fiscal quarter consists of 13 weeks. Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Among the significant estimates affecting the financial statements are those related to inventories, stock-based compensation, investments in auction-rate securities, acquired intangible assets, goodwill, long-lived assets and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the financial statements. Revenue Recognition Revenues are generated predominately by sales of the Company’s products. The Company recognizes revenue when all of the following criteria are met: 1) there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, 2) delivery of goods has occurred, 3) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and 4) collectibility is reasonably assured. Generally, revenue from product sales to direct customers and contract manufacturers is recognized upon shipment. A portion of the Company’s sales are made to distributors under agreements allowing certain rights of return and price protection related to the final selling price to the end customers. Accordingly, the Company defers revenue and cost of revenue on such sales until the distributors sell the product to the end customers. The net balance of deferred revenue less deferred cost of revenue associated with inventory shipped to a distributor but not yet sold to an end customer is recorded in the deferred income on shipments to distributors liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Such net deferred income balance reflects the Company’s estimate of the impact of rights of return and price protection. A small portion of the Company’s revenues is derived from the sale of patents. The above revenue recognition criteria for patent sales are generally met upon the execution of the patent sale agreement. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The amendments in this update simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Earlier application is permitted in any interim or annual period. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this ASU will have on its financial statements. In February 2016, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The core principle of Topic 842 is that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases. For operating leases, a lessee is required to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in the statement of financial position. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from that applied under previous GAAP. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this ASU will have on its financial statements. In January 2016, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The amendments in this update address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. This ASU requires equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments; requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; and clarifies that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted for financial statements of fiscal years or interim periods that have not yet been issued. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this ASU will have on its financial statements. In July 2015, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. The amendments in this update require inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its financial statements. In May 2014, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step process to achieve that core principle. ASU 2014-09 requires disclosures enabling users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Additionally, qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. In August 2015, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09 is now effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, using one of two retrospective application methods. Early application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. In March 2016, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net). ASU 2016-08 clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of ASU 2014-09, ASU 2015-14 and ASU 2016-08 will have on its financial statements.

1. Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included herein are unaudited; however, they contain all normal recurring accruals and adjustments which, in the opinion of management, are necessary to present fairly the condensed consolidated financial position of Silicon Laboratories Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) at April 2, 2016 and January 2, 2016, the condensed consolidated results of its operations for the three months ended April 2, 2016 and April 4, 2015, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended April 2, 2016 and April 4, 2015, and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended April 2, 2016 and April 4, 2015. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The condensed consolidated results of operations for the three months ended April 2, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements do not include certain footnotes and financial presentations normally required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Therefore, these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto for the year ended January 2, 2016, included in the Company’s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on February 5, 2016.

The Company prepares financial statements on a 52- or 53-week fiscal year that ends on the Saturday closest to December 31. Fiscal 2016 will have 52 weeks and fiscal 2015 had 52 weeks. In a 52-week year, each fiscal quarter consists of 13 weeks.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Among the significant estimates affecting the financial statements are those related to inventories, stock-based compensation, investments in auction-rate securities, acquired intangible assets, goodwill, long-lived assets and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates, and such differences could be material to the financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are generated predominately by sales of the Company’s products. The Company recognizes revenue when all of the following criteria are met: 1) there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, 2) delivery of goods has occurred, 3) the sales price is fixed or determinable, and 4) collectibility is reasonably assured. Generally, revenue from product sales to direct customers and contract manufacturers is recognized upon shipment.

A portion of the Company’s sales are made to distributors under agreements allowing certain rights of return and price protection related to the final selling price to the end customers. Accordingly, the Company defers revenue and cost of revenue on such sales until the distributors sell the product to the end customers. The net balance of deferred revenue less deferred cost of revenue associated with inventory shipped to a distributor but not yet sold to an end customer is recorded in the deferred income on shipments to distributors liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Such net deferred income balance reflects the Company’s estimate of the impact of rights of return and price protection.

A small portion of the Company’s revenues is derived from the sale of patents. The above revenue recognition criteria for patent sales are generally met upon the execution of the patent sale agreement.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The amendments in this update simplify several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. This ASU is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Earlier application is permitted in any interim or annual period. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this ASU will have on its financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The core principle of Topic 842 is that a lessee should recognize the assets and liabilities that arise from leases. For operating leases, a lessee is required to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in the statement of financial position. For leases with a term of 12 months or less, a lessee is permitted to make an accounting policy election by class of underlying asset not to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from that applied under previous GAAP. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted. In transition, lessees and lessors are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this ASU will have on its financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments—Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The amendments in this update address certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial instruments. This ASU requires equity investments to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income; simplifies the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by requiring a qualitative assessment to identify impairment; eliminates the requirement for public business entities to disclose the method(s) and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value that is required to be disclosed for financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet; requires public business entities to use the exit price notion when measuring the fair value of financial instruments for disclosure purposes; requires an entity to present separately in other comprehensive income the portion of the total change in the fair value of a liability resulting from a change in the instrument-specific credit risk when the entity has elected to measure the liability at fair value in accordance with the fair value option for financial instruments; requires separate presentation of financial assets and financial liabilities by measurement category and form of financial asset on the balance sheet or the accompanying notes to the financial statements; and clarifies that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on a deferred tax asset related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Earlier application is permitted for financial statements of fiscal years or interim periods that have not yet been issued. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this ASU will have on its financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. The amendments in this update require inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this ASU will have a material impact on its financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in ASC 605, Revenue Recognition. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance provides a five-step process to achieve that core principle. ASU 2014-09 requires disclosures enabling users of financial statements to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Additionally, qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. In August 2015, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2015-14, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09 is now effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, using one of two retrospective application methods. Early application is permitted only as of annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that reporting period. In March 2016, the FASB issued FASB ASU No. 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net). ASU 2016-08 clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of ASU 2014-09, ASU 2015-14 and ASU 2016-08 will have on its financial statements.