XML 157 R130.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Jun. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Asset Impairment Charges         $ 44us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges $ 130us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges $ 22us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges $ 26us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges $ 81us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges 20us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges 34us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges 17us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges 67us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges     71us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges 67us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges 133us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations, Adjustment of Deferred Tax (Asset) Liability             150us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitContinuingOperationsAdjustmentOfDeferredTaxAssetLiability    
Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions               (74)us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions 37us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
Translation Capital Gain on Liquidation of Entity                 52glw_TranslationCapitalGainOnLiquidationOfEntity
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt         (26)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt       (26)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Loss on Repurchase of Debt After Tax                 17glw_LossOnRepurchaseOfDebtAfterTax
Out of Period Transfer Pricing Adjustments [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Other Tax Expense (Benefit)             46us-gaap_OtherTaxExpenseBenefit
/ glw_ChangeInTaxBenefitAxis
= glw_OutOfPeriodTransferPricingAdjustmentsMember		    
Dow Corning Corporation [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges                 87us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember
Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination                 10us-gaap_GainLossOnContractTermination
/ us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentEquityMethodInvesteeNameAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember
Specialty Materials [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Asset Impairment Charges                 44us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_SpecialtyMaterialsMember
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges             (1)us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_SpecialtyMaterialsMember		 19us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_SpecialtyMaterialsMember		 54us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_SpecialtyMaterialsMember		 [1]
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales             3glw_NumberOfCustomersIndividuallyAccountingForTenPercentOrMoreOfEachSegmentSSales
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_SpecialtyMaterialsMember		    
Percent of Total Segment Sales             51.00%glw_PercentOfTotalSegmentSales
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_SpecialtyMaterialsMember		    
Display Technologies [Member] | Equity Investment [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges               28us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis
= glw_EquityInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_DisplayTechnologiesMember		 18us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis
= glw_EquityInvestmentMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_DisplayTechnologiesMember
Display Technologies [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges             54us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_DisplayTechnologiesMember		 7us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_DisplayTechnologiesMember		 21us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_DisplayTechnologiesMember		 [1]
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales             3glw_NumberOfCustomersIndividuallyAccountingForTenPercentOrMoreOfEachSegmentSSales
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_DisplayTechnologiesMember		    
Percent of Total Segment Sales             61.00%glw_PercentOfTotalSegmentSales
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_DisplayTechnologiesMember		    
Optical Communications [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges             17us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_OpticalCommunicationsMember		 12us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_OpticalCommunicationsMember		 39us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_OpticalCommunicationsMember		 [1]
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales             1glw_NumberOfCustomersIndividuallyAccountingForTenPercentOrMoreOfEachSegmentSSales
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_OpticalCommunicationsMember		    
Percent of Total Segment Sales             11.00%glw_PercentOfTotalSegmentSales
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_OpticalCommunicationsMember		    
Environmental Technologies [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges               1us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_EnvironmentalTechnologiesMember		 3us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_EnvironmentalTechnologiesMember		 [1]
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales             3glw_NumberOfCustomersIndividuallyAccountingForTenPercentOrMoreOfEachSegmentSSales
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_EnvironmentalTechnologiesMember		    
Percent of Total Segment Sales             88.00%glw_PercentOfTotalSegmentSales
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_EnvironmentalTechnologiesMember		    
Life Sciences [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges             1us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_LifeSciencesMember		 4us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_LifeSciencesMember		 2us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_LifeSciencesMember		 [1]
Number of Customers Individually Accounting for 10% or More of Each Segment's Sales             2glw_NumberOfCustomersIndividuallyAccountingForTenPercentOrMoreOfEachSegmentSSales
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_LifeSciencesMember		    
Percent of Total Segment Sales             45.00%glw_PercentOfTotalSegmentSales
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= glw_LifeSciencesMember		    
Other Segments [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Tax Adjustments, Settlements, and Unusual Provisions               (54)us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_AllOtherSegmentsMember		  
Debentures, 8.875%, Due 2021 [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Repurchase of Senior Unsecured Notes                 13glw_RepurchaseOfSeniorUnsecuredNotes
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2021Member
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2021Member		     8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2021Member		 8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2021Member		   8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2021Member		 8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2021Member		 8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2021Member
Debentures, 8.875%, Due 2016 [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Repurchase of Senior Unsecured Notes                 11glw_RepurchaseOfSeniorUnsecuredNotes
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2016Member
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2016Member		     8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2016Member		 8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2016Member		   8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2016Member		 8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2016Member		 8.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures8875Due2016Member
Debentures, 6.75%, Due 2013 [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Repurchase of Senior Unsecured Notes                 51glw_RepurchaseOfSeniorUnsecuredNotes
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures675Due2013Member
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage         6.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures675Due2013Member		       6.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= glw_Debentures675Due2013Member
Foreign Tax Credit [Member] | Dow Corning Corporation [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Income Tax Credits and Adjustments             99us-gaap_IncomeTaxCreditsAndAdjustments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= glw_ForeignTaxCreditMember		    
Energy Tax Credit [Member] | Dow Corning Corporation [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Income Tax Credits and Adjustments             13us-gaap_IncomeTaxCreditsAndAdjustments
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember
/ us-gaap_TaxCreditCarryforwardAxis
= glw_EnergyTaxCreditMember		    
Minimum [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Number of Material Formulations             150glw_NumberOfMaterialFormulations
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		    
Equity Investment [Member] | Dow Corning Corporation [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
Restructuring Costs and Asset Impairment Charges               11us-gaap_RestructuringCostsAndAssetImpairmentCharges
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember
/ us-gaap_NatureOfExpenseAxis
= glw_EquityInvestmentMember		  
Dow Corning Corporation [Member]                  
Note 20 - Reportable Segments (Details) [Line Items]                  
After-Tax Gain from Reduction of Implant Liability             365glw_AfterTaxGainFromReductionOfImplantLiability
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember		    
Derivative, Gain on Derivative             29us-gaap_DerivativeGainOnDerivative
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember		 16us-gaap_DerivativeGainOnDerivative
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember		  
After Tax Charge Related to Abandonment of Plant Expansion             432glw_AfterTaxChargeRelatedToAbandonmentOfPlantExpansion
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember		    
Gain (Loss) on Contract Termination               30us-gaap_GainLossOnContractTermination
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember		  
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Increase (Decrease), Amount               $ 4us-gaap_ValuationAllowanceDeferredTaxAssetChangeInAmount
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= glw_DowCorningCorporationMember		  
[1] In 2012, Corning recorded a $44 million impairment charge in the Specialty Materials segment related to certain assets located in Japan used for the production of large cover glass.