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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MCw4X00debotIj0Pxg9bFTBpY0ukquQM4AXwpzh72n30WuU9UlJvrmkyL0x3N/py
 sl+bqNQ9hpHuaPs+Ch7ypA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000790715-03-000048.txt : 20030911
<SEC-HEADER>0000790715-03-000048.hdr.sgml : 20030911
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030911163922
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000790715-03-000048
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030220
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030911

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIGMA DESIGNS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000790715
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC [3577]
		IRS NUMBER:				942848099
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1221 CALIFORNIA CIRCLE
		CITY:			MILPITAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95035
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4082629003

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1221 CALIFORNIA CIRCLE
		CITY:			MILPITAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95035

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LOWE KENNETH A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245501

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15116
		FILM NUMBER:		03892237

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1221 CALIFORNIA CIRCLE
		CITY:			MILPITAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95035
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4082624003

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1221 CALIFORNIA CIRCLE
		CITY:			MILPITAS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95035
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-02-20</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000790715</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SIGMA DESIGNS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SIGM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001245501</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOWE KENNETH A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1221 CALIFORNIA CIRCLE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILPITAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95035</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP of Business Development</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-02-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-02-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>145000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted to the reporting person under the Company's 2001 Stock Option Plan</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kenneth A. Lowe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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