CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data	3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2009	Mar. 31, 2011		Mar. 31, 2010		Mar. 31, 2009
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 379,985	$ 278,020		$ 1,487,205		$ 947,729		$ 903,297
Cost of sales (1)				612,769	[1]	413,487	[2]	386,793	[3]
Gross profit	225,591	168,471		874,436		534,242		516,504
Operating expenses:
Research and development (1)				170,607	[1]	120,823	[2]	115,524	[3]
Selling, general and administrative (1)				227,781	[1]	167,222	[2]	161,218	[3]
Special charges				1,865		1,238		6,434
Total operating expenses				400,253		289,283		283,176
Operating income	124,361	88,487		474,183		244,959		233,328
Gains on equity method investments				157		0		0
Other income (expense):
Interest income				16,002		15,325		32,545
Interest expense				31,521		31,150		29,440
Other, net				1,877		8,679		(4,354)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	460,698	237,813	232,079
Income tax provision (benefit)				31,531		20,808		(13,508)
Net income from continuing operations	130,612			429,167		217,005		245,587
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes				(11,126)		0		0
Income tax benefit				(909)		0		0
Net loss from discontinued operations	(5,084)			(10,217)		0		0
Net income				$ 418,950		$ 217,005		$ 245,587
Basic net income per common share - continuing operations				$ 2.29		$ 1.18		$ 1.34
Basic net loss per common share - discontinued operations				$ (0.05)		$ 0.00		$ 0.00
Basic net income per common share				$ 2.24		$ 1.18		$ 1.34
Diluted net income per common share - continuing operations	$ 0.65			$ 2.20		$ 1.16		$ 1.31
Diluted net loss per common share - discontinued operations	$ (0.03)			$ (0.05)		$ 0.00		$ 0.00
Diluted net income per common share	$ 0.62	$ 0.40		$ 2.15		$ 1.16		$ 1.31
Dividends declared per common share				$ 1.374		$ 1.359		$ 1.346
Basic common shares outstanding				187,066		183,642		183,158
Diluted common shares outstanding				194,715		187,339		186,788

[1] Includes share-based compensation expense as follows: Cost of sales 6,825 Research and development 12,874 Selling, general and administrative 17,113

[2] Includes share-based compensation expense as follows: Cost of sales 7,054 Research and development 12,194 Selling, general and administrative 17,530

[3] Includes share-based compensation expense as follows: Cost of sales 5,845 Research and development 10,866 Selling, general and administrative 15,770