Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 02, 2010	Jul. 04, 2010	Apr. 03, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Leases
Total rental expense under operating leases							$ 26,351	$ 28,194	$ 29,631
Future minimum lease payments for operating leases [Abstract]
2012	23,565						23,565
2013	18,272						18,272
2014	14,970						14,970
2015	11,960						11,960
2016	10,318						10,318
Thereafter	17,989						17,989
Capital lease obligations	38						38
Environmental Matters
Accrued environmental liabilities	25,157						25,157
Accrued environmental liabilities, current	10,283						10,283
Accrued environmental liabilities, noncurrent	14,874						14,874
Semiconductor Foundry Agreements
Consideration paid for reducing quantity of long-term purchase commitment									3,000
Estimated purchase commitments under 2008 Tower agreement [Abstract]
2012	22,569						22,569
2013	7,106						7,106
2014	6,890						6,890
2015	6,890						6,890
Actual purchases from Tower							36,407
Executive Employment Agreements
Period of royalty payment following termination of employment (in years)									10Y
Royalty Payment Percentage (in hundredths)									5.00%
Present value of royalties, minimum										370,000
Present value of royalties, maximum										445,000
Executive payment made upon amended and restated agreement									10,000
Annual Executive Payment									10,000
Executive employment agreement charge	0	0	0	0	0	0	5,762	0	57,824
Dr. Felix Zandman [Member]
Executive Employment Agreements
Executive employment agreement charge							3,889
Executive employment agreement liability, noncurrent	19,400						19,400
Executive employment agreement liability, current	10,000						10,000
Dr. Lior Yahalomi [Member]
Executive Employment Agreements
Executive employment agreement charge							1,873
General Semiconductor [Member]
Environmental Matters
Accrued environmental liabilities	14,546						14,546
Other Sites [Member]
Environmental Matters
Accrued environmental liabilities	10,611						10,611
VPG [Member]
Leases
Total rental expense under operating leases								$ 1,789	$ 3,624