Restructuring and Related Activities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Oct. 01, 2016	Oct. 03, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs	$ 1,197	$ 2,324	$ 12,139	$ 9,394
MOSFETs Enhanced Competitiveness Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Current	4,384		4,384
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs	675	1,445	5,700	3,737	$ 5,367	$ 6,025	$ 2,328
Cash paid			(13,492)		(426)	(856)	(267)
Foreign currency translation			4		1
Balance at end of period	$ 4,384		4,384		12,172	7,230	2,061
Balance at beginning of period			12,172	7,230	7,230	2,061
Term of restructuring program	2 years
Other Exit Costs			5,027
Voluntary Separation/Retirement Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Current	$ 654		654
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs	0	0	0	77	95	12,792	486
Cash paid			(716)		(3,166)	(8,054)	(98)
Foreign currency translation			25		(258)	(455)	3
Balance at end of period	654		654		1,345	4,674	$ 391
Balance at beginning of period			1,345	4,674	4,674	391
Modules Product Transfer [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Current	86		86
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs	(464)	0	(464)	0		2,080
Cash paid			(125)		(718)	(464)
Foreign currency translation			18		(120)	(121)
Balance at end of period	86		86		657	$ 1,495
Balance at beginning of period			657	1,495	1,495
Global Cost Reduction Program [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Reserve, Current	4,138		4,138
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs	986	$ 879	6,903	$ 5,580	13,753
Cash paid			(12,918)		(986)
Foreign currency translation			181		(150)
Balance at end of period	$ 6,783		6,783		$ 12,617
Balance at beginning of period			12,617
Term of restructuring program	27 months
Expected Restructuring Costs	$ 30,000		30,000
Global Cost Reduction Program [Member] | Diodes Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs			788
Global Cost Reduction Program [Member] | Optoelectronic Components Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs			953
Global Cost Reduction Program [Member] | Resistors And Inductors Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs			3,163
Global Cost Reduction Program [Member] | Capacitors Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs			459
Global Cost Reduction Program [Member] | Unallocated Amount to Segment [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring and severance costs			1,540
MOSFETs Enhanced Competitiveness Program Extension [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Term of restructuring program	15 months
MOSFETs Enhanced Competitiveness Program Extension [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Expected Restructuring Costs	$ 4,000		4,000
MOSFETs Enhanced Competitiveness Program Extension [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Expected Restructuring Costs	$ 8,000		$ 8,000