Note 20. Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 25, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 1,005,788,000	$ 797,899,000	$ 2,105,855,000	$ 1,953,714,000
Gross profit (loss)	379,164,000	321,892,000	833,627,000	888,122,000
Income before income taxes	222,765,000	212,915,000	427,729,000	588,712,000
Goodwill	458,808,000	433,288,000	458,808,000	433,288,000	433,288,000
Total assets	5,723,312,000	4,201,771,000	5,723,312,000	4,201,771,000	4,380,403,000
Solar Module [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	351,728,000	439,953,000	1,284,820,000	1,444,892,000
Solar Power System [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net sales	654,060,000	357,946,000	821,035,000	508,822,000
Components Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Corporate costs allocated to segments	24,100,000
Net sales	612,699,000	575,497,000	1,604,165,000	1,605,705,000
Gross profit (loss)	253,680,000	282,809,000	701,813,000	822,116,000
Income before income taxes	222,765,000	212,915,000	427,729,000	588,712,000
Goodwill	393,365,000	393,365,000	393,365,000	393,365,000	393,365,000
Total assets	4,505,990,000	3,545,515,000	4,505,990,000	3,545,515,000
Systems Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Corporate costs allocated to segments	21,100,000
Net sales	393,089,000	222,402,000	501,690,000	348,009,000
Gross profit (loss)	125,484,000	39,083,000	131,814,000	66,006,000
Income before income taxes	0	0	0	0
Goodwill	65,443,000	39,923,000	65,443,000	39,923,000	39,923,000
Total assets	1,217,322,000	656,256,000	1,217,322,000	656,256,000
To Components Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Inter-segment transfer from	74,200,000	15,000,000	74,200,000	26,400,000
Additional allocation of revenue from systems segment to components segment	72,400,000	14,200,000	72,400,000	14,200,000
To Systems Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Inter-segment transfer from	$ 0	$ 0	$ 45,900,000	$ 8,900,000

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph e

-Clause 1

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 43

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph l

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 34

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 72

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details