Income taxes (Details 3)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Reconciliation between the federal statutory tax rate applied to income before income taxes and effective tax rate
Federal statutory tax rate	35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Foreign earnings, including earnings invested indefinitely	(19.40%)	(19.10%)	(19.60%)
State taxes	0.70%	1.60%	1.10%
Credits, primarily research and experimentation	(1.50%)	(0.90%)	(0.80%)
Audit settlements	0.00%	(3.10%)	(4.20%)
Other, net	0.80%	(0.50%)	0.00%
Effective tax rate	11.30%	13.00%	11.50%
Legal Settlements [Member]
Reconciliation between the federal statutory tax rate applied to income before income taxes and effective tax rate
Legal settlements	2.20%	0.00%	0.00%
Puerto Rico Excise Tax [Member]
Reconciliation between the federal statutory tax rate applied to income before income taxes and effective tax rate
Credits, Puerto Rico Excise Tax	(6.50%)	0.00%	0.00%

A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Subparagraph 2

-Article 4

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

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- Definition

The domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable under enacted tax laws to the Company's pretax income from continuing operations for the period. The "statutory" tax rate is the regular tax rate if there are alternative tax systems.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6889476&loc=d3e330036-122817

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 47

-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 Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319

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-Publisher FASB

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate that can be explained by the difference between statutory income tax rates in foreign jurisdictions and the domestic federal statutory income tax rate recorded during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

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-Paragraph 1

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to nondeductible expenses under enacted tax laws, or differences in the methodologies used to determine expense amounts for financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to all other items not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate that can be explained by the state and local income tax expense or benefit, net of the federal tax benefit (expense) thereon, recorded during the period.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate that can be explained by foreign tax credits generated or utilized under enacted tax laws during the period.

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The portion of the difference between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate that can be explained by research tax credits generated or utilized under enacted tax laws during the period.

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The sum of the differences between the effective income tax rate and domestic federal statutory income tax rate attributable to all income tax settlements during the period.

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