Stock Compensation Plans and Stock Based Compensation (Details 9) (Employee stock purchase plans [Member], USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Jan. 03, 2015	Dec. 28, 2013	Dec. 29, 2012
Employee stock purchase plans [Member]
Shares of common stock issued under employee stock purchase plan
Cadence shares purchased under the ESPP	1,689	1,382	1,548
Cash received for the purchase of shares under the ESPP	$ 20,017	$ 15,088	$ 13,568
Weighted-average purchase price per share	$ 11.85	$ 10.91	$ 8.77

The weighted average of per share prices paid for shares purchased on the open market for issuance to employees under the plan.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

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