Stock Compensation Plans and Stock Based Compensation (Details 12) (Employee stock purchase plans [Member], USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Jan. 01, 2011	Jan. 02, 2010
Employee stock purchase plans [Member]
Shares of common stock issued under employee stock purchase plan
Cadence shares purchased under the ESPP	2,029	2,568	8,661
Cash received for the purchase of shares under the ESPP	$ 13,236	$ 12,765	$ 27,517
Weighted-average purchase price per share	$ 6.52	$ 4.97	$ 3.18

The number of shares purchased on the open market during the period 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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph 64, 65

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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 123R

-Paragraph A240

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.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