Benefit Plans (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2011

Benefit Plans [Abstract]

Summary of share-based award activity

	Shares Available for Grant
	(In thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2010		10,449
Options granted		(913	)
Restricted stock units granted		(2,784	)
Options cancelled		556
Restricted stock units cancelled		951
Options expired		40
Balance at September 30, 2011		8,299

Restricted stock unit activity under the Plans

	RSU’s Outstanding			Weighted Average Fair Value Per Share		Aggregate Fair  Value (1)
	(In thousands, except per share data)
Balance at December 31, 2010		4,507		$	6.43
Restricted stock units granted		1,856			9.03
Restricted stock units vested		(1,212	)		6.40	$	9,846
Restricted stock units cancelled		(1,095	)		7.00
Balance at September 30, 2011		4,056			7.47

(1) Represents the fair value of Harmonic common stock on the date that each of the restricted stock units vested. On the grant date, the fair value for these awards was $7.8 million.

Stock option activity under the Plans

	Stock Options Outstanding			Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option
	(In thousands, except per option data)
Balance at December 31, 2010		11,020		$	6.90
Options granted		913			9.20
Options exercised		(1,748	)		6.26
Options cancelled		(721	)		7.83
Options expired		(404	)		9.25
Balance at September 30, 2011		9,060			7.08
Options vested and exercisable at September 30, 2011		6,592
Options vested and expected-to-vest at September 30, 2011		8,955

Stock options outstanding

	Stock Options Outstanding						Stock Options Exercisable
	Number Outstanding at September 30, 2011		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (In Years)		Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option		Number Exercisable at September 30, 2011		Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option
	(In thousands, except per option data)
Range of Exercise Prices
$  0.19 - 4.80		1,332		6.3	$	2.61		765	$	2.60
4.84 - 5.87		1,636		3.2		5.70		1,293		5.70
5.88 - 8.12		1,032		4.6		6.65		558		6.72
8.17 - 8.17		1,845		3.4		8.17		1,569		8.17
8.20 - 8.65		1,297		2.4		8.25		1,286		8.25
8.69 - 9.69		1,336		4.8		9.39		542		9.04
9.74 - 13.67		582		1.0		10.55		579		10.55
		9,060		3.8	$	7.08		6,592	$	7.21

Stock-based compensation costs

	Three months ended					Nine months ended
	September 30, 2011		October 1, 2010			September 30, 2011		October 1, 2010
	(In thousands)
Employee stock-based compensation in:
Cost of revenue	$	843	$	516		$	2,352	$	1,521
Research and development expense		1,658		1,169			5,265		3,435
Selling, general and administrative expense		2,504		1,833			8,482		5,224
Total employee stock-based compensation in operating expense		4,162		3,002			13,747		8,659
Total employee stock-based compensation		5,005		3,518			16,099		10,180
Amount capitalized in inventory		—		(14	)		—		11
Total stock-based compensation	$	5,005	$	3,504		$	16,099	$	10,191

Weighted average assumptions of fair value option grants

	Employee Stock Options
	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	September 30, 2011			October 1, 2010			September 30, 2011			October 1, 2010
Expected life (in years)		4.75			3.52			4.75			4.00
Volatility		53	%		55	%		54	%		56	%
Risk-free interest rate		1.2	%		1.1	%		2.0	%		1.6	%
Dividend yield		0.0	%		0.0	%		0.0	%		0.0	%
	Employee Stock Purchase Plan Awards
	Three months ended						Nine months ended
	September 30, 2011			October 1, 2010			September 30, 2011			October 1, 2010
Expected life (in years)		0.50			0.50			0.50			0.50
Volatility		46	%		43	%		45	%		46	%
Risk-free interest rate		0.1	%		0.4	%		0.2	%		0.4	%
Dividend yield		0.0	%		0.0	%		0.0	%		0.0	%