Defined benefit plan discretionary contribution by participant.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Defined benefit plan percentage of contributed by eligible participants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Maximum Exercise Price as Percentage to Fair Value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Range of payroll deduction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Refunded Percentage Of Employee Contribution

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Plan assets of a defined benefit plan, as a percentage of projected benefit obligation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of discretionary contributions made by an employer to a defined contribution plan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Description of the terms and benefits provided by the employer's defined contribution plans. A defined contribution plan provides benefits in return for services rendered, provides an individual account for each participant, and has terms that specify how contributions to the individual's account are to be determined rather than the amount of benefits the individual is to receive. Under a defined contribution pension plan, the benefits a participant will receive depend solely on the amount contributed to the participant's account, the returns earned on investments of those contributions, and forfeitures of other participants' benefits that may be allocated to such participant's account. A description of the plan(s) including employee groups covered, the basis for determining contributions, and the nature and effects of significant matters affecting comparability of information for all periods presented.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 70

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6414718&loc=d3e28014-114942

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Defined Contribution Postretirement Plan

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510416

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- Definition

Amount of accumulated difference between fair value of underlying shares on dates of exercise and exercise price on options exercised (or share units converted) into shares.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (d)(2)

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

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Employee Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2012	Jun. 28, 2013	Jun. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2008
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 400,000	$ 38,000.0	$ 900,000	$ 400,000
Discretionary contributions of plan					25.00%
Percentage of contribution by eligible participants					4.00%
Maximum contribution per participant					$ 1,000
Defined contribution plan description					This plan allows participants to contribute up to the applicable Internal Revenue Code limitations under the plan. Prior to 2009, Harmonic made discretionary contributions to the plan of 25% of the first 4% contributed by eligible participants, up to a maximum contribution per participant of $1,000 per year. Harmonic's contributions were suspended from 2009 through 2012, but have been renewed, on the same basis, for 2013.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of fair market value of Common Stock to purchase shares			85.00%
Range of payroll deductions			1% to 10%
Percentage of shares available to fund for ESPP	53.00%		53.00%
Refunded percentage of employee contribution	47.00%		47.00%