Legal Matters	9 Months Ended
Sep. 29, 2012
Legal Matters Disclosure [Abstract]
Legal Matters	Legal Matters: On June 11, 2007, a patent infringement lawsuit was filed by Lizy K. John (“John”) against Lattice Semiconductor Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. John seeks an injunction, unspecified damages, and attorneys' fees and expenses. The Company filed a request for re-examination of the patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”), which was granted by the PTO, and the re-examination has concluded. The litigation was stayed pending the results of the re-examination. The stay was lifted on January 1, 2012 but the court has not yet conducted a scheduling conference or set a trial date. At this stage of the proceedings, we do not have an estimate of the likelihood or the amount of any potential exposure to us. The Company believes it possesses defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend this litigation. On December 8, 2010, Intellectual Ventures I LLC and Intellectual Ventures II LLC (“Intellectual Ventures”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Company, Altera Corporation and Microsemi Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, seeking unspecified damages. At this stage of the proceedings, we do not have an estimate of the likelihood or the amount of any potential exposure to us. The Company believes it possesses defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend this litigation. We are also exposed to certain other asserted and unasserted potential claims. There can be no assurance that, with respect to potential claims made against us, we could resolve such claims under terms and conditions that would not have a material adverse effect on our business, our liquidity or our financial results. Periodically, we review the status of each significant matter and assess its potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and a range of possible losses can be estimated, we then accrue a liability for the estimated loss based on the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 450, “Contingencies" (“ASC 450”). Legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties, and the outcomes are difficult to predict. Because of such uncertainties, accruals are based only on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, we reassess the potential liability related to pending claims and litigation and may revise estimates. Presently, no accrual has been estimated under ASC 450 for potential losses that may or may not arise from the current lawsuits in which we are involved.

Legal Matters:

On June 11, 2007, a patent infringement lawsuit was filed by Lizy K. John (“John”) against Lattice Semiconductor Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. John seeks an injunction, unspecified damages, and attorneys' fees and expenses. The Company filed a request for re-examination of the patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”), which was granted by the PTO, and the re-examination has concluded. The litigation was stayed pending the results of the re-examination. The stay was lifted on January 1, 2012 but the court has not yet conducted a scheduling conference or set a trial date. At this stage of the proceedings, we do not have an estimate of the likelihood or the amount of any potential exposure to us. The Company believes it possesses defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend this litigation.

On December 8, 2010, Intellectual Ventures I LLC and Intellectual Ventures II LLC (“Intellectual Ventures”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Company, Altera Corporation and Microsemi Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, seeking unspecified damages. At this stage of the proceedings, we do not have an estimate of the likelihood or the amount of any potential exposure to us. The Company believes it possesses defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend this litigation.

We are also exposed to certain other asserted and unasserted potential claims. There can be no assurance that, with respect to potential claims made against us, we could resolve such claims under terms and conditions that would not have a material adverse effect on our business, our liquidity or our financial results. Periodically, we review the status of each significant matter and assess its potential financial exposure. If the potential loss from any claim or legal proceeding is considered probable and a range of possible losses can be estimated, we then accrue a liability for the estimated loss based on the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 450, “Contingencies" (“ASC 450”). Legal proceedings are subject to uncertainties, and the outcomes are difficult to predict. Because of such uncertainties, accruals are based only on the best information available at the time. As additional information becomes available, we reassess the potential liability related to pending claims and litigation and may revise estimates. Presently, no accrual has been estimated under ASC 450 for potential losses that may or may not arise from the current lawsuits in which we are involved.