COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES 2 (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					1 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2008 subsidiary	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum	Jul. 31, 2011 Infineon Litigation patent	Apr. 30, 2011 Infineon Litigation patent	Aug. 12, 2012 Infineon Litigation patent
Contingencies
Number of patents claimed to be infringed								11
Number of Infineon patents alleged to be either invalid or not infringed								3
Number of Infineon patents Atmel is seeking to declare either invalid or not infringed							11
Number of Atmel patents counterclaimed that Infineon infringed on							6
Number of additional Infineon patents claimed to be infringed by the company							4
Number of patents withdrawn									4
Number of company's French subsidiaries where inspection conducted by European Union Commission	1
Product Warranties
Product Warranty Period					30 days	3 years
Activity related to the product warranty liability
Balance at beginning of period		$ 5,746	$ 4,019	$ 4,225
Accrual for warranties during the period, net of change in estimates		3,672	7,383	3,779
Actual costs incurred		(4,586)	(5,656)	(3,985)
Balance at end of period		$ 4,832	$ 5,746	$ 4,019