Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net revenue	$ 286,533	$ 374,485	$ 911,174	$ 1,067,380
Operating expenses
Cost of revenue	153,177	197,642	489,207	589,309
Research and development	55,832	69,917	174,959	209,751
Selling, general and administrative	64,817	65,324	186,812	194,186
Acquisition-related charges	2,390	7,162	10,600	10,287
Restructuring (credits) charges	(584)	840	5,445	(967)
Loss (gain) on sale of assets	(427)	0	1,626	0
Total operating expenses	276,059	340,885	865,397	1,002,566
Income from operations	10,474	33,600	45,777	64,814
Interest and other income (expense), net	55	(4,731)	4,917	(5,856)
Income before income taxes	10,529	28,869	50,694	58,958
Provision for income taxes	11,134	11,619	28,526	20,306
Net (loss) income	(605)	17,250	22,168	38,652
Add: net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of taxes	(9)	0	25	0
Net (loss) income attributable to Atmel	$ (614)	$ 17,250	$ 22,193	$ 38,652
Net (loss) income per share	$ 0.00	$ 0.04	$ 0.05	$ 0.09
Weighted-average shares used in basic net (loss) income per share calculations	419,293	418,954	418,072	421,791
Net (loss) income per share	$ 0.00	$ 0.04	$ 0.05	$ 0.09
Weighted-average shares used in diluted net (loss)income per share calculations	419,293	420,964	419,482	423,700
Cash dividends declared and paid per share	$ 0.04	$ 0	$ 0.12	$ 0