(GAIN) LOSS ON SALE OF ASSETS AND ASSET IMPAIRMENT CHARGES (Details 5) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Jun. 30, 2010 Manufacturing operations in Rousset, France	Jun. 30, 2010 Manufacturing operations in Rousset, France	Dec. 31, 2009 Manufacturing operations in Rousset, France	Dec. 31, 2011 Manufacturing operations in Rousset, France	Dec. 31, 2010 Manufacturing operations in Rousset, France
Disposal disclosures
Period of commitments to purchase wafers from LFoundry (in years)			4 years			4 years
Loss (gain) on disposal
Net assets transferred						$ 61,646,000	$ 61,646,000
Fair Value of Manufacturing Services Agreement						92,417,000	92,417,000
Currency translation adjustment						(97,367,000)
Severance cost liability						27,840,000
Transition services						4,746,000
Selling costs						3,173,000
Other related costs						1,597,000
Loss (gain) on sale of assets			(36,333,000)	(31,137,000)					(31,900,000)	(14,900,000)
Difference between the purchase commitment contract prices and market prices over the term of the agreement							103,700,000
Discount rate used to determine present value of liability (as a percent)						7.00%	7.00%
Present value discount of liability							11,200,000
Interest expense			7,028,000	7,535,000	6,600,000				4,500,000	2,900,000
Performance-based bonuses							500,000
Property and equipment previously included in the disposal group and reclassified to held and used		110,400,000			110,400,000
Asset impairment charges	11,900,000			11,900,000	79,800,000			11,900,000
Depreciation expense that would have been recognized if assets (disposal group) have been continuously classified as held and used		$ 4,700,000