Note 5 - Investments	9 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2011
Equity Method Investments Disclosure [Text Block]	5. Investments Included in the company’s investments are shares of Polytronics Technology Corporation Ltd. (“Polytronics”), a Taiwanese company whose shares are traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The Polytronics investment was acquired as part of the Littelfuse GmbH acquisition. The fair value of the Polytronics investment was €6.8 million (approximately $9.2 million) at October 1, 2011 and €8.8 million (approximately $11.7 million) at January 1, 2011, based on the quoted market price at the close of business corresponding to each date. Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) was an unrealized loss of $2.8 million, due to the decrease in fair market value for the nine months ended October 1, 2011. The remaining difference in fair market value of this investment was due to the impact of changes in exchange rates, which is included as a component of the currency translation adjustments of “Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)”. On July 8, 2011, the company invested $3.0 million in certain preferred stock of Shocking Technologies, Inc., a research and development company in the electronics industry located in San Jose, California. Shocking Technologies, Inc. is a developer of circuit protection products for the computer and telecommunication markets. The company has accounted for its investment in Shocking Technologies, Inc., at cost.

Note 5 - Investments

9 Months Ended

Oct. 01, 2011

Equity Method Investments Disclosure [Text Block]

5. Investments

Included in the company’s investments are shares of Polytronics Technology Corporation Ltd. (“Polytronics”), a Taiwanese company whose shares are traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The Polytronics investment was acquired as part of the Littelfuse GmbH acquisition. The fair value of the Polytronics investment was €6.8 million (approximately $9.2 million) at October 1, 2011 and €8.8 million (approximately $11.7 million) at January 1, 2011, based on the quoted market price at the close of business corresponding to each date. Included in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) was an unrealized loss of $2.8 million, due to the decrease in fair market value for the nine months ended October 1, 2011.

The remaining difference in fair market value of this investment was due to the impact of changes in exchange rates, which is included as a component of the currency translation adjustments of “Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)”.

On July 8, 2011, the company invested $3.0 million in certain preferred stock of Shocking Technologies, Inc., a research and development company in the electronics industry located in San Jose, California. Shocking Technologies, Inc. is a developer of circuit protection products for the computer and telecommunication markets. The company has accounted for its investment in Shocking Technologies, Inc., at cost.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for equity investment, or group of investments, for which combined disclosure is appropriate, including: (a) the name of each investee and percentage of ownership of common stock, (b) accounting policies for investments in common stock, (c) difference between the amount at which the investment is carried and the amount of underlying equity in net assets and the accounting treatment of the difference, (d) the total fair value of each identified investment for which a market value is available, (e) summarized information as to assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the investees (for investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, common stock of joint ventures, or other investments using the equity method), and (f) material effects of possible conversions, exercises, or contingent issuances of the investee. Other disclosures include (a) the names of any investee in which the investor owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock and investment is not accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why not, and (b) the names of any investee in which the investor owns less than 20 percent of the voting stock and the investment is accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why it is.

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