Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Available-For-Sale Investments (Details 3) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale investments	$ 414,936	$ 315,932
U.S. corporate commercial paper [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	9,464	82,361
Corporate notes and bonds [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	344,427	190,527
Obligations of U.S. government agencies [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	44,230	25,289
Obligations of U.S. states and municipalities [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,503	0
Recurring [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Money market funds	13,950	16,028
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments, fair value	413,574	314,205
Cash	1,362	1,727
Cash, cash equivalents, and available-for-sale investments	414,936	315,932
Recurring [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Money market funds	13,950	16,028
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments, fair value	13,950	16,028
Recurring [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Money market funds	0	0
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments, fair value	399,624	298,177
Recurring [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Money market funds	0	0
Cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments, fair value	0	0
Recurring [Member] \| U.S. corporate commercial paper [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	9,464	82,361
Recurring [Member] \| U.S. corporate commercial paper [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Recurring [Member] \| U.S. corporate commercial paper [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	9,464	82,361
Recurring [Member] \| U.S. corporate commercial paper [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Recurring [Member] \| Corporate notes and bonds [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	344,427	190,527
Recurring [Member] \| Corporate notes and bonds [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Recurring [Member] \| Corporate notes and bonds [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	344,427	190,527
Recurring [Member] \| Corporate notes and bonds [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Recurring [Member] \| Obligations of U.S. government agencies [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	44,230	25,289
Recurring [Member] \| Obligations of U.S. government agencies [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Recurring [Member] \| Obligations of U.S. government agencies [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	44,230	25,289
Recurring [Member] \| Obligations of U.S. government agencies [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0	0
Recurring [Member] \| Obligations of U.S. states and municipalities [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,503
Recurring [Member] \| Obligations of U.S. states and municipalities [Member] \| Level 1 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	0
Recurring [Member] \| Obligations of U.S. states and municipalities [Member] \| Level 2 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	1,503
Recurring [Member] \| Obligations of U.S. states and municipalities [Member] \| Level 3 [Member]
Fair value assets measured on recurring basis
Available-for-sale securities, fair value	$ 0

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

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This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item includes currency on hand as well as demand deposits with banks or financial institutions. It also includes other kinds of accounts that have the general characteristics of demand deposits in that the Company may deposit additional funds at any time and also effectively may withdraw funds at any time without prior notice or penalty. Cash equivalents, excluding items classified as marketable securities, include short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash, and so near their maturity that they present minimal risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates. Generally, only investments with original maturities of three months or less qualify under that definition. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. For example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

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