Description of Business	3 Months Ended
Apr. 01, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business Ultratech, Inc. (referred to herein as “Ultratech,” the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us”) develops, manufactures and markets photolithography, laser thermal processing and inspection equipment designed to reduce the cost of ownership for manufacturers of semiconductor devices, including advanced packaging processes and various nanotechnology components including micro electro mechanical systems (“MEMS”), high-brightness light emitting diodes (“HBLEDs”) and atomic layer deposition (“ALD”) for customers located throughout North America, Europe, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and the rest of Asia. Ultratech was incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1992. We supply step-and-repeat photolithography systems based on one-to-one imaging technology. Within the semiconductor industry, we target the market for advanced packaging applications. Our laser thermal processing equipment is targeted at advanced annealing applications within the semiconductor industry. Within the nanotechnology industry, our target markets includes MEMS, HBLEDs and ALD. Our wafer inspection system provides the flexibility to address a wide range of applications including improved overlay control and enhanced yield. In evaluating our business, we gave consideration to our Chief Executive Officer’s review of financial information and the organizational structure of our management. Based on this review, we concluded that, at the present time, resources are allocated and other financial decisions are made based on our consolidated financial information. Accordingly, we have determined that we operate in one business segment, which is the manufacture and distribution of capital equipment to manufacturers of semiconductor devices and nanotechnology components. Recent Developments On February 2, 2017, the Company, Veeco Instruments Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Veeco”) and Ulysses Acquisition Subsidiary Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Veeco (“Merger Subsidiary”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Subsidiary will be merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Veeco, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement. The boards of directors of both Veeco and the Company have approved the transaction. The closing of the Merger is subject to the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock and to various other customary conditions, the absence of any temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other judgment issued by any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger and the SEC having declared effective a registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the shares of Veeco common stock issuable in connection with the Merger. In addition, it is a condition to closing of the Merger that the Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have at least $180 million of cash on hand held in the United States. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, upon the closing of the Merger, each share of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (other than shares of our common stock owned by us as treasury shares or owned by Veeco, any of its subsidiaries, any of our subsidiaries or holders of our common stock, if any, who properly exercise their appraisal rights under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) will be converted into the right to receive (i) $21.75 in cash without interest and (ii) 0.2675 of a share of Veeco common stock. On February 17, 2017, we received notice from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that it had granted early termination, effective immediately, of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, (the “HSR Act”), for the Merger. The early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act satisfies one of the conditions to the closing of the Merger, which remains subject to other closing conditions, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement by requisite vote of our stockholders.

Description of Business

Ultratech, Inc. (referred to herein as “Ultratech,” the “Company”, “we”, “our” or “us”) develops, manufactures and markets photolithography, laser thermal processing and inspection equipment designed to reduce the cost of ownership for manufacturers of semiconductor devices, including advanced packaging processes and various nanotechnology components including micro electro mechanical systems (“MEMS”), high-brightness light emitting diodes (“HBLEDs”) and atomic layer deposition (“ALD”) for customers located throughout North America, Europe, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, Korea and the rest of Asia. Ultratech was incorporated in the state of Delaware in 1992.

We supply step-and-repeat photolithography systems based on one-to-one imaging technology. Within the semiconductor industry, we target the market for advanced packaging applications. Our laser thermal processing equipment is targeted at advanced annealing applications within the semiconductor industry. Within the nanotechnology industry, our target markets includes MEMS, HBLEDs and ALD. Our wafer inspection system provides the flexibility to address a wide range of applications including improved overlay control and enhanced yield.

In evaluating our business, we gave consideration to our Chief Executive Officer’s review of financial information and the organizational structure of our management. Based on this review, we concluded that, at the present time, resources are allocated and other financial decisions are made based on our consolidated financial information. Accordingly, we have determined that we operate in one business segment, which is the manufacture and distribution of capital equipment to manufacturers of semiconductor devices and nanotechnology components.

Recent Developments

On February 2, 2017, the Company, Veeco Instruments Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Veeco”) and Ulysses Acquisition Subsidiary Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Veeco (“Merger Subsidiary”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which, among other things, Merger Subsidiary will be merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Veeco, subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement. The boards of directors of both Veeco and the Company have approved the transaction. The closing of the Merger is subject to the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock and to various other customary conditions, the absence of any temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other judgment issued by any court of competent jurisdiction enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the Merger and the SEC having declared effective a registration statement on Form S-4 with respect to the shares of Veeco common stock issuable in connection with the Merger. In addition, it is a condition to closing of the Merger that the Company and its subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, have at least $180 million of cash on hand held in the United States. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions contained therein, upon the closing of the Merger, each share of our common stock outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Merger (other than shares of our common stock owned by us as treasury shares or owned by Veeco, any of its subsidiaries, any of our subsidiaries or holders of our common stock, if any, who properly exercise their appraisal rights under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware) will be converted into the right to receive (i) $21.75 in cash without interest and (ii) 0.2675 of a share of Veeco common stock.

On February 17, 2017, we received notice from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that it had granted early termination, effective immediately, of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, (the “HSR Act”), for the Merger. The early termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act satisfies one of the conditions to the closing of the Merger, which remains subject to other closing conditions, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement by requisite vote of our stockholders.