CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 829,174		$ 896,083		$ 878,703
Cost of goods sold	591,578		574,152		527,865
Gross profit	237,596		321,931		350,838
Operating expenses:
Research, development and engineering	160,483		146,902		129,248
Selling, general and administrative	106,642		96,779		96,090
Litigation expense	7,547		19,224		9,360
Total operating expenses	274,672		262,905		234,698
(Loss) income from operations	(37,076)		59,026		116,140
Other income (expense):
Interest income	241		293		376
Interest expense	(2,112)		(1,567)		(1,115)
Recovery of investments in other companies	6,957		1,363		1,340
Other, net	116		(143)		(212)
Total other income (expense), net	5,202		(54)		389
(Loss) income before income tax	(31,874)		58,972		116,529
Income tax (benefit) expense	(5,705)		10,822		(74,308)
Net (loss) income	(26,169)		48,150		190,837
Net (loss) income per common share:
Basic	$ (0.16)	[1]	$ 0.29	[1]	$ 1.22
Diluted	$ (0.16)	[1]	$ 0.28	[1]	$ 1.17
Common equivalent shares:
Basic	164,366		164,256		155,870
Diluted	164,366		172,510		163,486
Other comprehensive loss:
Net unrealized loss on available for sale investments	(3)		0		(14)
Net unrealized loss on pension obligations	(503)		(340)		(242)
Comprehensive (loss) income	$ (26,675)		$ 47,810		$ 190,581

[1] Earnings per share is computed individually for each of the quarters presented; therefore, the sum of the quarterly earnings per share may not necessarily equal the total for the year.