CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 136,835	$ 130,437	$ 59,884
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	21,620	17,249	18,420
Stock-based compensation	8,647	6,752	6,567
Amortization of premium on marketable securities	2,401	2,283	942
Undistributed (earnings) losses of joint ventures	2,942	(2,416)	(1,074)
Deferred income tax benefit	(122,136)	(276)
Pension settlement	8,937
Gain on sale of contract manufacturing business		(45,009)
(Gain) loss on disposal of long-lived assets	(63)	10	4
Loss on investment			191
Gain on sale of intellectual property rights			(7,840)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and disposals:
Accounts receivable	(784)	9,916	(53,163)
Inventories	5,874	(19,131)	(31,341)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	726	1,806	(499)
Accounts payable	(11,182)	(15,099)	39,352
Deferred revenue	(4,684)	1,841	1,487
Accrued warranty and retrofit costs	(123)	(1,420)	2,483
Accrued compensation and benefits	(4,878)	1,717	(755)
Accrued restructuring costs	1,930	(3,212)	(4,123)
Accrued pension	(5,772)	2,014	(2,605)
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities	(4,252)	188	(58)
Net cash provided by operating activities	36,038	87,650	27,872
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(8,653)	(6,455)	(3,472)
Purchases of marketable securities	(132,015)	(186,718)	(117,473)
Sale/maturity of marketable securities	131,317	120,095	84,546
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash	530	(1,293)
Proceeds from the sale of the contract manufacturing business		78,249
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(9,216)	(88,309)
Other investment	(3,000)
Proceeds from the sale of intellectual property rights			7,840
Purchase of intangible assets			(892)
Other		181	243
Net cash used in investing activities	(21,037)	(84,250)	(29,208)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock under stock option and stock purchase plans	1,705	1,358	1,245
Common stock dividend paid	(20,953)	(5,180)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(19,248)	(3,822)	1,245
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	53	(568)	(71)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(4,194)	(990)	(162)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	58,833	59,823	59,985
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	54,639	58,833	59,823
Supplemental disclosures:
Cash paid during the year for interest	14	65	80
Cash paid (refunded) during the year for income taxes, net	$ 4,282	$ 1,042	$ (1,866)