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Employee Savings Plan | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Savings Plan [Abstract] |
Employee Savings Plan | NOTE 15: Employee Savings Plan Under the Company’s Employee Savings Plan, a defined contribution plan, employees who have attained age 21 may contribute up to 25% of their salary on a pre-tax basis subject to the annual dollar limitations established by the Internal Revenue Service. The Company currently contributes fifty cents for each dollar an employee contributes, with a maximum contribution of 3% of an employee’s pre-tax salary. From the second quarter of 2009 through the second quarter of 2010, the Company reduced this contribution to twenty-five cents for each dollar an employee contributes, with a maximum contribution of 1.5% of an employee’s pre-tax salary. This reduction was done in conjunction with the cost-cutting measures implemented by the Company at that time. Company contributions vest 20%, 40%, 60%, and 100% after two, three, four, and five years of continuous employment with the Company, respectively. Company contributions totaled $1,218,000 in 2011, $776,000 in 2010, and $874,000 in 2009. Cognex stock is not an investment alternative and Company contributions are not made in the form of Cognex stock.

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