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Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2011 | Apr. 02, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Oct. 02, 2010 | Jul. 04, 2010 | Apr. 03, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | Dec. 31, 2008
Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total rental expense under operating leases |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 26,351 | $ 28,194 | $ 29,631 |
Future minimum lease payments for operating leases [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2012 | 23,565 |  |  |  |  |  | 23,565 |  |  |
2013 | 18,272 |  |  |  |  |  | 18,272 |  |  |
2014 | 14,970 |  |  |  |  |  | 14,970 |  |  |
2015 | 11,960 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,960 |  |  |
2016 | 10,318 |  |  |  |  |  | 10,318 |  |  |
Thereafter | 17,989 |  |  |  |  |  | 17,989 |  |  |
Capital lease obligations | 38 |  |  |  |  |  | 38 |  |  |
Environmental Matters |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued environmental liabilities | 25,157 |  |  |  |  |  | 25,157 |  |  |
Accrued environmental liabilities, current | 10,283 |  |  |  |  |  | 10,283 |  |  |
Accrued environmental liabilities, noncurrent | 14,874 |  |  |  |  |  | 14,874 |  |  |
Semiconductor Foundry Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Consideration paid for reducing quantity of long-term purchase commitment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,000 |
Estimated purchase commitments under 2008 Tower agreement [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2012 | 22,569 |  |  |  |  |  | 22,569 |  |  |
2013 | 7,106 |  |  |  |  |  | 7,106 |  |  |
2014 | 6,890 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,890 |  |  |
2015 | 6,890 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,890 |  |  |
Actual purchases from Tower |  |  |  |  |  |  | 36,407 |  |  |
Executive Employment Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period of royalty payment following termination of employment (in years) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10Y |
Royalty Payment Percentage (in hundredths) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.00% |
Present value of royalties, minimum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 370,000
Present value of royalties, maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 445,000
Executive payment made upon amended and restated agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000 |
Annual Executive Payment |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000 |
Executive employment agreement charge | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5,762 | 0 | 57,824 |
Dr. Felix Zandman [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Executive Employment Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Executive employment agreement charge |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,889 |  |  |
Executive employment agreement liability, noncurrent | 19,400 |  |  |  |  |  | 19,400 |  |  |
Executive employment agreement liability, current | 10,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 10,000 |  |  |
Dr. Lior Yahalomi [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Executive Employment Agreements |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Executive employment agreement charge |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,873 |  |  |
General Semiconductor [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental Matters |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued environmental liabilities | 14,546 |  |  |  |  |  | 14,546 |  |  |
Other Sites [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Environmental Matters |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Accrued environmental liabilities | 10,611 |  |  |  |  |  | 10,611 |  |  |
VPG [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total rental expense under operating leases |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,789 | $ 3,624 |

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