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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |  |  |
Minimum ownership of entities that do not have a non-controlling interest (in hundredths) | 100.00% |  |
Royalty revenues | $ 6,633 | $ 5,781 | $ 5,710
Research and development expense | 55,809 | 50,968 | 50,745
Grants recognized as reduction of cost of products sold | 483 | 543 | 688
Deferred grant income | 2,185 | 2,788 |
Number of years maintaining employment levels per grants conditions (in years) | 10Y |  |
Minimum number of months until maturity from original purchase date for a highly liquid investment to be considered a short-term investment (in months) | 3M |  |
Bad debt expense | (93) | (838) | 5,669
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Estimated cost to complete construction in progress | 22,715 |  |
Depreciation expense | 165,022 | 169,724 | 206,009
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Cash and investments restricted for potential insurance claims | $ 7,637 | $ 8,987 |
Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance | Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) updated the accounting guidance related to fair value measurements disclosures. The updated guidance (i) requires separate disclosure of significant transfers in and out of Levels 1 and 2 fair value measurements, (ii) requires disclosure of Level 3 fair value measurements activity on a gross basis, (iii) clarifies existing disaggregation requirements, (iv) and clarifies existing input and valuation technique disclosure requirements. The updated guidance was effective for the Company for interim and annual periods beginning after January 1, 2010, except for the Level 3 fair value measurement disclosure requirements, which are effective for fiscal years beginning after January 1, 2011. Vishay adopted the then-effective aspects of the guidance on January 1, 2010 and adopted the remaining guidance on January 1, 2011. The adoption of the guidance had no effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-5, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Presentation of Comprehensive Income. The ASU requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate, but consecutive statements. Vishay early adopted the ASU for its annual period ending December 31, 2011. The adoption of the ASU had no effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. The ASU defers the requirement in ASU No. 2011-5 to present on the face of the financial statements the effects of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the components of net income and other comprehensive income. Vishay early adopted the ASU for its annual period ending December 31, 2011. The adoption of the ASU had no effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or liquidity. |  |
Patents and Acquired Technology [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum (in years) | 7.0 |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum (in years) | 25.0 |  |
Capitalized Software [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum (in years) | 3.0 |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum (in years) | 10.0 |  |
Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum (in years) | 5.0 |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum (in years) | 17.0 |  |
Non-competition Agreements [Member] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] |  |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Minimum (in years) | 4.0 |  |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Useful Life, Maximum (in years) | 10.0 |  |
Machinery and Equipment [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum (in years) | 7.0 |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum (in years) | 10.0 |  |
Building and Building Improvements [Member] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Line Items] |  |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Minimum (in years) | 20.0 |  |
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life, Maximum (in years) | 40.0 |  |

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- Definition The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of the cost of tangible assets over the assets' useful lives. Includes production and non-production related depreciation. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 28 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) -Number 12 -Paragraph 5 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585 + Details
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