XML 77 R65.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT  v2.3.0.11

Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended					1 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 24, 2011	Jun. 26, 2011 Restricted Stock Awards And Restricted Stock Units [Member]	Oct. 26, 2010 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan [Member]	Oct. 29, 2009 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan [Member]	Oct. 30, 2008 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan [Member]	Nov. 01, 2007 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan [Member]	Nov. 03, 2005 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan [Member]	Nov. 30, 2004 2004 Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan [Member]	Nov. 03, 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Oct. 30, 2008 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Jun. 26, 2011 Employee Stock Purchase Plan [Member]	Jun. 26, 2011 Stock Options [Member]
Number of shares authorized for issuance under the Equity Compensation Plan								1,200,000	600,000
Additional number of shares authorized for issuance			3,000,000	3,000,000	3,000,000	2,000,000	2,000,000			900,000
Employee stock plan purchase price of fair value, percentage											15.00%
Maximum contribution of employee's compensation, percentage											15.00%
Closing price of common stock	$ 33.96
Unrecognized compensation cost		$ 15.2										$ 53.9
Unrecognized compensation cost expected to be recognized, weighted average period (in years)		2.80										1.63
Stock-based compensation and valuation and expense		For restricted stock and stock unit awards, grant date fair value is based upon the market price of the Company's common stock on the date of the grant. This fair value is then amortized to compensation expense over the requisite service period or vesting term.										To estimate the fair value of the Company's stock option awards the Company currently uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The determination of the fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant using an option-pricing model is affected by the Company's stock price as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective variables. These variables include the expected stock price volatility over the term of the awards, actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. Due to the inherent limitations of option-valuation models, future events that are unpredictable and the estimation process utilized in determining the valuation of the stock-based awards, the ultimate value realized by award holders may vary significantly from the amounts expensed in the Company's financial statements.

X

- Definition

Common Stock, Closing Price Per Share

+ Details

Name:	cree_CommonStockClosingPricePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	cree
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Additional Number Of Shares Authorized For Issuance

+ Details

Name:	cree_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAdditionalNumberOfSharesAuthorizedForIssuance
Namespace Prefix:	cree
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), for awards under the equity based compensation plan

+ Details

Name:	cree_ShareBasedCompensationArrangmentByShareBasedPaymentNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	cree
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

As of the balance sheet date, the aggregate unrecognized cost of equity-based awards made to employees under equity-based compensation awards that have yet to vest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph h
-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 FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, using a decimal to express in number of years.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph h
-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 FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (i)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The discount rate from market value on purchase date that participants pay for shares.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPricePurchaseDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

For each plan, identification of the award pricing model or other valuation method used in calculating the weighted average fair values disclosed. The model is also used to calculate the compensation expense that is shown within the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow. Examples of valuation techniques are lattice models (binomial model), closed-form models (Black-Scholes-Merton formula), and a Monte Carlo simulation technique. Fair value is the amount at which an asset or liability could be bought or incurred or sold or settled in a current transaction between willing parties, that is, other than in a forced or liquidation sale. May include disclosures about the assumptions underlying application of the method selected.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph e(1)
-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 FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (f)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsMethodUsed
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The highest percentage of annual salary that an employee is permitted to utilize with respect to the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph 65
-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 FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-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 718
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeSubscriptionRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant