<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000895419-12-000049.txt : 20120905
<SEC-HEADER>0000895419-12-000049.hdr.sgml : 20120905
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120905124729
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000895419-12-000049
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120905
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120905

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MITCHELL TYRONE D JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001533172

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21154
		FILM NUMBER:		121073217

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		324 GLENDALE DRIVE
		CITY:			CHAPEL HILL
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27514

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CREE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000895419
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				561572719
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4600 SILICON DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9194075300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4600 SILICON DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703-8475

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CREE RESEARCH INC /NC/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940224
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000895419</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CREE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CREE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001533172</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MITCHELL TYRONE D JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CREE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4600 SILICON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DURHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27703</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2113</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.20</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>42761</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-09-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52761</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.77</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-09-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-09-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-09-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Disposition of shares back to the company to satisfy withholding obligations related to restricted stock vesting September 1, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted stock award vesting in four equal annual installments commencing September 1, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 965 shares purchased by Mr. Mitchell on April 30, 2012 under the Cree, Inc. 2005 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Option vests as to 13,334 shares on September 4, 2013 and as to 13,333 shares on September 4, 2014 and September 4, 2015.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tamara Cappelson, as agent for Tyrone D. Mitchell, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-09-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poa_mitchell.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY - TYRONE D. MITCHELL, JR.
<TEXT>
<HTML><BODY><PRE>POWER OF ATTORNEY





I, the person whose signature appears below, hereby appoint Adam H. Broome, Secretary of Cree, Inc. (the "Company"), and Tamara Cappelson, Stock Plan Manager of the Company, and each of them individually, as my attorneys-in-fact with the power and authority:



* to execute and file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on my behalf, pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder: (1) Form ID, Uniform Application for Access Codes to File on EDGAR; (2) Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3; (3) Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4; and (4) Annual Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 5; and any amendments thereto, with respect to my service as a director and/or officer of the Company and my holdings of and transactions in Company securities of which I may be deemed the beneficial owner;

* to do and perform on my behalf any and all other acts necessary or desirable to complete, execute and timely file such Forms ID, 3, 4 and 5 and any amendments thereto with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and, if necessary, any stock exchange or similar authority, including but not limited to the power to designate any person then serving as a director or officer of the Company to be an additional or substitute attorney-in-fact under this Power of Attorney with the same power and authority as if such person were named herein, and to take any other action in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of or legally required by me, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on my behalf pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the attorney-in-fact may approve in his or her discretion.



The authority granted under this Power of Attorney shall continue in effect for each attorney-in-fact named above until I am no longer required to file reports with respect to my holdings of and transactions in Company securities or unless earlier revoked in a writing signed by me and delivered to such attorney-in-fact.  I acknowledge that neither the attorneys-in-fact nor the Company is assuming any of my responsibilities to comply with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this Power of Attorney on the date shown below.





/s/ Tyrone D. Mitchell, Jr.

Signature



 Tyrone D. Mitchell, Jr.

Typed or Printed Name



 October 11, 2011

Date Signed

</PRE></BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
