Note 5. Balance Sheet Components (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 28, 2014
Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]  
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]
   

December 28, 2014

   

December 29, 2013

 
   

(in thousands)

 
Cash and cash equivalents                

Cash

  $ 247,271     $ 282,163  

Cash equivalents:

               

Money market funds

    435       3,906  

Certificates of deposit

    2,359       -  
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 250,065     $ 286,069  
                 
Short-term investments                

Time deposits

    28,088       14,045  

Certificates of deposit

    22,500       11,383  
Short-term investments   $ 50,588     $ 25,428  
                 
Account receivable, net                

Accounts receivable, gross

  $ 137,273     $ 178,252  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

    (410 )     (414 )
Account receivable, net   $ 136,863     $ 177,838  
                 
Inventories                

Raw materials

  $ 9,543     $ 11,056  

Work-in-process

    246,435       176,601  

Finished goods

    54,746       66,497  
Inventories   $ 310,724     $ 254,154  
                 
Property, plant and equipment, net                

Land

  $ 45,168     $ 45,168  

Buildings and leasehold improvements

    67,008       61,923  

Equipment

    426,863       385,679  

Construction in progress

    27,733       19,734  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (367,377 )     (326,999 )
Property, plant and equipment, net   $ 199,395     $ 185,505  
                 
Accrued compensation and benefits                

Accrued vacation

  $ 12,306     $ 11,077  

MCA business employees pension related obligation

    5,109       22,406  

Others

    16,664       24,393  
Accrued compensation and benefits   $ 34,079     $ 57,876  
                 
Accrued liabilities and other                

Short term license liability

  $ 5,963     $ 13,003  

Obligation recorded from sale of Sunnyvale property

    59,844          

Litigation reserve

    32,129       20,419  

Others

    47,207       52,930  
Accrued liabilities and other   $ 145,143     $ 86,352  
                 
Other long term liabilities                

MCA business employees pension related obligation

  $ 10,783     $ -  

Others

    30,621       32,048  
Other long term liabilities   $ 41,404     $ 32,048