Note 4 - Balance Sheet Components (Tables)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 28, 2014
Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]  
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]
   

September 28, 2014

   

December 29, 2013

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

               

Cash

  $ 280,421     $ 282,163  
Cash equivalents:                
Money market funds     1,010       3,906  
Certificates of deposit     560       -  

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 281,991     $ 286,069  
                 

Short-term investments

               
Time deposits     21,072       14,045  
Certificates of deposit     23,706       11,383  

Short-term investments

  $ 44,778     $ 25,428  
                 

Account receivable, net

               

Accounts receivable, gross

  $ 165,320     $ 178,252  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

    (387 )     (414 )

Account receivable, net

  $ 164,933     $ 177,838  
                 

Inventories

               
Raw materials   $ 9,892     $ 11,056  
Work-in-process     211,462       176,601  
Finished goods     47,913       66,497  

Inventories

  $ 269,267     $ 254,154  
                 

Property, plant and equipment, net

               
Land   $ 45,168     $ 45,168  
Buildings and leasehold improvements     68,855       61,923  
Equipment     422,385       385,679  
Construction in progress     19,632       19,734  
Accumulated depreciation and amortization     (366,774 )     (326,999 )

Property, plant and equipment, net

  $ 189,266     $ 185,505  
                 

Accrued compensation and benefits

               
Accrued vacation   $ 12,050     $ 11,077  
MCA business employees pension related obligation     6,329       22,406  
Others     26,062       24,393  

Accrued compensation and benefits

  $ 44,441     $ 57,876  
                 

Accrued liabilities and other

               
Short term license liability   $ 6,064     $ 13,003  
Obligation recorded from sale of Sunnyvale property     59,782       -  
Litigation reserve     23,570       20,419  
Others     59,632       52,930  

Accrued liabilities and other

  $ 149,048     $ 86,352  
                 

Other long term liabilities

               
MCA business employees pension related obligation   $ 16,978     $ -  
Others     33,407       32,048  

Other long term liabilities

  $ 50,385     $ 32,048