Note 3 - Balance Sheet Components (Tables)
3 Months Ended
Mar. 30, 2014
Disclosure Text Block Supplement [Abstract]  
Schedule of Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet [Table Text Block]
   

March 30, 2014

   

December 29, 2013

 
   

(in thousands)

 
                 

Cash and cash equivalents

               

Cash

  $ 260,060     $ 282,163  
Cash equivalents:                
Money market funds     1,588       3,906  
Certificates of deposit     825       -  

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 262,473     $ 286,069  
                 

Short-term investments

               
Time deposits   $  14,054     $  14,045  
Certificates of deposit     12,868       11,383  

Short-term investments

  $ 26,922     $ 25,428  
                 

Account receivable, net

               

Accounts receivable, gross

  $ 177,123     $ 178,252  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

    (409 )     (414 )

Account receivable, net

  $ 176,714     $ 177,838  
                 

Inventories

               
Raw materials   $ 8,992     $ 11,056  
Work-in-process     191,920       176,601  
Finished goods     55,979       66,497  

Inventories

  $ 256,891     $ 254,154  
                 

Property, plant and equipment, net

               
Land   $ 45,168     $ 45,168  
Buildings and leasehold improvements     62,966       61,923  
Equipment     398,416       385,679  
Construction in progress     18,131       19,734  
Accumulated depreciation and amortization     (340,033 )     (326,999 )

Property, plant and equipment, net

  $ 184,648     $ 185,505  
                 

Other long term assets

               
Long term license   $ 24,954     $ 30,273  
Others     26,026       29,935  

Other long term assets

  $ 50,980     $ 60,208  
                 

Accrued compensation and benefits

               
Accrued vacation   $ 11,486     $ 11,077  
MCA business employees related pension obligation     25,046       22,406  
Others     26,203       24,393  

Accrued compensation and benefits

  $ 62,735     $ 57,876  
                 

Accrued liabilities and other

               
Short term license liability   $ 11,435     $ 13,003  
Obligation recorded from sale of Sunnyvale property     58,908       -  
Litigation reserve     17,888       20,419  
Others     57,828       52,930  

Accrued liabilities and other

  $ 146,059     $ 86,352