Foreign Operations, Geographic Area and Product Segment Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 segment	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Foreign Operations, Geographic Area and Product Segment Information
Number of reportable segments									2
Reconciliation of Segment profit (loss) to Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax
Net sales	$ 106,849	$ 132,715	$ 136,547	$ 139,909	$ 191,685	$ 267,959	$ 264,815	$ 254,676	$ 516,020	$ 979,135	$ 930,892
Segment profit (loss)									62,098	296,430	315,546
Interest income (expense), net									974	(824)	(6,572)
Amortization									(4,908)	(4,734)	(3,703)
Equity-based compensation									(13,854)	(12,807)	(8,769)
Restructuring	(1,800)	(2,000)							(3,813)	(1,288)	179
Asset impairment charge									(1,335)	(584)
Other									(976)	(758)	179
Loss on extinguishment of debt										(3,349)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									38,186	272,086	296,681
LED And Solar
Reconciliation of Segment profit (loss) to Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax
Net sales									363,181	827,797	795,565
Segment profit (loss)									41,603	267,059	300,311
Amortization									(3,586)	(3,227)	(1,948)
Equity-based compensation									(5,400)	(3,473)	(1,764)
Restructuring									(1,233)	(204)
Asset impairment charge										(584)
Other										(758)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									31,384	258,813	296,599
Data Storage
Reconciliation of Segment profit (loss) to Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax
Net sales									152,839	151,338	135,327
Segment profit (loss)									25,414	38,358	33,910
Amortization									(1,322)	(1,424)	(1,522)
Equity-based compensation									(1,920)	(1,458)	(1,140)
Restructuring									(2,521)	(12)
Asset impairment charge									(1,335)
Other									(976)		179
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									17,340	35,464	31,427
Unallocated Corporate Amount
Reconciliation of Segment profit (loss) to Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax
Segment profit (loss)									(4,919)	(8,987)	(18,675)
Interest income (expense), net									974	(824)	(6,572)
Amortization										(83)	(233)
Equity-based compensation									(6,534)	(7,876)	(5,865)
Restructuring									(59)	(1,072)
Loss on extinguishment of debt										(3,349)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									$ (10,538)	$ (22,191)	$ (31,345)