Other Intangible Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	$ 306,524		$ 260,634
Accumulated amortization	(183,019)		(177,066)
Net Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	123,505		83,568
Intangible assets, net	143,864		103,927
Amortization expense (excluding capitalized software)	3,599	3,769
Finite Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense [Abstract]
2012	15,278
2013	15,282
2014	15,162
2015	15,094
2016	13,406
HiRel Systems [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization expense (excluding capitalized software)	587
Portion of HiRel purchase price allocated to intangible assets	43,950
Patents and Acquired Technology [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	116,217		111,428
Accumulated amortization	(91,125)		(89,379)
Capitalized Software [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	54,348		53,721
Accumulated amortization	(49,083)		(47,836)
Customer Relationships [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	96,894		57,723
Accumulated amortization	(28,019)		(26,174)
Tradenames [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	37,365		36,762
Accumulated amortization	(14,637)		(13,615)
Intangible Assets Not Subject to Amortization (Indefinite-lived)	20,359		20,359
Non-competition Agreements [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization	1,700		1,000
Accumulated amortization	$ (155)		$ (62)