Investments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Short-term Investments [Member]
Amortized cost and gross unrealized gains and losses on all securities
Amortized Cost	$ 35,480	$ 50,577
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,105
Gross Unrealized Losses	15	49
Fair Value	36,570	50,528
Long-term Investments [Member] \| Peregrine Semiconductor, Corp. Series D-1 Preferred shares [Member]
Amortized cost and gross unrealized gains and losses on all securities
Amortized Cost		2,000
Gross Unrealized Gains
Fair Value		2,000
U.S. Treasury securities and agency [Member] \| Short-term Investments [Member]
Amortized cost and gross unrealized gains and losses on all securities
Amortized Cost	3,516	4,500
Gross Unrealized Gains
Gross Unrealized Losses	1
Fair Value	3,515	4,500
FDIC Guaranteed Certificates of Deposit [Member] \| Short-term Investments [Member]
Amortized cost and gross unrealized gains and losses on all securities
Amortized Cost	3,808
Gross Unrealized Losses	4
Fair Value	3,804
Common Stock [Member] \| Short-term Investments [Member]
Amortized cost and gross unrealized gains and losses on all securities
Amortized Cost	2,000
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,105
Fair Value	3,105
Corporate notes/bonds [Member] \| Short-term Investments [Member]
Amortized cost and gross unrealized gains and losses on all securities
Amortized Cost	11,317	37,085
Gross Unrealized Gains
Gross Unrealized Losses	6	37
Fair Value	11,311	37,048
Commercial Paper [Member] \| Short-term Investments [Member]
Amortized cost and gross unrealized gains and losses on all securities
Amortized Cost	14,839	8,992
Gross Unrealized Gains
Gross Unrealized Losses	4	12
Fair Value	$ 14,835	$ 8,980

This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

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This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

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- Definition

This item represents the gross unrealized gains for securities, at a point in time, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities.

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