Name:	pmcs_StockholdersEquityNoteLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	pmcs_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

The price paid per share to immediately purchase the targeted number of shares on the date of executing the accelerated share repurchase agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 30

-Section 25

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405686&loc=d3e22802-112653

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AcceleratedShareRepurchasesInitialPricePaidPerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of authorized capital units or capital shares. This element is relevant to issuers of face-amount certificates and registered investment companies.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 946

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.6-04.16(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6488278&loc=d3e603758-122996

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalUnitsAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 30

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum number of common shares permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Face amount or stated value per share of preferred stock nonredeemable or redeemable solely at the option of the issuer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maximum number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) permitted to be issued by an entity's charter and bylaws.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased and retired during the period. The excess of the purchase price over par value can be charged against retained earnings (once the excess is fully allocated to additional paid in capital).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30, 31

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of a stock repurchase plan authorized by an entity's Board of Directors.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of shares of common and preferred stock retired from treasury during the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesRetired
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis=pmcs_AcceleratedStockBuybackAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Stockholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Dec. 27, 2014	Dec. 29, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 13, 2012	Dec. 28, 2013
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Capital Units, Authorized	905,000,000us-gaap_CapitalUnitsAuthorized
Common stock, shares authorized	900,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized				900,000,000us-gaap_CommonStockSharesAuthorized
Common stock, par value	$ 0.001				$ 0.001
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.001				$ 0.001
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	5,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized				5,000,000us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized
Stock repurchased and retired value		$ 40
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount	8.9		40.0
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Repurchased		6,902,625us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired
Repurchase of common stock, shares	1,400,000us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesRetired
"ASB agreement" [Member]
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount	$ 79.0	$ 160.0		$ 275.0
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Repurchased	13,000,000
Repurchase of common stock, shares		26,829,309
Repurchase of common stock, price per share		$ 5.96