Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2014	Jun. 27, 2015	Jun. 28, 2014
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues		$ 124,767	$ 126,822	$ 257,838	$ 253,290
Cost of revenues (excluding amortization of purchased intangible assets below)		38,434	36,824	78,414	74,388
Gross profit		86,333	89,998	179,424	178,902
Other costs and expenses:
Research and development, net		55,833	49,388	104,699	99,536
Selling, general and administrative		30,488	28,991	60,539	58,331
Amortization of purchased intangible assets		9,269	9,948	18,586	22,277
(Loss) Income from operations		(9,257)	1,671	(4,400)	(1,242)
Other income (expense):
Foreign exchange (loss) gain		(948)	(789)	1,646	(257)
Interest and other financial income, net		317	114	481	123
Gain on investment securities and other investments		25	46	57	75
Amortization of debt issuance costs		(51)	(51)	(102)	(102)
Accretion of discount on short-term and long-term obligation		(180)		(390)
(Loss) income before income taxes		(10,094)	991	(2,708)	(1,403)
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes		1,515	(4,471)	(1,216)	(6,318)
Net loss		$ (8,579)	$ (3,480)	$ (3,924)	$ (7,721)
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted		$ (0.04)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.04)
Shares used in per share calculation - basic and diluted	[1]	195,732	196,114	197,991	195,651

[1] PMC-Sierra Ltd. special shares are included in the calculation of basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding.