Legal Matters	9 Months Ended
Oct. 01, 2011
Legal Matters Disclosure [Abstract]
Legal Matters Disclosure [Text Block]	Legal Matters: On June 11, 2007, a patent infringement lawsuit was filed by Lizy K. John (“John”) against Lattice Semiconductor Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. John seeks an injunction, unspecified damages, and attorneys' fees and expenses. The Company filed a request for re-examination of the patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”), which was granted by the PTO, and the re-examination has concluded. The litigation was stayed pending the results of the re-examination. At this stage of the proceedings, we do not have an estimate of the likelihood or the amount of any potential exposure to us. The Company believes it possesses defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend this litigation. On July 20, 2010, Intellitech Corporation (“Intellitech”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Company, Altera Corporation and Xilinx, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, seeking unspecified damages. On August 27, 2011 the Company and Intellitech entered into an agreement to resolve this litigation. On December 8, 2010, Intellectual Ventures I LLC and Intellectual Ventures II LLC (“Intellectual Ventures”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Company, Altera Corporation and Microsemi Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, seeking unspecified damages. At this stage of the proceedings, we do not have an estimate of the likelihood or the amount of any potential exposure to us. The Company believes it possess defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend this litigation. On September 16, 2011, Commonwealth Research Group, LLC ("Commonwealth") filed a patent infringement against the Company and nineteen other semiconductor companies in the U.S. District Court for the district of Delaware, seeking unspecified damages. At this stage of the proceedings, we do not have an estimate of the likelihood or the amount of any potential exposure to us. The Company believes it possess defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend this litigation. We are also exposed to certain other asserted and unasserted potential claims. There can be no assurance that, with respect to potential claims made against us, we could resolve such claims under terms and conditions that would not have a material adverse effect on our business, our liquidity or our financial results.

Legal Matters:

On June 11, 2007, a patent infringement lawsuit was filed by Lizy K. John (“John”) against Lattice Semiconductor Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. John seeks an injunction, unspecified damages, and attorneys' fees and expenses. The Company filed a request for re-examination of the patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”), which was granted by the PTO, and the re-examination has concluded. The litigation was stayed pending the results of the re-examination. At this stage of the proceedings, we do not have an estimate of the likelihood or the amount of any potential exposure to us. The Company believes it possesses defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend this litigation.

On July 20, 2010, Intellitech Corporation (“Intellitech”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Company, Altera Corporation and Xilinx, Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, seeking unspecified damages. On August 27, 2011 the Company and Intellitech entered into an agreement to resolve this litigation.

On December 8, 2010, Intellectual Ventures I LLC and Intellectual Ventures II LLC (“Intellectual Ventures”) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Company, Altera Corporation and Microsemi Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, seeking unspecified damages. At this stage of the proceedings, we do not have an estimate of the likelihood or the amount of any potential exposure to us. The Company believes it possess defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend this litigation.

On September 16, 2011, Commonwealth Research Group, LLC ("Commonwealth") filed a patent infringement against the Company and nineteen other semiconductor companies in the U.S. District Court for the district of Delaware, seeking unspecified damages. At this stage of the proceedings, we do not have an estimate of the likelihood or the amount of any potential exposure to us. The Company believes it possess defenses to these claims and intends to vigorously defend this litigation.

We are also exposed to certain other asserted and unasserted potential claims. There can be no assurance that, with respect to potential claims made against us, we could resolve such claims under terms and conditions that would not have a material adverse effect on our business, our liquidity or our financial results.