2.4.0.82116100 - Disclosure - Other Intangible Assetstruefalsefalse1false falsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000867773duration2012-12-31T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true 1us-gaap_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsDisclosureAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]2false 2us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsDisclosureTextBlockus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;">OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS</div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"> </div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:36px;font-size:10pt;">The Company's acquired other intangible assets consist of patents, trade names and purchased technology; customer relationships; and purchased in-process research and development. As of June 30, 2013 and December 30, 2012 the Company's other intangible assets, net of accumulated depreciation, totaled $0.6 million and $0.7 million, respectively. All of the Company's acquired other intangible assets are subject to amortization. Aggregate amortization expense for other intangible assets totaled zero and $0.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, and $2.7 million and $5.5 million in the three and six months ended July 1, 2012, respectively.</div></div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaThe entire disclosure for all or part of the information related to intangible assets.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658586&loc=d3e16323-109275 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658586&loc=d3e16373-109275 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658586&loc=d3e16265-109275 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 44, 45, 46 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. false0Intangible Assets Disclosure [Text Block]falseOther Intangible AssetsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.sunpowercorp.com/role/OtherIntangibleAssets12