PENSION PLANS (Schedule of Expected Benefit Payments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
Compensation and Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]
2015	$ 546
2016	758
2017	672
2018	955
2019	1,233
2020 through 2024	9,474
Total	$ 13,638

Represents the aggregate amount of benefits expected to be paid in ten succeeding fiscal years.

No definition available.

Name:	atml_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPayments
Namespace Prefix:	atml_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CompensationAndRetirementDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the five fiscal years after the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 715

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (f)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsFiveFiscalYearsThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of benefits expected to be paid in the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year from a defined benefit plan.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanExpectedFutureBenefitPaymentsYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant