Shareholders' Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent [Abstract]

Shareholders' Equity [Text Block]

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Preferred Stock Rights Plan

On July 21, 2005, the Board of Directors adopted a Preferred Stock Rights Plan. Pursuant to the Preferred Stock Rights Plan, we distributed Rights as a dividend at the rate of one Right for each share of our common stock held by shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 12, 2005. The Rights expire on August 12, 2015, unless redeemed or exchanged.

The Rights are not exercisable until the earlier of: (1) 10 days (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors) following an announcement that a person or group has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% of our common stock or (2) 10 days (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of Directors) following the announcement of a tender offer which would result in a person or group obtaining beneficial ownership of 20% or more of our outstanding common stock, subject to certain exceptions (the earlier of such dates being called the Distribution Date). The Rights are initially exercisable for one-thousandth of a share of our Series A Preferred Stock at a price of $120 per one-thousandth share, subject to adjustment. However, if: (1) after the Distribution Date we are acquired in certain types of transactions, or (2) any person or group (with limited exceptions) acquires beneficial ownership of 20% of our common stock, then holders of Rights (other than the 20% holder) will be entitled to receive, upon exercise of the Right, common stock (or in case we are completely acquired, common stock of the acquirer) having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right. Philips Business Electronics International B.V., or any of its affiliates, shall not be considered for the 20% calculation so long as it does not acquire 30% or more of our common shares.

We are entitled to redeem the Rights, for $0.001 per Right, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, until certain specified times. We may also require the exchange of Rights, at a rate of one share of common stock for each Right, under certain circumstances. We also have the ability to amend the Rights, subject to certain limitations.

PEO Combination

On February 21, 1997, we acquired substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the electron optics business of Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (the “PEO Combination”), in a transaction accounted for as a reverse acquisition. As part of the PEO Combination, we agreed to issue to Philips additional shares of our common stock whenever stock options that were outstanding on the date of the closing of the PEO Combination are exercised. Any such additional shares are issued at a rate of approximately 1.22 shares to Philips for each share issued on exercise of these options. We receive no additional consideration for these shares issued to Philips under this agreement. We did not issue any shares in 2011, 2010 or 2009to Philips under this agreement. As ofDecember 31, 2011, 165,000shares of our common stock are potentially issuable and reserved for issuance as a result of this agreement.

Share Repurchases

A plan to repurchase up to a total of4.0 millionshares of our common stock was approved by our Board of Directors in September 2010 and does not have an expiration date. The amount and timing of specific repurchases are subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The purchases are funded from existing cash resources and may be suspended or discontinued at any time at our discretion without prior notice.

During 2011 we repurchased 1,654,400 shares for a total of $50.0 million, or an average of $30.19 per share and during 2010 we repurchased 205,300 shares for a total of $4.9 million or an average of $23.66 per share. As of December 31, 2011, 2,140,300shares remained available for purchase pursuant to this plan.