STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - Note 8

3 Months Ended

Apr. 01, 2012

Stock-Based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock-Based Compensation Disclosure

8. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

We account for stock-based compensation in accordance with the applicable authoritative guidance, which requires the measurement of stock-based compensation on the date of grant based on the fair value of the award, and the recognition of the expense over the requisite service period for the employee. Compensation related to restricted stock units is the intrinsic value on the date of grant, which is the closing price of our common stock less the employee exercise price, if any. Compensation related to stock options is determined using a stock option valuation model.

Valuation Assumptions

We use the Black-Scholes valuation model to determine the fair value of stock options. The Black-Scholes model requires the input of highly subjective assumptions, which are summarized in the table below for the three months ended April 1, 2012 and April 3, 2011:

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2012	April 3, 2011
Expected dividend yield	-	-
Expected stock price volatility	81%	77%
Risk-free interest rate	0.8%	2.1%
Expected life of options in years	5	5

We estimate the expected life of options based on an analysis of our historical experience of employee exercise and post-vesting termination behavior considered in relation to the contractual life of the option. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of our common stock; and the risk-free interest rate is the rate on a U.S. Treasury Bill, with a maturity approximating the expected life of the option. We do not currently pay cash dividends on our common stock and do not anticipate doing so in the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the expected dividend yield is zero.

Our stock-based compensation in the three months ended April 1, 2012 and April 3, 2011 was as follows:

	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2012	April 3, 2011
Stock-based compensation by type of award:	(thousands)
Stock options	$ 388	$ 680
Restricted stock units	12	38
Employee stock purchase plan	5	10
	$ 405	$ 728
	Three Months Ended
	April 1, 2012	April 3, 2011
Stock-based compensation by category of expense:	(thousands)
Cost of sales	$ 15	$ 34
Research, development and engineering	73	126
Selling, general and administrative	317	568
	$ 405	$ 728

We did not capitalize any stock-based compensation as inventory in the three months ended April 1, 2012 and April 3, 2011, as such amounts were not material. As of April 1, 2012, we had $3.6 million in unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to stock options which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3 years.