Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Dec. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Pulse Electronics Corporation shareholders' equity:
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	175,000,000	175,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	41,980,520	41,489,733
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.125	$ 0.125