$CGNX
COGNEX CORP Stock $cgnx

$cgnx Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2022 Q1 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000085120522000008 Filed on February 17, 2022

Income Statement

Concept	2022 Q1	2021 Q4	2021
Revenue		$284.8M	$1.037B
YoY Change		27.38%	27.88%
Cost Of Revenue		$85.71M	$277.3M
YoY Change		55.28%	34.32%
Gross Profit		$199.1M	$759.8M
YoY Change		18.21%	25.67%
Gross Profit Margin		69.91%	73.26%
Selling, General & Admin		$77.11M	$309.4M
YoY Change		4.07%	15.61%
% of Gross Profit		38.72%	40.71%
Research & Development		$34.48M	$135.4M
YoY Change		0.22%	3.35%
% of Gross Profit		17.31%	17.82%
Depreciation & Amortization		$5.051M	$16.62M
YoY Change		-23.47%	-24.95%
% of Gross Profit		2.54%	2.19%
Operating Expenses		$111.6M	$444.7M
YoY Change		2.94%	11.58%
Operating Profit		$87.55M	$315.1M
YoY Change		48.17%	84.78%
Interest Expense		$1.162M	$4.390M
YoY Change		-80.63%	-73.71%
% of Operating Profit		1.33%	1.39%
Other Income/Expense, Net		-$125.0K	-$591.0K
YoY Change		-37.5%	91.26%
Pretax Income		$88.58M	$318.9M
YoY Change		36.49%	70.62%
Income Tax		$9.684M	$39.02M
% Of Pretax Income		10.93%	12.24%
Net Earnings		$78.90M	$279.9M
YoY Change		13.78%	58.86%
Net Earnings / Revenue		27.7%	26.99%
Basic Earnings Per Share			$1.59
Diluted Earnings Per Share		$0.44	$1.56
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	173.9M shares	176.8M shares	176.5M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding		180.3M shares	179.9M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2021 Q4	2021
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$323.6M	$323.6M
YoY Change	-13.08%	-13.08%
Cash & Equivalents	$186.2M	$537.0K
Short-Term Investments	$137.5M	$137.5M
Other Short-Term Assets	$57.72M	$65.71M
YoY Change	61.67%	84.05%
Inventory	$113.1M	$113.1M
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$130.3M	$134.3M
Other Receivables	$3.481M	$3.037M
Total Short-Term Assets	$639.8M	$639.8M
YoY Change	6.33%	6.33%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$77.55M	$100.7M
YoY Change	-2.05%	-1.08%
Goodwill	$241.7M
YoY Change	-0.97%
Intangibles	$11.89M
YoY Change	-23.57%
Long-Term Investments	$592.8M	$583.7M
YoY Change	50.04%	47.75%
Other Assets	$7.242M	$425.8M
YoY Change	-7.08%	-3.77%
Total Long-Term Assets	$1.364B	$1.364B
YoY Change	13.75%	13.75%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$639.8M	$639.8M
Total Long-Term Assets	$1.364B	$1.364B
Total Assets	$2.004B	$2.004B
YoY Change	11.27%	11.27%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$44.05M	$44.05M
YoY Change	170.75%	170.25%
Accrued Expenses	$92.43M	$100.2M
YoY Change	19.63%	17.35%
Deferred Revenue	$35.74M
YoY Change	68.01%
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due
YoY Change
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$188.6M	$188.6M
YoY Change	42.55%	42.55%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$15.48M	$91.21M
YoY Change	55.4%	-0.1%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$15.48M	$91.21M
YoY Change	55.4%	-0.1%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$188.6M	$188.6M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$15.48M	$91.21M
Total Liabilities	$573.6M	$573.6M
YoY Change	6.51%	6.51%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings	$562.9M
YoY Change	15.37%
Common Stock	$914.8M
YoY Change	13.25%
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$1.430B	$1.430B
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$2.004B	$2.004B
YoY Change	11.27%	11.27%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2021 Q4	2021
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	$78.90M	$279.9M
YoY Change	13.78%	58.86%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$5.051M	$16.62M
YoY Change	-23.47%	-24.95%
Cash From Operating Activities	$64.13M	$314.1M
YoY Change	-22.64%	29.56%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	-$4.139M	$15.46M
YoY Change	18.26%	16.18%
Acquisitions		$0.00
YoY Change		-100.0%
Other Investing Activities	-$49.35M	-$237.1M
YoY Change	-122.75%	-229.77%
Cash From Investing Activities	-$53.49M	-$252.5M
YoY Change	-125.07%	-249.04%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid		$43.26M
YoY Change		-88.92%
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net		$161.7M
YoY Change		216.74%
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	-23.33M	-$141.6M
YoY Change	-92.88%	-55.31%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	64.13M	$314.1M
Cash From Investing Activities	-53.49M	-$252.5M
Cash From Financing Activities	-23.33M	-$141.6M
Net Change In Cash	-12.69M	-$82.91M
YoY Change	-59.57%	-184.91%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	$64.13M	$314.1M
Capital Expenditures	-$4.139M	$15.46M
Free Cash Flow	$68.27M	$298.6M
YoY Change	-20.98%	30.34%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
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CY2021	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2021
CY2021	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
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CY2021	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
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CY2021Q3	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	14919879186	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	776000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	831000	USD
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CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Amortized Cost Noncurrent DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAmortizedCostNoncurrent	587981000	USD
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CY2021	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	COGNEX CORP
CY2021	dei	Entity File Number EntityFileNumber	001-34218
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CY2021	dei	Entity Incorporation State Country Code EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode	MA
CY2021	dei	Entity Tax Identification Number EntityTaxIdentificationNumber	04-2713778
CY2021	dei	Entity Address Address Line1 EntityAddressAddressLine1	One Vision Drive
CY2021	dei	Entity Address City Or Town EntityAddressCityOrTown	Natick
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CY2021	dei	Entity Address Postal Zip Code EntityAddressPostalZipCode	01760
CY2021	dei	City Area Code CityAreaCode	508
CY2021	dei	Local Phone Number LocalPhoneNumber	650-3000
CY2021	dei	Security12b Title Security12bTitle	Common Stock, par value $.002 per share
CY2021	dei	Trading Symbol TradingSymbol	CGNX
CY2021	dei	Security Exchange Name SecurityExchangeName	NASDAQ
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CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Current DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossCurrent	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Current DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossCurrent	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	137455000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	103240000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	1800702000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	776000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Valuation Allowances And Reserves Balance ValuationAllowancesAndReservesBalance	831000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	130348000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	125696000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	3990000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unbilled Receivables Current UnbilledReceivablesCurrent	5632000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	113102000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	60830000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	68742000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	37220000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	639798000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	601691000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Amortized Cost Noncurrent DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAmortizedCostNoncurrent	587981000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Amortized Cost Noncurrent DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAmortizedCostNoncurrent	390417000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Noncurrent DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Noncurrent DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossNoncurrent	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	583748000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	395125000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	77546000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	79173000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	23157000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAsset	22582000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	241713000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	244078000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	11888000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Excluding Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill	15555000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Assets Net DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsNet	418570000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Assets Net DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsNet	434704000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	7242000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	7794000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	2003662000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	44051000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	16270000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	92432000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	77264000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	8577000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Current AccruedIncomeTaxesCurrent	9379000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	35743000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	21274000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	7786000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Current OperatingLeaseLiabilityCurrent	8110000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	188589000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	132297000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	17795000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability Noncurrent OperatingLeaseLiabilityNoncurrent	18120000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	293769000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilitiesNet	314952000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	14780000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	14257000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	43160000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	48915000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	15476000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	9959000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	573569000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	538500000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value Outstanding PreferredStockValueOutstanding	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value Outstanding PreferredStockValueOutstanding	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value Outstanding CommonStockValueOutstanding	351000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value Outstanding CommonStockValueOutstanding	352000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	914802000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	807739000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	562882000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	487912000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-47942000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-33801000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1430093000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1262202000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	2003662000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	1800702000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	279881000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	176186000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	203865000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Option Plan Expense StockOptionPlanExpense	43774000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Option Plan Expense StockOptionPlanExpense	42661000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Option Plan Expense StockOptionPlanExpense	45589000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	16616000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	22139000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	21527000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-33000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-1817000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-324000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	3667000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	4364000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	3373000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	19571000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	0	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Excess And Obsolete Inventory Charges ExcessAndObsoleteInventoryCharges	2573000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Excess And Obsolete Inventory Charges ExcessAndObsoleteInventoryCharges	9908000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Excess And Obsolete Inventory Charges ExcessAndObsoleteInventoryCharges	5296000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Impairment Loss OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Impairment Loss OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss	3427000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Impairment Loss OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	-4887000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	-1274000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Accretion Amortization Of Discounts And Premiums Investments AccretionAmortizationOfDiscountsAndPremiumsInvestments	618000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments	236000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments	4119000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments	1452000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	-114000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Business Combination Contingent Consideration Arrangements Change In Amount Of Contingent Consideration Liability1 BusinessCombinationContingentConsiderationArrangementsChangeInAmountOfContingentConsiderationLiability1	-1401000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	3118000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	3353000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Deferred Income Taxes IncreaseDecreaseInDeferredIncomeTaxes	94866000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	4503000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	21285000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-16807000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Asset IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerAsset	-1637000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Asset IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerAsset	848000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Asset IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerAsset	-3530000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	54920000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	10319000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Inventories IncreaseDecreaseInInventories	-17841000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	32342000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	9909000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-7405000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	27828000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-1688000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	1633000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	16861000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	24542000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities	-8938000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	-6401000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	-22973000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	25266000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	14417000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	6571000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Contract With Customer Liability IncreaseDecreaseInContractWithCustomerLiability	3875000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-3411000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-4548000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Other Operating Capital Net IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet	-4255000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	314065000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	242400000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities	253311000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	668053000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	922867000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Investments PaymentsToAcquireInvestments	1031642000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	430969000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	1104605000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Maturity And Collections Of Investments ProceedsFromSaleMaturityAndCollectionsOfInvestments	1062962000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	15455000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	13303000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	21745000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	-1004000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	166911000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-252539000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	169439000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities	-157336000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	63292000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	125715000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	64581000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	161652000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	51036000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	61690000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	43263000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	390508000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	186161000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	269073000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payment For Contingent Consideration Liability Financing Activities PaymentForContingentConsiderationLiabilityFinancingActivities	1039000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends Common Stock PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	35124000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Payment For Contingent Consideration Liability Financing Activities PaymentForContingentConsiderationLiabilityFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payment For Contingent Consideration Liability Financing Activities PaymentForContingentConsiderationLiabilityFinancingActivities	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-141623000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-316868000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities	-32233000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-2815000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	2671000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effect Of Exchange Rate On Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	-523000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	-82912000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	97642000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Period Increase Decrease Including Exchange Rate Effect CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecreaseIncludingExchangeRateEffect	63219000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	269073000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	171431000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	108212000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	6478000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash Equivalents Restricted Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents CashCashEquivalentsRestrictedCashAndRestrictedCashEquivalents	171431000	USD
CY2018Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1135263000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	64581000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	61690000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	45589000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	35124000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	203865000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	5219000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	1452000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-541000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1355710000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	125715000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	51036000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	42661000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	390508000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	176186000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	4119000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	1115000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1262202000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised	63292000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	161652000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	43774000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Dividends Common Stock Cash DividendsCommonStockCash	43263000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	279881000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Unrealized Holding Gain Loss On Securities Arising During Period Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodNetOfTax	-7152000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-7152000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	236000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Reclassification Adjustment From Aoci For Sale Of Securities Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesNetOfTax	236000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-6753000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Transaction And Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	-6753000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	1430093000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:9pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%;text-decoration:underline">Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements</span></div><div style="margin-bottom:5pt;margin-top:5pt;text-align:justify"><span style="color:#000000;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;font-size:10pt;font-weight:400;line-height:120%">The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent liabilities as of the balance sheet date, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Significant estimates and judgments include those related to revenue recognition, investments, inventories, intangible assets, stock-based compensation, income taxes, business acquisitions, and restructuring charges.</span></div>
CY2021	cgnx	Availableforsale Securities Debt Maturities Effective Term Maximum AvailableforsaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesEffectiveTermMaximum	P10Y
CY2021	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	1965000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	1443000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Advertising Expense AdvertisingExpense	1385000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	43665000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	36912000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	3006000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	4382000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Adjustment For Long Term Intercompany Transactions Net Of Tax AdjustmentForLongTermIntercompanyTransactionsNetOfTax	1271000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations Recurring Basis Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue	1153000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations Recurring Basis Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Fair Value Measurement With Unobservable Inputs Reconciliations Recurring Basis Liability Value FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Impairment Loss OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss	3427000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	19571000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	185624000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	266609000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Money Market Funds At Carrying Value MoneyMarketFundsAtCarryingValue	537000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Money Market Funds At Carrying Value MoneyMarketFundsAtCarryingValue	2464000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	186161000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	269073000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	137455000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecuritiesCurrent	103240000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	583748000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Long Term Investments LongTermInvestments	395125000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Cash Cash Equivalents Short Term And Long Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsShortTermAndLongTermInvestments	907364000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Cash Cash Equivalents Short Term And Long Term Investments CashCashEquivalentsShortTermAndLongTermInvestments	767438000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Due From Foreign Banks DueFromForeignBanks	142009000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Due From Foreign Banks DueFromForeignBanks	225853000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Interest Receivable InterestReceivable	3037000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Interest Receivable InterestReceivable	1560000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Amortized Cost Basis AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAmortizedCostBasis	725105000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedGainBeforeTax	1069000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Debt Securities Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss Before Tax AvailableForSaleDebtSecuritiesAccumulatedGrossUnrealizedLossBeforeTax	4971000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	721203000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12Months	525868000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position Less Than12 Months Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPositionLessThan12MonthsAccumulatedLoss	4896000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLonger	7808000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Continuous Unrealized Loss Position12 Months Or Longer Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleContinuousUnrealizedLossPosition12MonthsOrLongerAccumulatedLoss	75000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPosition	533676000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Unrealized Loss Position Accumulated Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleUnrealizedLossPositionAccumulatedLoss	4971000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Change In Present Value Expense Reversal DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleChangeInPresentValueExpenseReversal	160000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss Recovery DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLossRecovery	-160000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Allowance For Credit Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleAllowanceForCreditLoss	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	246000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	4283000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Gain DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedGain	1581000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedLoss	10000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedLoss	164000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Debt Securities Available For Sale Realized Loss DebtSecuritiesAvailableForSaleRealizedLoss	129000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities Within One Year Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue	137455000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After One Year Before Two Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterOneYearBeforeTwoYearsFairValue	285172000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Two Years Before Three Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterTwoYearsBeforeThreeYearsFairValue	181712000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Three Years Before Four Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterThreeYearsBeforeFourYearsFairValue	73515000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Available For Sale Securities Debt Maturities After Four Years Before Five Years Fair Value AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAfterFourYearsBeforeFiveYearsFairValue	43349000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Debt Securities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtSecurities	721203000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	26829000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	50452000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Raw Materials Net Of Reserves InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReserves	26800000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	5293000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Work In Process Net Of Reserves InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReserves	4780000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	57357000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Finished Goods Net Of Reserves InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReserves	29250000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	113102000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Inventory Net InventoryNet	60830000	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Excess And Obsolete Inventory Charges ExcessAndObsoleteInventoryCharges	2573000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Excess And Obsolete Inventory Charges ExcessAndObsoleteInventoryCharges	9908000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	174565000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	181494000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	97019000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	102321000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	77546000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	79173000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Disposals PropertyPlantAndEquipmentDisposals	20647000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment1 AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment1	20614000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	-33000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment1 AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment1	24977000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Disposition Of Assets1 GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets1	-1852000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	8180000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	8180000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Expense OperatingLeaseExpense	6893000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	8225000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	8009000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Payments OperatingLeasePayments	6530000	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Operating Lease Expense No Liability Or Asset Recognized OperatingLeaseExpenseNoLiabilityOrAssetRecognized	154000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Operating Lease Expense No Liability Or Asset Recognized OperatingLeaseExpenseNoLiabilityOrAssetRecognized	123000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Operating Lease Expense No Liability Or Asset Recognized OperatingLeaseExpenseNoLiabilityOrAssetRecognized	275000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Next Twelve Months LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueNextTwelveMonths	8508000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Two LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearTwo	6883000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Three LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearThree	3842000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Four LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFour	2081000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueYearFive	1346000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due After Year Five LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDueAfterYearFive	5069000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Lessee Operating Lease Liability Payments Due LesseeOperatingLeaseLiabilityPaymentsDue	27729000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	25581000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Liability OperatingLeaseLiability	26230000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.034
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Discount Rate Percent OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageDiscountRatePercent	0.040
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P5Y1M6D
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Operating Lease Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term1 OperatingLeaseWeightedAverageRemainingLeaseTerm1	P5Y1M6D
CY2020Q2	cgnx	Operating Lease Right Of Use Asset Carrying Value Of Impaired Asset OperatingLeaseRightOfUseAssetCarryingValueOfImpairedAsset	0	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Impairment Loss OperatingLeaseImpairmentLoss	3427000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	77000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Operating Lease Lease Income OperatingLeaseLeaseIncome	311000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	243445000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Goodwill Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss	1637000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	244078000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Goodwill Foreign Currency Translation Gain Loss GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss	-2365000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	241713000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	73675000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	61787000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Intangible Assets Net Including Goodwill IntangibleAssetsNetIncludingGoodwill	11888000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	73675000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	58120000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	15555000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	19571000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	3275000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	2594000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	2080000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	1757000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	1452000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense After Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive	730000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	11888000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Bonuses Current AccruedBonusesCurrent	37917000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Bonuses Current AccruedBonusesCurrent	28935000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Salaries Current AccruedSalariesCurrent	8519000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Salaries Current AccruedSalariesCurrent	7911000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Retirement Allowance RetirementAllowance	7572000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Retirement Allowance RetirementAllowance	6886000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	5427000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Classified Current ProductWarrantyAccrualClassifiedCurrent	5406000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Vacation Current AccruedVacationCurrent	4686000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Vacation Current AccruedVacationCurrent	3641000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	28311000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	24485000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	92432000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Liabilities Current AccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	77264000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual ProductWarrantyAccrual	4713000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	3463000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Payments ProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	2770000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual ProductWarrantyAccrual	5406000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Warranties Issued ProductWarrantyAccrualWarrantiesIssued	3256000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual Payments ProductWarrantyAccrualPayments	3235000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Product Warranty Accrual ProductWarrantyAccrual	5427000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Purchase Commitment Remaining Minimum Amount Committed PurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted	100750000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Other Inventory Purchased Goods OtherInventoryPurchasedGoods	19448000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Other Inventory Purchased Goods OtherInventoryPurchasedGoods	4291000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Other Inventory Purchased Goods OtherInventoryPurchasedGoods	3700000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liability Collateral Right To Reclaim Cash Offset DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	39000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Asset DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	265000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	230000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Fair Value Of Derivative Liability DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability	38000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Asset Collateral Obligation To Return Cash Offset DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Asset Collateral Obligation To Return Cash Offset DerivativeAssetCollateralObligationToReturnCashOffset	0	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liability Collateral Right To Reclaim Cash Offset DerivativeLiabilityCollateralRightToReclaimCashOffset	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	39000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Assets DerivativeAssets	265000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities DerivativeLiabilities	230000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Derivative Liabilities DerivativeLiabilities	38000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	1037098000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	811020000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	725625000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	1037098000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	811020000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	725625000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Gross CapitalizedContractCostGross	10854000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Capitalized Contract Cost Gross CapitalizedContractCostGross	6846000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	530000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	600000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Write Offs AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs	300000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Foreign Exchange Rate Adjustment AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossForeignExchangeRateAdjustment	1000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	831000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Provision For Doubtful Accounts ProvisionForDoubtfulAccounts	0	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable Write Offs AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivableWriteOffs	55000	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Accounts Receivable Allowance For Credit Loss Foreign Exchange Rate Adjustment AccountsReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossForeignExchangeRateAdjustment	0	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Allowance For Doubtful Accounts Receivable AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable	776000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	14432000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Contract With Customer Liability Period Increase Decrease ContractWithCustomerLiabilityPeriodIncreaseDecrease	19014000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Contract With Customer Liability Current And Prior Period Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrentAndPriorPeriodRevenueRecognized	12443000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Contract Liability Foreign Exchange Rate Changes ContractLiabilityForeignExchangeRateChanges	271000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	21274000	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Contract With Customer Liability Period Increase Decrease ContractWithCustomerLiabilityPeriodIncreaseDecrease	31907000	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Contract With Customer Liability Current And Prior Period Revenue Recognized ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrentAndPriorPeriodRevenueRecognized	17403000	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Contract Liability Foreign Exchange Rate Changes ContractLiabilityForeignExchangeRateChanges	-35000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Contract With Customer Liability Current ContractWithCustomerLiabilityCurrent	35743000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	400000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.01
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.002
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	200000000	shares
CY2018Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	300000000	shares
CY2016Q2	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	10000000	shares
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Vote Entitled For Each Common Share Outstanding VoteEntitledForEachCommonShareOutstanding	1	Vote
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CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.055
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.060
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Cash Paid CommonStockDividendsPerShareCashPaid	0.065
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Dividends Per Share Declared CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared	2.00
CY2021	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	43263000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	390508000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	351428000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Payments Of Dividends PaymentsOfDividends	35124000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	8970000	shares
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	44.73
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod	564000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	88.62
CY2021	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Shares Stock Options Exercised StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	1694000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangements By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercises In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	37.70
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod	230000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Forfeitures And Expirations In Period Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	50.34
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	7610000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	49.38
CY2021	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term2 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm2	P6Y6M25D
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Outstanding Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue	222053000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber	3442000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice	39.87
CY2021	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Exercisable Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P5Y5M12D
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Exercisable Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableAggregateIntrinsicValue	130448000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Exercisable Number ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestExercisableNumber	7134000	shares
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	48.66
CY2021	us-gaap	Sharebased Compensation Arrangement By Sharebased Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term1 SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingWeightedAverageRemainingContractualTerm1	P6Y5M26D
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested And Expected To Vest Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedAndExpectedToVestOutstandingAggregateIntrinsicValue	212746000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	33.79
CY2020	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	19.62
CY2019	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Grants In Period Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue	18.62
CY2021	cgnx	Shares Based Compensation Arrangement By Shares Based Payment Award Options Exercised Intrinsic Value SharesBasedCompensationArrangementBySharesBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisedIntrinsicValue	80369000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Shares Based Compensation Arrangement By Shares Based Payment Award Options Exercised Intrinsic Value SharesBasedCompensationArrangementBySharesBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisedIntrinsicValue	166796000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Shares Based Compensation Arrangement By Shares Based Payment Award Options Exercised Intrinsic Value SharesBasedCompensationArrangementBySharesBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisedIntrinsicValue	90762000	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedFairValue	45328000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedFairValue	45998000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Vested Fair Value ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsVestedFairValue	38974000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Number Of Groups Within Employee Population NumberOfGroupsWithinEmployeePopulation	2	group
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Estimated Forfeiture Rate For Unvested Options For Senior Management EstimatedForfeitureRateForUnvestedOptionsForSeniorManagement	0.08
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Estimated Forfeiture Rate For Unvested Options For All Non Senior Management EstimatedForfeitureRateForUnvestedOptionsForAllNonSeniorManagement	0.12
CY2021	cgnx	Increase Decrease In Compensation Expense Due To Revised Estimated Forfeiture Rates IncreaseDecreaseInCompensationExpenseDueToRevisedEstimatedForfeitureRates	255000	USD
CY2020	cgnx	Increase Decrease In Compensation Expense Due To Revised Estimated Forfeiture Rates IncreaseDecreaseInCompensationExpenseDueToRevisedEstimatedForfeitureRates	1787000	USD
CY2019	cgnx	Increase Decrease In Compensation Expense Due To Revised Estimated Forfeiture Rates IncreaseDecreaseInCompensationExpenseDueToRevisedEstimatedForfeitureRates	499000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Stock Options EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedStockOptions	47690000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Total Compensation Cost Not Yet Recognized Period For Recognition1 EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedPeriodForRecognition1	P1Y4M24D
CY2021	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	43774000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	6764000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	42661000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	6569000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	45589000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Employee Service Share Based Compensation Tax Benefit From Compensation Expense EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense	7756000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	1401000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	43774000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	42661000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Allocated Share Based Compensation Expense AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	45589000	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Minimum Age To Be Eligible To Defined Contribution Plan MinimumAgeToBeEligibleToDefinedContributionPlan	P21Y
CY2021	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Maximum Annual Contributions Per Employee Percent DefinedContributionPlanMaximumAnnualContributionsPerEmployeePercent	1
CY2021	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Matching Contribution Percent Of Match DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercentOfMatch	0.50
CY2021	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Matching Contribution Percent DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchingContributionPercent	0.06
CY2021	cgnx	Company Contributions Vest At End Of One Year CompanyContributionsVestAtEndOfOneYear	0.25
CY2021	cgnx	Company Contributions Vest At End Of Two Year CompanyContributionsVestAtEndOfTwoYear	0.50
CY2021	cgnx	Company Contributions Vest At End Of Three Years CompanyContributionsVestAtEndOfThreeYears	0.75
CY2021	cgnx	Company Contributions Vest At End Of Four Years CompanyContributionsVestAtEndOfFourYears	1
CY2021	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	2898000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	2636000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Defined Contribution Plan Cost Recognized DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized	2729000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	121729000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	39425000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Domestic IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesDomestic	31396000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	197171000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	147486000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Foreign IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesForeign	131598000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	27870000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	160000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	15854000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	5372000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	921000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	2108000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	8406000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	13197000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	30670000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	41648000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	14278000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Current Income Tax Expense Benefit CurrentIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	48632000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-19266000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-18266000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	352808000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-769000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-556000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	183000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17406000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	15269000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-442494000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-2629000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-3553000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-89503000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	39019000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	10725000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-40871000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.21
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.01
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.01
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.02
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.05
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.06
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.09
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.02
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.01
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCredits	0.01
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	0.03
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	0.07
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitPercent	0.04
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements	-0.01
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements	-0.05
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlements	0
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements Foreign EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlementsForeign	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements Foreign EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlementsForeign	0.01
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Settlements Foreign EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxSettlementsForeign	0
CY2021	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Migrationof Acquired Intellectual Property EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMigrationofAcquiredIntellectualProperty	0
CY2020	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Migrationof Acquired Intellectual Property EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMigrationofAcquiredIntellectualProperty	0
CY2019	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Migrationof Acquired Intellectual Property EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationMigrationofAcquiredIntellectualProperty	0.18
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Enacted Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInEnactedTaxRate	-2.68
CY2021	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cutsand Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsandJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncomePercent	0
CY2020	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cutsand Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsandJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncomePercent	0
CY2019	cgnx	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Cutsand Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCutsandJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncomePercent	2.14
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherReconcilingItemsPercent	0
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherReconcilingItemsPercent	0
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Reconciling Items Percent EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherReconcilingItemsPercent	-0.01
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.01
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.02
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.03
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.12
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.06
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	-0.25
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	162994000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-40871000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Net Income Loss NetIncomeLoss	203865000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic EarningsPerShareBasic	1.19
CY2019	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted EarningsPerShareDiluted	1.16
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	449519000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Liabilities DeferredIncomeTaxLiabilities	332344000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	753268000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	11036000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	12788000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Share Based Compensation Excess Tax Benefit Amount EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationShareBasedCompensationExcessTaxBenefitAmount	6472000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets Foreign Tax Structure Change DeferredTaxAssetsForeignTaxStructureChange	437500000	USD
CY2019Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxCutsAndJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncome	350000000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Tax Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential IncomeTaxReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	87500000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	11591000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	162000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	3383000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	1184000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	13952000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	280000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	100000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	525000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Reductions Resulting From Lapse Of Applicable Statute Of Limitations UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations	485000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	13812000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Gross UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGross	15808000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	14780000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Unrecognizedtaxbenefitshownasareductiontononcurrentdeferredtaxassets Unrecognizedtaxbenefitshownasareductiontononcurrentdeferredtaxassets	1028000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Gross UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsGross	15285000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Liability For Uncertain Tax Positions Noncurrent LiabilityForUncertainTaxPositionsNoncurrent	14257000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Unrecognizedtaxbenefitshownasareductiontononcurrentdeferredtaxassets Unrecognizedtaxbenefitshownasareductiontononcurrentdeferredtaxassets	1028000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	1996000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Accrued UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestAccrued	1332000	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Minimum Decrease In Income Tax Expense Due To Release In Reserves MinimumDecreaseInIncomeTaxExpenseDueToReleaseInReserves	2000000	USD
CY2021	cgnx	Maximum Decrease In Income Tax Expense Due To Release In Reserves MaximumDecreaseInIncomeTaxExpenseDueToReleaseInReserves	3500000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.05
CY2020	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.06
CY2019	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	-0.09
CY2021	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	281000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	340000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Income Tax Penalties And Interest Expense UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense	116000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	49435000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	33695000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	13443000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets Intangible Asset Changein Tax Structure DeferredTaxAssetsIntangibleAssetChangeinTaxStructure	404526000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets Intangible Asset Changein Tax Structure DeferredTaxAssetsIntangibleAssetChangeinTaxStructure	424156000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	15279000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	13294000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards Domestic DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsDomestic	11051000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards Domestic DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsDomestic	10171000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	7426000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Inventory DeferredTaxAssetsInventory	5976000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsOther	7263000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsOther	4932000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Noncurrent Deferred Tax Assets Deprecation NoncurrentDeferredTaxAssetsDeprecation	5395000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Noncurrent Deferred Tax Assets Deprecation NoncurrentDeferredTaxAssetsDeprecation	4211000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards Foreign DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeign	751000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards Foreign DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwardsForeign	602000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets Other Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsOtherNoncurrent	9023000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets Other Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsOtherNoncurrent	4342000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets With Jurisdictional Netting Gross DeferredTaxAssetsWithJurisdictionalNettingGross	460714000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Assets With Jurisdictional Netting Gross DeferredTaxAssetsWithJurisdictionalNettingGross	467684000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	8188000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	8568000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	452526000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	459116000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxCutsAndJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncome	327725000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Tax Liabilities Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Global Intangible Low Tax Income DeferredTaxLiabilitiesTaxCutsAndJobsActGlobalIntangibleLowTaxIncome	339364000	USD
CY2021Q4	cgnx	Deferred Income Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	124801000	USD
CY2020Q4	cgnx	Deferred Income Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredIncomeTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	119752000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards Foreign DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsForeign	1730000	USD
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	176463000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	173489000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	171194000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	3453000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	3103000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment WeightedAverageNumberDilutedSharesOutstandingAdjustment	4075000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	179916000	shares
CY2020	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	176592000	shares
CY2019	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	175269000	shares
CY2021	us-gaap	Number Of Reportable Segments NumberOfReportableSegments	1	Segment
CY2021	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	1037098000	USD
CY2021Q4	us-gaap	Noncurrent Assets NoncurrentAssets	84788000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	811020000	USD
CY2020Q4	us-gaap	Noncurrent Assets NoncurrentAssets	86967000	USD
CY2019	us-gaap	Revenue From Contract With Customer Excluding Assessed Tax RevenueFromContractWithCustomerExcludingAssessedTax	725625000	USD
CY2019Q4	us-gaap	Noncurrent Assets NoncurrentAssets	95276000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Impairment Of Intangible Assets Excluding Goodwill ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwill	19571000	USD
CY2020Q2	us-gaap	Restructuring And Related Cost Number Of Positions Eliminated Inception To Date Percent RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminatedInceptionToDatePercent	0.08
CY2020	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	15924000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	15924000	USD
CY2020	us-gaap	Restructuring And Related Cost Number Of Positions Eliminated RestructuringAndRelatedCostNumberOfPositionsEliminated	181	Employees
CY2021	dei	Auditor Name AuditorName	GRANT THORNTON LLP
CY2021	dei	Auditor Location AuditorLocation	Boston, Massachusetts

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
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0000851205-22-000008.txt	Edgar Link	pending
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$CGNX
COGNEX CORP Stock $cgnx

2022 Q1 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000085120522000008 Filed on February 17, 2022

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$CGNX COGNEX CORP Stock $cgnx

2022 Q1 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000085120522000008 Filed on February 17, 2022

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$CGNX
COGNEX CORP Stock $cgnx