Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (Prior Period Restated) Consolidated Balance Sheets (Current Period Unaudited) (Prior Period Restated) [Abstract] ASSETS ASSETS [Abstract] Current assets: Current assets: [Abstract] Cash Marketable securities Accounts receivable, net Note and interest receivable, current portion Inventories, net Other current assets Total current assets Investments Note and interest receivable, net of current portion Property and equipment, at cost less accumulated depreciation Patents, net Total assets LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY [Abstract] Current liabilities: Current liabilities: [Abstract] Accounts payable Deferred revenue, current portion Accrued payroll Accrued expenses Other current liabilities Total current liabilities Deferred revenue, net of current portion Other long-term liabilities Intelligent Systems Corporation stockholders’ equity: Intelligent Systems Corporation stockholders’ equity: [Abstract] Common stock, $0.01 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 8,958,028 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 Additional paid-in capital Accumulated other comprehensive loss Accumulated deficit Total Intelligent Systems Corporation stockholders’ equity Non-controlling interest Total stockholders’ equity Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity Common stock, par value (in Dollars per share) Common stock, shares authorized (in Shares) Common stock, shares issued (in Shares) Common stock, shares outstanding (in Shares) Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Prior Periods Restated) Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Prior Periods Restated) [Abstract] Revenue Revenue [Abstract] Products Services Total net revenue Cost of revenue Cost of revenue [Abstract] Products Services Total cost of revenue Expenses Expenses [Abstract] Marketing General and administrative Research and development Income (loss) from operations Other income (expense) Other income (expense) [Abstract] Interest income, net Equity in income (loss) of affiliate company Other income, net Income (loss) before income taxes Income taxes Net income (loss) Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest Net income attributable to Intelligent Systems Corporation Income per share based on income attributable to Intelligent Systems Corporation: Income per share based on income attributable to Intelligent Systems Corporation: [Abstract] Basic (in Dollars per share) Diluted (in Dollars per share) Basic weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares) Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding (in Shares) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) [Abstract] Net income (loss) Other comprehensive income (loss): Other comprehensive income (loss): [Abstract] Foreign currency translation adjustment Unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale marketable securities Comprehensive income (loss) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) [Abstract] OPERATIONS: OPERATIONS: [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used for operating activities: Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used for operating activities: [Abstract] Depreciation and amortization Stock-based compensation expense Non-cash interest income, net Equity in (income) loss of affiliate company Changes in operating assets and liabilities Changes in operating assets and liabilities [Abstract] Accounts receivable Inventories Other current assets Accounts payable Deferred revenue Accrued payroll Accrued expenses Other current liabilities Other liabilities Net cash used for operating activities INVESTING ACTIVITIES: INVESTING ACTIVITIES: [Abstract] Purchase of marketable securities The cash inflow associated with principal and interest collections from a borrowing supported by a written promise to pay an obligation. Proceeds from note and interest receivable Purchases of property and equipment Long-term investment Net cash used for investing activities Effects of exchange rate changes on cash Net decrease in cash Cash at beginning of period Cash at end of period SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION: [Abstract] Cash paid during the period for income taxes Note 1 Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Note 2 - Option Agreement Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block] Note 3 - Comprehensive Income Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Note 4 - Stock-based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Note 5 - Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value, Option [Text Block] Note 6 - Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Note 7 - Concentration of Revenue Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block] Note 8 - Short-term Borrowings Short-term Debt [Text Block] Note 9 - Commitments and Contingencies Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] Note 10 - Industry Segments Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Note 11 - Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Note 12 - Recent Accounting Pronouncements Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block] Note 13 - Restatement Restatement Disclosure [Text Block] Note 14 - Subsequent Events Subsequent Events [Text Block] Schedule of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding and Exercisable [Table Text Block] Schedules of Concentration of Risk, by Risk Factor [Table Text Block] Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block] Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated [Table Text Block] Comprehensive Income Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Other comprehensive income (loss): Other comprehensive income (loss): [Abstract]0 Stock Options Stock Options [Abstract] Outstanding at September 30, 2012 Outstanding at September 30, 2012 (in Dollars per share) Outstanding at September 30, 2012 Outstanding at September 30, 2012 (in Dollars) Vested at September 30, 2012 Vested at September 30, 2012 (in Dollars per share) Vested at September 30, 2012 Vested at September 30, 2012 (in Dollars) Concentration of Revenue Concentration of Revenue [Abstract] Fair Value, Concentration of Risk, Disclosure Items [Domain] Percentage of consolidated revenue Future Minimum Annual Payments Under Operating Lease Future Minimum Annual Payments Under Operating Lease [Abstract] 2012 (October 1 through December 31, 2012) 2013 2014 2015 Total minimum lease payments Industry Segments - Operating Information Industry Segments - Operating Information [Abstract] Segment [Domain] Information Technology Information Technology [Abstract] Revenue Operating income (loss) Industrial Products Industrial Products [Abstract] Consolidated Segments Consolidated Segments [Abstract] Corporate expenses Depreciation and Amortization Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract] Capital Expenditures Capital Expenditures [Abstract] Capital expenditures Industry Segments - Asset Information Industry Segments - Asset Information [Abstract] Identifiable Assets Identifiable Assets [Abstract] Identifiable assets OptionAgreement [Domain] Increase in number of shares covered by the option Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent Increase In Shares Covered By Option Open Option Contracts Written, Exercise Price (in Dollars per Item) Marketing Expense (in Dollars) Other Liabilities, Noncurrent (in Dollars) Number of Stock-Based Compensation Plans in Effect Share-based Compensation Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures (in Shares) Number of Non-executive Directors Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Expirations in Period (in Shares) Discount Rate Number of Levels in Fair Value Hierarchy Disclosure [Domain] Percentage of Consolidated Revenue Range [Domain] Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End Secured Borrowings Limit, Accounts Receivable, Percentage Secured Borrowings Limit, Inventory, Percentage Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity (in Dollars) Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity (in Dollars) Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding (in Dollars) Operating Lease, Term Estimated Litigation Liability Payments for Legal Settlements Unrecognized Tax Benefits Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Expense Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties Expense Scenario, Unspecified [Domain] Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted (in Dollars per share) Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Business Segments [Axis] Scenario [Axis] Range [Axis] Restatement Adjustment [Member] Operating Segments [Member] Maximum [Member] Corporate [Member] Minimum [Member] Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] Concentration of Credit or Market Risk [Axis] Disclosure [Axis] Disclosure [Axis] Option Agreement [Axis] Option Agreement [Axis] Information Technology [Member] Information Technology [Member] Core Card Customer D [Member] CoreCard Customer D [Member] Minimum For Disclosure [Member] Minimum for Disclosure [Member] Chem Free Customer B [Member] ChemFree Customer B [Member] Industrial Products [Member] Industrial Products [Member] Option Expense [Member] Option Expense [Member] Chem Free Customer C [Member] ChemFree Customer C [Member] Chem Free Customer A [Member] ChemFree Customer A [Member] Document and Entity Information [Abstract] FairValueDisclosuresTextBlockAbstract RestatementDisclosureTextBlock LegalMattersAndContingenciesTextBlockAbstract RestatementDisclosureTextBlockAbstract OrganizationConsolidationAndPresentationOfFinancialStatementsDisclosureAndSignificantAccountingPoliciesTextBlockAbstract DiscountRate NumberOfNonExecutiveDirectors SubsequentEventsTextBlockAbstract NumberOfLevelsInFairValueHierarchy SegmentReportingDisclosureTextBlockAbstract SecuredBorrowingsLimitAccountsReceivablePercentage IncomeTaxDisclosureTextBlockAbstract SecuredBorrowingsLimitInventoryPercentage OtherIncomeAndOtherExpenseDisclosureTextBlockAbstract ShortTermDebtTextBlockAbstract NumberOfStockBasedCompensationPlansInEffect IncreaseInSharesCoveredByOption ConcentrationRiskDisclosureTextBlockAbstract FairValueOptionTextBlockAbstract ComprehensiveIncomeLossNoteTextBlockAbstract DisclosureOfCompensationRelatedCostsShareBasedPaymentsTextBlockAbstract OperatingLeaseTerm DescriptionOfNewAccountingPronouncementsNotYetAdoptedTextBlockAbstract Liabilities, Current Open Option Contracts Written, Exercise Price Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure and Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Document Period End Date Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Other Income and Other Expense Disclosure [Text Block] Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Payments to Acquire Marketable Securities Schedule of Future Minimum Rental Payments for Operating Leases [Table Text Block] Assets, Current Cost of Services Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent Description of New Accounting Pronouncements Not yet Adopted [Text Block] Estimated Litigation Liability Amendment Flag Schedules of Concentration of Risk, by Risk Factor [Table Text Block] Subsequent Events [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Entity Central Index Key Cost of Goods Sold Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized Short-term Debt [Text Block] Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Liabilities Line of Credit Facility, Current Borrowing Capacity Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due Payments for Legal Settlements Cost of Revenue Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Expirations in Period Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage Rate Range, Minimum Payments to Acquire Investments Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate Entity Filer Category Document Fiscal Year Focus Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties Expense Entity Public Float Increase (Decrease) in Other Current Assets Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term Schedule of Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] Reconciliation of Assets from Segment to Consolidated [Table Text Block] Entity Voluntary Filers Liabilities and Equity Entity Current Reporting Status Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Entity Registrant Name Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Concentration Risk Disclosure [Text Block] Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Fair Value, Option [Text Block] Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Net of Forfeitures Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding and Exercisable [Table Text Block] Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Expense Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Amendment Description Document Type Increase (Decrease) in Accrued Liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Employee Related Liabilities Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity Other Noncash Income Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block] Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Fiscal Period Focus Legal Matters and Contingencies [Text Block] Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items]