Discontinued Operations (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Oct. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 07, 2010	Aug. 15, 2010
Information related to discontinued operations
Restricted cash		$ 852,000			$ 852,000		$ 577,000
Liabilities
Liabilities of discontinued segment held for sale							5,400,000
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations		4,055,000	(16,754,000)		4,812,000	(59,203,000)
CIGS Solar Systems Abandonment
Information related to discontinued operations
Transaction costs of disposition			19,000,000			69,800,000
Asset impairment charge						6,200,000
Goodwill write-off			10,800,000			10,800,000
Inventory write-offs			27,000,000			27,000,000
Charges to settle contracts			11,000,000			22,100,000
Lease related charges			1,400,000			1,400,000
Personnel severance charges			2,300,000			2,300,000
Recovery of cost relating to inventory written-off			6,500,000
Liabilities
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations		(9,000)	(16,366,000)		(63,000)	(58,268,000)
Metrology Segment Disposal
Information related to discontinued operations
Transaction costs of disposition	5,200,000
Sale amount of discontinued operations as per the agreement									229,400,000
Working capital adjustment which is included in total proceeds								1,000,000
Proceeds from divestiture of businesses	230,400,000
Amount of proceeds related to assets in China	7,200,000
Restricted cash								22,900,000
Restriction period on use of proceeds which are held in escrow	1 year
Gain on disposal, pre-tax				156,300,000
Pre-tax deferred gain related to net assets in China				5,400,000			5,400,000
Deferred gain recognized related to net assets in China		5,400,000			5,400,000
Deferred gain recognized related to net assets in China, net of taxes		4,100,000			4,100,000
Gain on sale of assets of discontinued segment					1,400,000
Gain on sale of assets of discontinued segment, net of taxes					1,100,000
Assets
Accounts receivable, net								21,866,000
Inventories								26,431,000
Property, plant and equipment at cost, net								13,408,000
Goodwill								7,419,000
Other assets								5,485,000
Assets of discontinued segment held for sale								74,609,000
Liabilities
Accounts payable								7,616,000
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities								5,284,000
Liabilities of discontinued segment held for sale								12,900,000
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations		$ 4,064,000	$ (388,000)		$ 4,875,000	$ (935,000)