Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation	Mar. 31, 2023
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	BASIS OF PRESENTATION Nature of Business Pixelworks is a leading provider of high-performance and power-efficient visual processing semiconductor and software solutions that enable consistently high-quality and authentic viewing experiences in a wide variety of applications. We define our primary target markets as Mobile (smartphone and tablet), Home & Enterprise (projectors, personal video recorders ("PVR"), and over-the-air ("OTA") streaming devices), and Cinema (creation, remastering, and delivery of digital video content). Previously we classified our primary target markets as Mobile, Projector, Video Delivery and Cinema, but have since aggregated the Projector and Video Delivery categories into one called "Home & Enterprise". Pixelworks has been a pioneer in visual processing technology for over 20 years. We were one of the first companies to commercially launch a video System on Chip ("SoC") capable of deinterlacing 1080i HDTV signals and one of the first companies with a commercial dual-channel 1080i deinterlacer integrated circuit. We launched one of the industry’s first single-chip SoCs for digital projection. We were the first company to integrate motion estimation / motion compensation technology ("MEMC") as a mobile-optimized solution for smartphones. In 2019, we introduced our Hollywood award-winning TrueCut® video platform, the industry’s first motion grading technology that allows fine tuning of motion appearance in cinematic content. As of March 31, 2023, we had an intellectual property portfolio of 286 patents related to the visual display of digital image data. We focus our research and development efforts on developing video algorithms that improve quality, and architectures that reduce system power, cost, bandwidth and increase overall system performance and device functionality. We seek to expand our technology portfolio through internal development and co-development with business partners, and we continually evaluate acquisition opportunities and other ways to leverage our technology into other high-value markets. Our core visual processing technology intelligently processes digital images and video from a variety of sources and optimizes the content for a superior viewing experience. Rapid growth in video and gaming consumption, combined with the move towards bright, high resolution, high frame rate and high refresh rate displays, especially in mobile, is increasing the demand for our solutions. Our technologies can be applied across a wide range of applications: cinema theaters, low-power mobile tablets, smartphones, streaming devices, and digital projectors for the home, school, or the workplace. Our products are designed and optimized for power, cost, bandwidth, viewer experience, and overall system performance, according to the requirements of the specific application. On occasion, we have also licensed our technology. During the third quarter of 2021, we engaged in a strategic plan to re-align our Mobile and Home & Enterprise businesses to improve their focus on their Asia-centered customers and employee stakeholders. Our subsidiary, Pixelworks Semiconductor Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (or "PWSH"), now operates these businesses as a full profit-and-loss center underneath Pixelworks. In connection with this strategic plan, the Company and PWSH closed three separate financing transactions in 2021 and 2022, which are further described in "Note 13: Redeemable Non-Controlling Interest and Equity Interest of PWSH Sold to Employees" and "Note 14: Non-Controlling Interest", which are incorporated by reference into this section. PWSH is in the process of preparing to file an application for an initial public offering of PWSH shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Science Technology Innovation Board, known as the STAR Market (the “Listing”). We believe that the Listing will have many benefits, including improved access to new capital markets and the funding of PWSH’s growth worldwide. We presently intend to qualify PWSH to apply for the Listing in the second half of 2023. The process of going public on the STAR Market is lengthy and includes several periods of review by various government agencies of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), such as the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”). There is no guarantee that PWSH will be approved for a Listing at any point in the future. The listing of PWSH on the STAR Market will not change the status of PXLW as a U.S. public company. We are neither a PRC operating company nor do we conduct our operations in China through the use of variable interest entities. Pixelworks was founded in 1997 and is incorporated under the laws of the state of Oregon. On August 2, 2017, we acquired ViXS Systems, Inc., a corporation organized in Canada ("ViXS"). Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements The financial information included herein for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 is prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") and is unaudited. Such information reflects all adjustments, consisting of only normal recurring adjustments, that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of our condensed consolidated financial statements for these interim periods. The financial information as of December 31, 2022 is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, included in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2023, and should be read in conjunction with such consolidated financial statements. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for future periods or for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2023. Recent Accounting Pronouncements The Company’s recently adopted accounting pronouncements are disclosed in Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies" in Part II, Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2023. We did not adopt any new accounting pronouncements during the three months ended March 31, 2023. Use of Estimates The preparation of condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Our significant estimates and judgments include those related to revenue recognition, valuation of excess and obsolete inventory, lives and recoverability of equipment and other long-lived assets, valuation of goodwill, valuation of share-based payments, income taxes, litigation and other contingencies. The actual results experienced could differ materially from our estimates.