INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Loss before provision for income taxes [Abstract]
U.S.										$ (6,767,000)	$ (10,458,000)		$ (11,114,000)
Foreign										437,000	640,000		598,000
Loss before income taxes	1,173,000	(956,000)	(1,377,000)	(5,170,000)	(794,000)		(2,537,000)	(2,664,000)	(3,823,000)	(6,330,000)	(9,818,000)		(10,516,000)
Current [Abstract]
Federal										(13,000)	(52,000)		(154,000)
State										56,000	69,000		37,000
Foreign										366,000	208,000		235,000
Total Current										297,000	225,000		118,000
Deferred [Abstract]
Federal										(12,000)	(13,000)		(45,000)
State										0	13,000		45,000
Foreign										(67,000)	18,000		(116,000)
Total Deferred										(79,000)	18,000		(116,000)
Provision for income taxes	96,000	(64,000)	89,000	97,000	93,000		326,000	(208,000)	32,000	218,000	243,000		2,000
Deferred tax assets [Abstract]
Net operating loss	9,409,000				8,660,000	[1]				9,409,000	8,660,000	[1]
Stock-based compensation	6,560,000				6,374,000	[1]				6,560,000	6,374,000	[1]
Other accruals and reserves	3,259,000				3,374,000	[1]				3,259,000	3,374,000	[1]
Credits	2,261,000				2,062,000	[1]				2,261,000	2,062,000	[1]
Capital loss	796,000				312,000	[1]				796,000	312,000	[1]
Foreign	436,000				370,000	[1]				436,000	370,000	[1]
Accrued warranty	466,000				429,000	[1]				466,000	429,000	[1]
Depreciation and amortization	180,000				206,000	[1]				180,000	206,000	[1]
Other	(31,000)				(143,000)	[1]				(31,000)	(143,000)	[1]
Net deferred tax asset before valuation allowance	23,336,000				21,644,000	[1]				23,336,000	21,644,000	[1]
Valuation allowance	(22,906,000)				(21,274,000)	[1]				(22,906,000)	(21,274,000)	[1]
Net deferred tax asset after valuation allowance	430,000				370,000	[1]				430,000	370,000	[1]
Reduction in deferred tax assets											280,000
Deferred tax asset balance in Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Deferred tax asset (current portion)	40,000				55,000					40,000	55,000
Deferred tax asset, net of current portion	553,000				446,000					553,000	446,000
Accrued liabilities (current deferred tax liability)	(163,000)				(131,000)					(163,000)	(131,000)
Net deferred tax asset after valuation allowance	430,000				370,000	[1]				430,000	370,000	[1]
Differences between the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate to the Company's effective tax [Abstract]
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate (in hundredths)										35.00%	35.00%	[2]	35.00%	[2]
State tax rate, net of federal benefit (in hundredths)										3.28%	2.56%	[2]	2.81%	[2]
Benefit for research and development credit (in hundredths)										3.40%	6.02%	[2]	2.97%	[2]
Changes in unrecognized tax benefits (in hundredths)										1.06%	(0.02%)	[2]	2.59%	[2]
Foreign income inclusion (in hundredths)										(0.05%)	(2.15%)	[2]	0.00%	[2]
Income tax refund (in hundredths)										1.07%	2.34%	[2]	(1.13%)	[2]
Stock-based compensation (in hundredths)										(16.95%)	(9.64%)	[2]	(1.54%)	[2]
Tax effect of other comprehensive income (in hundredths)										0.28%	(2.01%)	[2]	0.00%	[2]
Valuation allowance (in hundredths)										(25.51%)	(34.70%)	[2]	(38.31%)	[2]
Other (in hundredths)										(5.03%)	0.12%	[2]	(2.39%)	[2]
Effective tax rate (in hundredths)										(3.45%)	(2.48%)	[2]	0.00%	[2]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Tax credit recorded to additional paid in capital	4,000,000									4,000,000
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries	2,900,000									2,900,000
Gross unrecognized tax benefits [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of year				583,000					555,000	583,000	555,000		787,000
Increases related to prior year tax positions										0	0		0
Decreases related to prior year tax positions										0	0		(29,000)
Increases related to current year tax positions										29,000	44,000		24,000
Decreases related to lapsing of statute of limitations										76,000	(16,000)		(227,000)
Balance at end of year	536,000				583,000					536,000	583,000		555,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	325,000				400,000					325,000	400,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Interest on Income Taxes Accrued	86,000				79,000					86,000	79,000
Estimated period of unrecognized tax benefits remain unchanged										12 months
Federal [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	25,500,000									25,500,000
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates										2031
Research and development tax credits	3,200,000									3,200,000
Tax credit carryforward, expiration date										Dec. 31, 2031
State [Member]
Operating Loss Carryforwards [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards	9,200,000									9,200,000
Operating loss carryforwards, expiration dates										2032
Research and development tax credits	3,700,000									3,700,000
Tax credit carryforward, expiration date										Dec. 31, 2031
Research and development tax credits expiring in 2020	$ 284,000									$ 284,000

[1] The Company revised the 2011 tax footnote to reduce deferred tax assets by approximately $280,000 related to future tax benefits for net operating losses that were not properly recorded in the previous period. This reduction in deferred taxes was offset by a corresponding reduction in the valuation allowance, and as such had no impact to the Consolidated Financial Statements, earnings per share, statement of cash flows, or statement of equity for any period presented.

[2] *Certain items have changed for classification purposes.