Business Combination - Additional Information (Detail)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Mar. 29, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Pro Forma Change in value of inventory as a result of acquisition accounting USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Pro Forma Change in value of inventory as a result of acquisition accounting USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 Pro Forma Change in value of inventory as a result of acquisition accounting USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 Elimination Pro Forma Change in value of inventory as a result of acquisition accounting USD ($)	Mar. 29, 2013 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor Pro Forma One Time Charges and Amortization of Fair Value Adjustments USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor Pro Forma One Time Charges and Amortization of Fair Value Adjustments USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor Pro Forma One Time Charges and Amortization of Fair Value Adjustments USD ($)	Mar. 29, 2013 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor Customer relationships	Mar. 29, 2013 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor Minimum	Mar. 29, 2013 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor Minimum Developed Technology	Mar. 29, 2013 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor Maximum	Mar. 29, 2013 NeoPhotonics Semiconductor Maximum Developed Technology	Mar. 29, 2013 Notes Payable To be paid in three equal installments NeoPhotonics Semiconductor USD ($)	Mar. 29, 2013 Notes Payable To be paid in three equal installments NeoPhotonics Semiconductor JPY (¥)
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Total consideration										$ 24,258,000
Cash consideration paid										13,100,000
Withheld and placed into escrow										2,000,000
Liabilities assumed																					11,130,000	1,050,000,000
Percentage of notes unpaid balance per year										1.50%
Notes Payable, Number of Installments										3
Acquisition-related transaction costs		126,000	240,000	5,317,000	912,000				5,300,000			5,300,000
Revenue											14,000,000	25,300,000	(1,500,000)	(1,900,000)	(2,900,000)
Property, plant and equipment useful life																	2 years		10 years
Royalty rate on total revenue										2.00%
Intangible assets useful life																6 years		4 years		5 years
Weighted average amortization period for intangible assets	5 years 4 months 24 days
Cost of goods sold		58,635,000	45,536,000	162,330,000	136,190,000	(1,100,000)	(2,900,000)	4,200,000					(1,300,000)	(1,800,000)	(2,500,000)
Goodwill										$ 0