Note 12 - Commitments and Contingencies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]

Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block]

12.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Obligations

As of December 31, 2014, future minimum payments under the non-cancelable operating leases were as follows (in thousands):

2015	$	1,094
2016		763
2017		297
2018 and thereafter		168
Total	$	2,322

In September 2004, the Company entered into a lease arrangement for its manufacturing facility located in Chengdu, China. The Company has the option to acquire the facility for approximately $1.6 million which consists of total construction costs minus total rent paid by the Company during the lease term. This option became exercisable in March 2011. The Company may exercise its purchase option and enter into a purchase agreement for this facility in the future.

The Company also leases sales and research and development offices in the United States, Japan, China, Europe, Taiwan and Korea. Certain of the Company’s facility leases provide for periodic rent increases. Rent expense for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012 was $1.5 million, $1.2 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

Warranty and Indemnification Provisions

The Company generally provides a standard one to two-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship and will either repair the goods or provide replacements at no charge to the customer for defective units. In such cases, the Company accrues for the related costs at the time the decision to permit the return is made. Reserve requirements are recorded in the period of sale and are based on an assessment of the products sold with warranty and historical warranty costs incurred.

The changes in warranty reserves are as follows (in thousands):

	Year Ended December 31,
	2014			2013			2012
Balance at beginning of period	$	451		$	331		$	561
Warranty provision for product sales		282			476			917
Settlements made		(42	)		(117	)		(675	)
Unused warranty provision		(451	)		(239	)		(472	)
Balance at end of period	$	240		$	451		$	331

The Company provides indemnification agreements to certain direct or indirect customers. The Company agrees to reimburse these parties for any damages, costs and expenses incurred by them as a result of legal actions taken against them by third parties for infringing upon their intellectual property rights as a result of using the Company’s products and technologies. These indemnification provisions are varied in their scope and are subject to certain terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions. There were no indemnification liabilities incurred in 2014, 2013 and 2012. The Company also provides for indemnification of its directors and officers.