Note 14 - Litigation (Details Textual) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement		$ 321	$ (55)	$ 8	$ (45)	$ (283)	$ (136)	$ (311)	$ (270)		$ 229	$ (1,000)	$ 8,027
Silergy Patent Litigation [Member]
Litigation Settlement, Amount											3,000
Litigation Settlement, Credit to Litigation expense											600
Litigation Settlement, Grant of Patent Licenses for Future Use											$ 2,400
Litigation settlement, Patent License, Amortization Period											5 years
O2 Micro Patent Litigation [Member]
Proceeds from Legal Settlements	$ 9,500
Loss Contingency, Estimate of Possible Loss														$ 9,500
Loss Contingency, Accrual, Current															$ 9,500
Gain (Loss) Related to Litigation Settlement										$ 9,500
Litigation Settlement, Expense										$ 500
O2 Micro Patent Litigation [Member] | Attorney Fees [Member]
Gain Contingency, Unrecorded Amount																$ 9,100
O2 Micro Patent Litigation [Member] | Taxable Costs [Member]
Gain Contingency, Unrecorded Amount																$ 300