Note 12 - Segment Information (Detail) - The following table presents certain operating segment information. (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Sales:
Product	$ 59,583	$ 54,734
Service	25,224	18,911
Total sales	84,807	73,645
Profit (loss) from operations	4,969	809
Assets	51,066	43,108
Capital expenditures	551	339
Depreciation and amortization	460	483
Systems Segment [Member]
Sales:
Product	4,214	5,624
Service	6,927	2,198
Total sales	11,141	7,822
Profit (loss) from operations	3,230	(592)
Assets	18,451	12,819
Capital expenditures	222	148
Depreciation and amortization	111	89
Germany [Member]
Sales:
Product	16,846	12,703
Service	13,730	12,025
Total sales	30,576	24,728
Profit (loss) from operations	598	386
Assets	14,058	12,662
Capital expenditures	197	95
Depreciation and amortization	167	183
UK [Member]
Sales:
Product	1,484	200
Service	1,434	1,429
Total sales	2,918	1,629
Profit (loss) from operations	57	(24)
Assets	3,504	3,632
Capital expenditures	27	20
Depreciation and amortization	26	27
US [Member]
Sales:
Product	37,039	36,207
Service	3,133	3,259
Total sales	40,172	39,466
Profit (loss) from operations	1,084	1,039
Assets	15,053	13,995
Capital expenditures	105	76
Depreciation and amortization	156	184
Total Service and System Integration Segment [Member]
Sales:
Product	55,369	49,110
Service	18,297	16,713
Total sales	73,666	65,823
Profit (loss) from operations	1,739	1,401
Assets	32,615	30,289
Capital expenditures	329	191
Depreciation and amortization	$ 349	$ 394