Long-Term Investments (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Amortized cost and estimated fair value of available-for-sale securities
Due in one year or less, Cost	$ 413
Due in one year or less Estimated Fair Value	414
Due in two to ten years, Cost	1,512
Due in two to ten years, Estimated Fair Value	1,523
Due in ten to twenty years, Cost	3,000
Due in ten to twenty years, Estimated Fair Value	2,710
Due in twenty to forty years, Cost	6,100
Due in twenty to forty years, Estimated Fair Value	4,988
Total Cost	11,025
Estimated Fair Value	$ 9,635	$ 9,585

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at cost, net of adjustments, which include, but are not limited to, accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments, as defined) and fair value hedge accounting adjustments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 7

-Footnote 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at cost, net of adjustments, maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year. Adjustments include, but are not limited to, accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments (OTTI) recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments, as defined) and fair value hedge accounting adjustments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 7

-Footnote 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 20

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearAmortizedCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of available-for-sale debt securities at fair value maturing in the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27161-111563

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 320

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6957658&loc=d3e62586-112803

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 20

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesWithinOneYearFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7534914&loc=d3e22054-111558

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Available-for-Sale Securities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505594

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Available for sale securities debt maturities year ten through twenty amortized cost basis

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vicr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesYearTenThroughTwentyAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix:	vicr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Available for sale securities debt maturities year ten through twenty fair value

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vicr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesYearTenThroughTwentyFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	vicr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Available for sale securities debt maturities year twenty through forty amortized cost basis.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vicr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesYearTwentyThroughFortyAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix:	vicr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Available for sale securities debt maturities year twenty through forty fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vicr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesYearTwentyThroughFortyFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	vicr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Available for sale securities debt maturities year two through ten amortized cost basis.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vicr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesYearTwoThroughTenAmortizedCostBasis
Namespace Prefix:	vicr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Available for sale securities debt maturities year two through ten fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vicr_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesYearTwoThroughTenFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	vicr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant