Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 55,467	$ 65,402	$ 115,135	$ 135,857
Cost of revenues	31,361	38,093	66,562	78,094
Gross margin	24,106	27,309	48,573	57,763
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	13,665	13,022	27,825	27,202
Research and development	9,732	9,903	19,575	19,757
Total operating expenses	23,397	22,925	47,400	46,959
Income from operations	709	4,384	1,173	10,804
Other income (expense), net:
Total unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities, net of unrealized losses	6	1,167	230	1,294
Portion of gain recognized in other comprehensive income	(5)	(807)	(226)	(927)
Net credit gains recognized in earnings	1	360	4	367
Other income (expense), net:	81	186	131	(19)
Total other income (expense), net	82	546	135	348
Income before income taxes	791	4,930	1,308	11,152
Provision for income taxes	547	1,726	723	3,779
Consolidated net income	244	3,204	585	7,373
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	24	138	39	289
Net income attributable to Vicor Corporation	$ 220	$ 3,066	$ 546	$ 7,084
Net income per common share attributable to Vicor Corporation:
Basic	$ 0.01	$ 0.07	$ 0.01	$ 0.17
Diluted	$ 0.01	$ 0.07	$ 0.01	$ 0.17
Shares used to compute net income per share attributable to Vicor Corporation:
Basic	41,811	41,798	41,811	41,785
Diluted	41,812	41,887	41,819	41,873
Cash dividends per share			$ 0.15