Accounts Receivable

9 Months Ended

Jul. 31, 2011

Accounts Receivable [Abstract]

Accounts Receivable

Note 6. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable at July 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010 consisted of the following:

	July 31,		October 31,
	2011		2010
U.S. Government:
Amount billed	$	150	$	223
Unbilled recoverable costs		813		605
		964		828
Commercial Customers:
Amount billed		3,633		9,718
Unbilled recoverable costs		12,095		7,520
		15,728		17,238
	$	16,692	$	18,066

We bill customers for power plant and module sales based on certain milestones being reached. We bill the U.S. government for research and development contracts based on actual recoverable costs incurred, typically in the month subsequent to incurring costs. Unbilled recoverable costs relate to revenue recognized on customer contracts that have not been billed. Accounts receivable are presented net of an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.5 million and $0.4 million at July 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively.