The Company	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
The Company	Note 1—The Company Superconductor Technologies Inc. (together with our subsidiaries, “we” or “us”) was incorporated in Delaware on May 11, 1987. We develop and produce high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials and associated technologies. We have generated more than 100 patents as well as proprietary trade secrets and manufacturing expertise. We are now leveraging our key enabling technologies in HTS materials and cryogenics, to pursue emerging opportunities in the electrical grid and in equipment platforms that utilize electrical circuits. In January 2012, we took possession of a facility in Austin, Texas and have moved our HTS wire processes and our research and development to Austin. We continue to maintain a presence in Santa Barbara, CA for certain business operations and our legacy wireless business. Our initial superconducting products were completed in 1998, and we began delivery to a number of wireless network providers. In the following 13 years, our cost reducing efforts led to the invention of our proprietary, high-yield and high throughput HTS material deposition manufacturing process. In the last several years we have focused our research and development efforts on adapting our successful HTS materials deposition techniques to the production of our HTS Conductus^® wire for next generation power applications. While most of our current commercial product revenues come from the sale of high performance wireless communications infrastructure products, production of our Conductus wire is our principal opportunity to grow our future revenue. Historically, we used research and development contracts as a source of funds for our commercial technology development. We are not currently involved as either a contractor or subcontractor on contracts with the U.S. government.

The Company

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Note 1—The Company

Superconductor Technologies Inc. (together with our subsidiaries, “we” or “us”) was incorporated in Delaware on May 11, 1987. We develop and produce high temperature superconducting (HTS) materials and associated technologies. We have generated more than 100 patents as well as proprietary trade secrets and manufacturing expertise. We are now leveraging our key enabling technologies in HTS materials and cryogenics, to pursue emerging opportunities in the electrical grid and in equipment platforms that utilize electrical circuits. In January 2012, we took possession of a facility in Austin, Texas and have moved our HTS wire processes and our research and development to Austin. We continue to maintain a presence in Santa Barbara, CA for certain business operations and our legacy wireless business.

Our initial superconducting products were completed in 1998, and we began delivery to a number of wireless network providers. In the following 13 years, our cost reducing efforts led to the invention of our proprietary, high-yield and high throughput HTS material deposition manufacturing process.

In the last several years we have focused our research and development efforts on adapting our successful HTS materials deposition techniques to the production of our HTS Conductus^® wire for next generation power applications. While most of our current commercial product revenues come from the sale of high performance wireless communications infrastructure products, production of our Conductus wire is our principal opportunity to grow our future revenue.

Historically, we used research and development contracts as a source of funds for our commercial technology development. We are not currently involved as either a contractor or subcontractor on contracts with the U.S. government.