Echelon 10-K 10 Mar 14 2013 FY Annual report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Feb. 28, 2014	Jun. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'FY	'	'
Entity Registrant Name	'ECHELON CORP	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000031347	'	'
Document Type	'10-K	'	'
Document Period End Date	31-Dec-13	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2013	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes	'	'
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No	'	'
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'No	'	'
Entity Public Float	'	'	$91.20
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	43,359,935	'

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
CURRENT ASSETS:	'		'
Cash and cash equivalents	$14,648		$18,876
Short-term investments	42,987		42,979
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $883 in 2013 and $859 in 2012	10,522	[1]	15,725	[1]
Inventories	6,445		11,729
Deferred cost of goods sold	1,649		846
Other current assets	2,040		2,662
Total current assets	78,291		92,817
Property and equipment, net	18,670		21,777
Goodwill	8,390		8,276
Other long-term assets	777		713
Total assets	106,128		123,583
CURRENT LIABILITIES:	'		'
Accounts payable	5,424		8,551
Accrued liabilities	7,395		4,637
Current portion of lease financing obligations	2,257		2,056
Deferred revenues	6,125		4,912
Total current liabilities	21,201		20,156
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:	'		'
Lease financing obligations, excluding current portion	15,928		18,185
Other long-term liabilities	1,022		1,447
Total long-term liabilities	16,950		19,632
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:	'		'
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized - 5,000,000 shares; none outstanding	0		0
Common stock, $0.01 par value: Authorized -100,000,000 shares Issued - 46,571,034 in 2013 and 46,270,136 shares in 2012, Outstanding - 43,351,850 in 2013 and 43,050,952 shares in 2012	466		463
Additional paid-in capital	354,680		352,589
Treasury stock (3,219,184 shares in 2013 and 2012)	-28,130		-28,130
Accumulated other comprehensive income	1,015		509
Accumulated deficit	-260,843		-243,233
Total Echelon Corporation stockholders' equity	67,188		82,198
Noncontrolling interest in subsidiary	789		1,597
Total stockholders' equity	67,977		83,795
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$106,128		$123,583
[1]	1 Includes related party amounts of $1,628 in 2013 and $1,552 in 2012. See Note 12 for additional information on related party transactions.

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]	'	'
Allowance for Bad Debts Reserve and Sales Returns	$883	$859
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	5,000,000	5,000,000
Preferred Stock, Shares Outstanding	0	0
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$0.01	$0.01
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common Stock, Shares, Issued	46,571,034	46,270,136
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	43,351,850	43,050,952
Treasury Stock, Shares	3,219,184	3,219,184
Related Parties Account Receivable Current	$1,628	$1,552

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues:	'		'		'
Product	$83,118		$129,475		$152,699
Service	3,042		4,542		3,788
Total revenues	86,160	[1]	134,017	[1]	156,487	[1]
Cost of revenues:	'		'		'
Cost of product	41,916	[2]	75,391	[2]	87,063	[2]
Cost of service	1,087	[2]	2,171	[2]	2,262	[2]
Total cost of revenues	43,003		77,562		89,325
Gross profit	43,157		56,455		67,162
Operating expenses:	'		'		'
Product development	22,361	[2]	30,009	[2]	34,755	[2]
Sales and marketing	16,348	[2]	21,460	[2]	25,719	[2]
General and administrative	14,644	[2]	15,050	[2]	17,897	[2]
Litigation charges	3,452		0		0
Restructuring charges	2,522		1,176		0
Total operating expenses	59,327		67,695		78,371
Loss from operations	-16,170		-11,240		-11,209
Interest and other income (expense), net	-702		-362		6
Interest expense on lease financing obligations	-1,235		-1,360		-1,468
Loss before provision for income taxes	-18,107		-12,962		-12,671
Income tax expense	311		219		329
Net loss	-18,418		-13,181		-13,000
Net loss attributable to non controlling interest	808		363		0
Net loss attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders	($17,610)		($12,818)		($13,000)
Net income (loss) per share:	'		'		'
Basic	($0.41)		($0.30)		($0.31)
Diluted	($0.41)		($0.30)		($0.31)
Shares used in computing net income (loss) per share:	'		'		'
Basic	43,092		42,650		42,083
Diluted	43,092		42,650		42,083
[1]	1 Includes related party amounts of $11,763 in 2013, $6,458 in 2012, and $7,119 in 2011. See Note 12 for additional information on related party transactions.
[2]	2 See Note 6 for summary of amounts included representing stock-based compensation expense.

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope1

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Parenthetical) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]	'	'	'
Revenue from related parties	$11,763	$6,458	$7,119

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Compehensive Loss (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Other Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net loss	($18,418)	($13,181)	($13,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:	'	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustment	506	259	-302
Unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities	0	6	-15
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	506	265	-317
Comprehensive loss	-17,912	-12,916	-13,317
Less: comprehensive loss attributable to non controlling interest	808	363	0
Comprehensive loss attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders	($17,104)	($12,553)	($13,317)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Sto

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
In Thousands, except Share data
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2010	$93,989	$452	($28,130)	$338,521	$561	($217,415)	'
Common Stock, Shares, Issued at Dec. 31, 2010	'	-45,211,000	-3,219,000	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS, Exercises in Period, Shares	504,561	505,000	'	'	'	'	'
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised	3,605	5	'	3,600	'	'	'
Release of performance shares, Shares	'	549,000	'	'	'	'	'
Release of performance shares, value	0	5	'	-5	'	'	'
Stock Received for Payment of Option Exercise Price Shares	'	-281,000	'	'	'	'	'
Stock Received for Payment of Option Exercise Price	-2,660	-3	'	-2,657	'	'	'
Stock Received for Payment of Employee Taxes on Vesting of Performance Shares and Upon Exercise of Stock Options Shares	'	-243,000	'	'	'	'	'
Stock Received for Payment of Employee Taxes on Vesting of Performance Shares and Upon Exercise of Stock Options	-2,158	-2	'	-2,156	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation	9,649	'	'	9,649	'	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax	-302	'	'	'	-302	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax	-15	'	'	'	-15	'	'
Net loss	13,000	'	'	'	'	-13,000	'
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2011	89,108	457	-28,130	346,952	244	-230,415	'
Common Stock, Shares, Issued at Dec. 31, 2011	'	-45,741,000	-3,219,000	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS, Exercises in Period, Shares	0	'	'	'	'	'	'
Release of performance shares, Shares	'	883,000	'	'	'	'	'
Release of performance shares, value	0	9	'	-9	'	'	'
Stock Received for Payment of Employee Taxes on Vesting of Performance Shares and Upon Exercise of Stock Options Shares	'	-354,000	'	'	'	'	'
Stock Received for Payment of Employee Taxes on Vesting of Performance Shares and Upon Exercise of Stock Options	-1,333	-3	'	-1,330	'	'	'
Sale of subsidiary shares to non controlling interest	1,960	'	'	'	'	'	1,960
Share-based Compensation	6,976	'	'	6,976	'	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax	259	'	'	'	259	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax	6	'	'	'	6	'	'
Net loss	13,181	'	'	'	'	-12,818	-363
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2012	83,795	463	-28,130	352,589	509	-243,233	1,597
Common Stock, Shares, Issued at Dec. 31, 2012	-46,270,136	-46,270,000	-3,219,000	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS, Exercises in Period, Shares	0	'	'	'	'	'	'
Release of performance shares, Shares	'	491,000	'	'	'	'	'
Release of performance shares, value	0	5	'	-5	'	'	'
Stock Received for Payment of Employee Taxes on Vesting of Performance Shares and Upon Exercise of Stock Options Shares	'	-190,000	'	'	'	'	'
Stock Received for Payment of Employee Taxes on Vesting of Performance Shares and Upon Exercise of Stock Options	-444	-2	'	-442	'	'	'
Sale of subsidiary shares to non controlling interest	0	'	'	'	'	'	0
Share-based Compensation	2,538	'	'	2,538	'	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Transaction and Translation Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, Net of Tax	506	'	'	'	506	'	'
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax	0	'	'	'	0	'	'
Net loss	18,418	'	'	'	'	-17,610	-808
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2013	$67,977	$466	($28,130)	$354,680	$1,015	($260,843)	$789
Common Stock, Shares, Issued at Dec. 31, 2013	-46,571,034	-46,571,000	-3,219,000	'	'	'	'

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net loss Including Noncontrolling Interest	($18,418)	($13,181)	($13,000)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	4,020	6,580	5,921
Increase in allowance for doubtful accounts	47	40	25
Loss on disposal of fixed assets	30	22	128
Reduction of (increase in) accrued investment income	-6	-6	70
Stock-based compensation	2,538	6,976	9,649
Change in operating assets and liabilities:	'	'	'
Accounts receivable	5,151	19,405	-10,121
Inventories	5,284	-642	-2,106
Deferred cost of goods sold	-797	5,686	-3,926
Other current assets	450	1,386	164
Accounts payable	-2,925	-9,669	8,033
Accrued liabilities	2,605	-3,250	1,185
Deferred revenues	978	-7,906	3,806
Deferred rent	-36	-43	-53
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	-1,079	5,398	-225
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Purchases of available-for-sale short-term investments	-46,947	-83,926	-71,978
Proceeds from maturities and sales of available-for-sale short-term investments	46,946	81,957	87,850
Change in other long-term assets	-51	-15	-17
Capital expenditures	-971	-1,129	-2,349
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	-1,023	-3,113	13,506
CASH FLOWS PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:	'	'	'
Principal payments of lease financing obligations	-2,056	-1,971	-1,731
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	0	945
Proceeds from noncontrolling interests	0	1,960	0
Repurchase of common stock from employees for payment of taxes on vesting of restricted stock units and upon exercise of stock options	-453	-1,325	-2,265
Net cash used in financing activities	-2,509	-1,336	-3,051
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH	383	269	-247
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	-4,228	1,218	9,983
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:	'	'	'
Beginning of period	18,876	17,658	7,675
End of period	14,648	18,876	17,658
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:	'	'	'
Cash paid for interest on lease financing obligations	1,224	1,350	1,459
Cash paid for income taxes	$459	$357	$429

Summary_of_Significant_Account

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block]	'
	1.    Significant Accounting Policies
	Operations
	Echelon Corporation (the Company) was incorporated in California in February 1988 and reincorporated in Delaware in January 1989. The Company is based in San Jose, California, and maintain offices in seven foreign countries throughout Europe and Asia. Its products enable everyday devices — such as air conditioners, appliances, electricity meters, light switches, thermostats, and valves — to be made “smart” and inter-connected, part of an emerging market known as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Its products can be used to make the management of electricity over the smart grid cost effective, reliable, survivable and instantaneous.
	Its proven, open standard, multi-application energy control networking platform powers energy-savings applications for the smart grid, smart cities and smart buildings that help customers save on their energy usage, reduce outage duration or prevent them from happening entirely, reduce carbon footprint and more. Today, the Company offers, directly and through its partners worldwide, a wide range of products and services. It classifies these products and services into two primary segments:
	•	IIoT: These represent Horizontal Embedded Control Platforms, such as LONWORKS and IzoT, which include components, control nodes and development software, and which are sold typically to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to build into their industrial application solutions. Revenues from these products were previously categorized as Sub-systems revenues (including the majority of our revenues from the Enel project).
	•	Grid: Echelon has forward-integrated from its horizontal platforms into the market for products such as smart meters, devices, and software that allow electric utilities to modernize their methods for collecting billing data and vital statistics on the health and performance of their smart grid. Previously, the majority of our revenues from our Grid solutions were categorized as Systems revenue, with a small portion categorized as Sub-system revenue.
	Basis of Presentation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and a subsidiary in which it has a controlling interest (collectively referred to as the “Company”). The Company reports noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities as a component of equity separate from the Company’s equity. All material inter-company transactions between and among the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated entities have been eliminated in consolidation.
	Risks and Uncertainties
	The Company’s operations and performance depend significantly on worldwide economic conditions and their impact on purchases of the Company’s products, as well as the ability of suppliers to provide the Company with products and services in a timely manner. The impact of any of the matters described below could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
	•	Approximately 50.3% of net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 were derived from five customers. Customers in any of the Company’s target market sectors may experience unexpected reductions in demand for their products and consequently reduce their purchases from the Company, resulting in either the loss of a significant customer or a notable decrease in the level of sales to a significant customer.  In addition, if any of these customers are unable to obtain the necessary capital to operate their business, they may be unable to satisfy their payment obligations to the Company.
	•	The Company utilizes third-party contract electronic manufacturers to manufacture, assemble, and test its products.   As a result of current credit market conditions, if any of these third-parties were unable to obtain the necessary capital to operate their business, they may be unable to provide the Company with timely services or to make timely deliveries of products.
	•	Due to the continuing worldwide economic situation, coupled with the fact that the Company’s Grid customers generally procure products that have been customized to meet their requirements, the Company has limited visibility into ultimate product demand, which makes sales forecasting more difficult. As a result, anticipated demand may not materialize, which could subject the Company to increased levels of excess and obsolete inventories.
	•	From time to time, the Company has experienced shortages or interruptions in supply for certain products or components used in the manufacture of the Company’s products that have been or will be discontinued. In order to ensure an adequate supply of these items, the Company has occasionally purchased quantities of these items that are in excess of the Company’s then current estimate of short-term requirements. For example, to ensure supply, the Company procured a substantial quantity of a certain component used in one of its Grid products. If the long-term requirements do not materialize as originally expected, or if the Company develops alternative solutions that no longer employ these items and the Company is not able to dispose of these excess products or components, the Company could be subject to increased levels of excess and obsolete inventories.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates and judgments are used for revenue recognition, performance-based equity compensation, inventory valuation, allowance for warranty costs, and other loss contingencies. In order to determine the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources, the Company bases its estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience, and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results experienced by the Company may differ materially from management’s estimates.
	Recently Issued Accounting Standards
	In March 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830): Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity. This ASU addresses the accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity. This ASU will be effective in 2014 for the Company. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance, but does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This ASU requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward, or similar tax loss or tax credit carryforward, rather than as a liability when (1) the uncertain tax position would reduce the NOL or other carryforward under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction and (2) the entity intends to use the deferred tax asset for that purpose. The ASU does not require new recurring disclosures. This ASU will be effective in 2014 for the Company. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance, but does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company’s revenues are derived from the sale and license of its products and to a lesser extent, from fees associated with training, technical support, and custom software design services offered to its customers. Product revenues consist of revenues from hardware sales and software licensing arrangements. Service revenues consist of product technical support (including software post-contract support services), training, and custom software development services.
	The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery to the customer’s carrier (and acceptance, as applicable) has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, collectability is probable, and there are no post-delivery obligations. For non-distributor hardware sales, including sales to third party manufacturers, these criteria are generally met at the time of delivery to the customer’s carrier. However, for arrangements that contain contractual acceptance provisions, revenue recognition may be delayed until acceptance by the customer or the acceptance provisions lapse unless the Company can objectively demonstrate that the contractual acceptance criteria have been satisfied, which is generally accomplished by establishing a history of acceptance for the same or similar products.  For sales made to the Company’s distributor partners, revenue recognition criteria are generally met at the time the distributor sells the products through to its end-use customer. Service revenue is recognized as the training services are performed, or ratably over the term of the support period.
	The Company accounts for the rights of return, price protection, rebates, and other sales incentives offered to distributors of its products as a reduction in revenue. With the exception of sales to distributors, the Company’s customers are generally not entitled to return products for a refund. For sales to distributors, due to contractual rights of return and other factors that impact its ability to make a reasonable estimate of future returns and other sales incentives, revenues are not recognized until the distributor has shipped its products to the end customer.
	The Company’s multiple deliverable revenue arrangements are primarily related to sales of its Grid products, which may include, within a single arrangement, electricity meters, data concentrators and related hardware (collectively, the “Hardware”); NES system software; Element Manager software; post-contract customer support (“PCS”) for the NES system and Element Manager software; extended warranties for the Hardware; and, occasionally, specified enhancements or upgrades to software used in the NES system. With the exception of the NES system software, each of these deliverables is considered a separate unit of accounting. The NES system software functions together with an electricity meter to deliver its essential functionality and any related software license fee is charged for on a per meter basis. Therefore, the NES system software and an electricity meter are combined and considered a single unit of accounting. The Element Manager software is not considered to be part of an electricity meter’s essential functionality and, therefore, Element Manager software and any related PCS continues to be accounted for under industry specific software revenue recognition guidance. However, all other NES system deliverables are no longer within the scope of industry specific software revenue recognition guidance.
	The Company allocates revenue to each element in a multiple-element arrangement based upon their relative selling price. The Company determines the selling price for each deliverable using vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of selling price or third party evidence (“TPE”) of selling price, if it exists. If neither VSOE nor TPE of selling price exists for a deliverable, the Company uses its best estimated selling price (“BESP”) for that deliverable. Since the use of the residual method is eliminated under the accounting standards, any discounts offered by the Company are allocated to each of the deliverables. Revenue allocated to each element is then recognized when the basic revenue recognition criteria is met for the respective element.
	Consistent with its methodology under previous accounting guidance, if available, the Company determines VSOE of fair value for each element based on historical stand-alone sales to third parties or from the stated renewal rate for the elements contained in the initial contractual arrangement. The Company currently estimates selling prices for its PCS and extended warranties based on VSOE of fair value.
	In many instances, the Company is not currently able to obtain VSOE of fair value for all deliverables in an arrangement with multiple elements. This may be due to the Company infrequently selling each element separately or not pricing products within a narrow range. When VSOE cannot be established, the Company attempts to estimate the selling price of each element based on TPE. TPE would consist of competitor prices for similar deliverables when sold separately. Generally, the Company’s offerings contain significant differentiation such that the comparable pricing of products with similar functionality cannot be obtained. Furthermore, the Company is unable to reliably determine the stand-alone selling prices for similar products of its competitors. Therefore, the Company is typically not able to obtain TPE of selling price.
	When the Company is unable to establish a selling price using VSOE or TPE, which is generally the case for the Hardware and certain specified enhancements or upgrades to the Company’s NES software, the Company uses its BESP in determining the allocation of arrangement consideration. The objective of BESP is to determine the price at which the Company would transact a sale if the product or service were sold on a stand-alone basis. BESP is generally used for offerings that are not typically sold on a stand-alone basis or for new or highly customized offerings.
	The Company establishes pricing for its products and services by considering multiple factors including, but not limited to, geographies, market conditions, competitive landscape, internal costs, gross margin objectives, and industry pricing practices. The determination of pricing also includes consultation with and formal approval by the Company’s management, taking into consideration the Company’s go-to-market strategy. These pricing practices apply to both the Company’s Hardware and software products.
	Based on an analysis of pricing stated in contractual arrangements for its Hardware products in historical multiple-element transactions and, to a lesser extent, historical standalone transactions, the Company has concluded that it typically prices its Hardware within a narrow range of discounts when compared to the price listed on the Company’s standard pricing grid for similar deliverables (i.e., similar configuration, volume, geography, etc.). Therefore, the Company has determined that, for its current Hardware for which VSOE or TPE is not available, the Company’s BESP is generally comprised of prices based on a narrow range of discounts from pricing stated in its pricing grid.
	When establishing BESP for the Company’s specified software enhancements or upgrades, the Company considers multiple factors including, but not limited to, the relative value of the features and functionality being delivered by the enhancement or upgrade as compared to the value of the software product to which the enhancement or upgrade relates, as well as the Company’s pricing practices for NES system software PCS packages, which may include rights to the specified enhancements or upgrades.
	The Company regularly reviews VSOE and has established a review process for TPE and BESP. The Company maintains internal controls over the establishment and updates of these estimates. There were no material impacts during the year ended December 31, 2013, resulting from changes in VSOE, TPE, or BESP, nor does the Company expect a material impact from such changes in the near term.
	Deferred Revenue and Deferred Cost of Goods Sold
	Deferred revenue consists substantially of amounts billed or payments received in advance of revenue recognition. Deferred cost of goods sold related to deferred product revenues includes direct product costs and applied overhead. Once all revenue recognition criteria have been met, the deferred revenues and associated cost of goods sold are recognized.
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company accounts for employee stock-based payment transactions in which the Company receives employee services in exchange for equity instruments of the enterprise. Stock-based compensation cost for restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted to employees is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. Stock-based compensation cost for RSUs granted to non-employee consultants is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company's common stock at the earlier of the date at which a commitment for performance by the consultant to earn the RSUs is reached, or the date at which the consultant's performance necessary for the RSUs to vest has been completed. Stock-based compensation cost for stock options and stock appreciation rights granted to employees (“SARs”) is estimated at the grant date based on each award's fair-value as calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation cost as expense using the accelerated multiple-option approach over the requisite service period. Further information regarding stock-based compensation can be found in Note 6 of these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers bank deposits, money market investments and all debt and equity securities with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.
	Short-Term Investments
	The Company classifies its investments in marketable debt securities as available-for-sale. Securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value with the related unrealized holding gains and losses, net of tax, being included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
	Fair Value Measurements
	The Company measures at fair value its cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments using a valuation hierarchy based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company's own assumptions. These two types of inputs have created the following fair value hierarchy:
	•	Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;
	•	Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and
	•	Level 3 - Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.
	This hierarchy requires the Company to minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to use observable market data, if available, when estimating fair value. Other than cash and money market funds, the Company's only financial assets or liabilities required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2013, are fixed income available-for-sale securities. See Note 2 of these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of the input levels used in determining the fair value of the Company's cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2013.
	Inventories
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first‑in, first‑out) or market and include material, labor and manufacturing overhead. When required, provisions are made to reduce excess and obsolete inventories to their estimated net realizable value. Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Purchased materials	$	1,343		$	2,081
	Finished goods	5,102			9,648
		$	6,445		$	11,729
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Including Goodwill
	The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the asset's carrying value to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If long-lived assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value. For the three years ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized no impairments.
	Costs in excess of the fair value of tangible and other identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a purchase business combination are recorded as goodwill, which is tested for impairment using a two-step approach. The Company evaluates goodwill, at a minimum, on an annual basis during the first quarter and whenever events and changes in circumstances suggest that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairment of goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level by comparing the reporting unit's carrying amount, including goodwill, to the fair value of the reporting unit. The fair values of the reporting units are estimated using a combination of the income approach and the market approach. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and a second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. To date, the Company has recorded no impairment of goodwill.
	Software Development Costs
	For software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed, the Company capitalizes eligible computer software development costs upon the establishment of technological feasibility, which the Company has defined as completion of a working model. For the three years ended December 31, 2013, costs that were eligible for capitalization were insignificant and, thus, the Company has charged all software development costs to product development expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
	Accrued Liabilities
	Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Accrued payroll and related costs	$	3,885		$	3,237
Warranty reserve	515			419
Restructuring charges	49			149
Customer deposits	643			106
Accrued taxes	75			117
Litigation charges	1,875			—
Other accrued liabilities	353			609
	$	7,395		$	4,637
Foreign Currency Translation
The functional currency of the Company's subsidiaries is the local currency. Accordingly, all assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate as of the applicable balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate prevailing during the period. Gains and losses resulting from the translation of the financial statements are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Remeasurement adjustments for non-functional currency monetary assets and liabilities, including short-term intercompany balances, are included in other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Currently, the Company does not employ a foreign currency hedge program utilizing foreign currency exchange contracts as the foreign currency transactions and risks to date have not been significant.
Concentrations of Credit Risk and Suppliers
The Company's financial instruments consist of cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and lease financing obligations. The carrying value of the Company's financial instruments approximates fair value. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of investments, which are classified as either cash equivalents or short-term investments, and trade receivables. With respect to its investments, the Company has an investment policy that limits the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution and restricts placement of the Company's investments to financial institutions independently evaluated as highly creditworthy. With respect to its trade receivables, the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of each of its customers' financial condition. For a customer whose credit worthiness does not meet the Company's minimum criteria, the Company may require partial or full payment prior to shipment. Alternatively, prior to shipment, customers may be required to provide the Company with an irrevocable letter of credit or arrange for some other form of coverage, such as a bank guarantee, to mitigate the risk of uncollectibility. Additionally, the Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts and sales return allowances based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, and other available information. With the exception of amounts owed to the Company on sales made to certain significant customers, concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are generally limited due to the Company's large number of customers and their dispersion across many different industries and geographies. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the percentage of the Company's total accounts receivable balance that were due from the following significant customers is as follows (refer to Note 7 “Significant Customers” for a discussion of revenues generated from the Company's significant customers):
	December 31,
	2013		2012
Telvent Energia y Medioambiente SA	15.30%		46.10%
Enel Distribuzione Spa	14.30%		9.40%
Eltel Networks A/S	10.10%		1.30%
EBV Electronik GmbH / Avnet Europe Comm VA	8.60%		9.20%
Duke Energy Corporation	7.50%		—%
Total	55.80%		66.00%
For most of the Company's products requiring assembly, it relies on a limited number of contract electronic manufacturers, principally Jabil and TRP.  The Company also maintains manufacturing agreements with a limited number of semiconductor manufacturers for the production of key products, including those used in the Company's Grid products.
The Neuron Chip is an important component that the Company and its customers use in control network devices. In addition to those sold by the Company, the Neuron Chip is currently manufactured and distributed only by Cypress Semiconductor. The Company's agreement with Cypress Semiconductor is currently valid until the second quarter of 2014.
Another semiconductor supplier, STMicroelectronics, manufactures the Company's power line smart transceiver products, for which the Company has no alternative source.  In addition, the Company currently purchases several key products and components from sole or limited source suppliers with which it does not maintain signed agreements that would obligate them to supply to the Company on negotiated terms.
If any of the Company's key suppliers were to stop manufacturing the Company's products or cease supplying the Company with its key components, it could be expensive and time consuming to find a replacement.  Also, as the Company's Grid business grows, it will be required to expand its business with its key suppliers or find additional sources of supply.  There is no guarantee that the Company would be able to find acceptable alternatives or additional sources.
The failure of any key manufacturer to produce a sufficient number of products on time, at agreed quality levels, and fully compliant with the Company's product, assembly and test specifications could adversely affect the Company's revenues and gross profit, and could result in claims against the Company by its customers, which could harm the Company's results of operations and financial position.
Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share
Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders by the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of outstanding shares assuming conversion of all potentially dilutive stock options and warrants under the treasury stock method.
The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted net loss per share computations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
	Year ended 31 December
	2013			2012			2011
Net loss (Numerator):
Net loss, basic & diluted	$	(17,610	)	$	(12,818	)	$	(13,000	)
Shares (Denominator):
Weighted average common shares outstanding	43,092			42,650			42,083
Shares used in basic computation	43,092			42,650			42,083
Common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options (treasury stock method)	—			—			—
Shares used in diluted computation	43,092			42,650			42,083
Net loss per share:
Basic	$	(0.41	)	$	(0.30	)	$	(0.31	)
Diluted	$	(0.41	)	$	(0.30	)	$	(0.31	)
For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the diluted net loss per share calculation is equivalent to the basic net loss per share calculation as there were no potentially dilutive stock options or RSUs due to the Company’s net loss position. The number of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) excluded from this calculation for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was 5,472,946, 5,868,929 and 5,625,065, respectively.
Income Taxes
Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
The Company takes a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon effective settlement. The Company re-evaluates its income tax positions on a quarterly basis to consider factors such as changes in facts or circumstances, changes in or interpretations of tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision. Interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax expense.
Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) for the Company consists of net loss plus the effect of unrealized holding gains or losses on investments classified as available-for-sale and foreign currency translation adjustments.

Financial_Instruments

Financial Instruments	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Financial Instruments	'
	2. Financial Instruments
	On a recurring basis, the Company measures certain of its financial assets, namely its cash equivalents and short-term investments, at fair value. The Company does not have any financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair value of the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was determined using the following inputs at December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Money market funds (1)	$	5,254	$	5,254	$	—	$	—
	U.S. government securities(2)	42,987		—		42,987		—
	Total	$	48,241	$	5,254	$	42,987	$	—
	The fair value of the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was determined using the following inputs at December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Money market funds (1)	$	5,243	$	5,243	$	—	$	—
	U.S. government securities(2)	42,979		—		42,979		—
	Total	$	48,222	$	5,243	$	42,979	$	—
	(1)    Included in cash and cash equivalents in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets
	(2)	Represents the portfolio of available for sale securities and is included in short-term investments in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets
	Cash equivalents consist of either investments with remaining maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase, or money market funds for which the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
	The Company’s available-for-sale securities consist of U.S. government securities with a minimum and weighted average credit rating of A-1+. The Company values these securities based on pricing from pricing vendors, who may use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1 inputs) or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2 inputs) in determining fair value. However, the Company classifies all of its fixed income available-for-sale securities as having Level 2 inputs. The valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of the Company’s financial instruments having Level 2 inputs were derived from non-binding market consensus prices that are corroborated by observable market data, quoted market prices for similar instruments, or pricing models, such as discounted cash flow techniques. The Company's procedures include controls to ensure that appropriate fair values are recorded such as comparing prices obtained from multiple independent sources.
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company’s available-for-sale securities had contractual maturities from four to twelve months and an average remaining term to maturity of eleven months. As of December 31, 2013, the amortized cost basis, aggregate fair value, and gross unrealized holding gains and losses of the Company’s short-term investments by major security type were as follows (in thousands):
		Amortized Cost		Aggregate Fair Value		Unrealized Holding Gains		Unrealized Holding Losses
	U.S. government and agency securities	$	42,979	$	42,987	$	8	$	—
	The amortized cost basis, aggregate fair value and gross unrealized holding gains and losses for the Company’s available-for-sale short-term investments, by major security type, were as follows as of December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		Amortized Cost		Aggregate Fair Value		Unrealized Holding Gains		Unrealized Holding Losses
	U.S. government securities	$	42,971	$	42,979	$	8	$	—
	Market values were determined for each individual security in the investment portfolio. Any decline in value of these investments is primarily related to changes in interest rates and is considered to be temporary in nature. The Company reviews its investments on a regular basis to evaluate whether or not any have experienced an other-than-temporary decline in fair value. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method and realized gains and losses are included in Interest and other income (expense), net.

Property_and_equipment

Property and equipment	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	3. Property and Equipment
	A summary of property and equipment, net as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands):
		December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Buildings and improvements	$	37,356		$	37,356
	Computer and other equipment	22,138			21,763
	Software	3,627			4,159
	Furniture and fixtures	2,625			2,728
	Leasehold improvements	4,010			3,823
		69,756			69,829
	Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(51,086		)	(48,052		)
	Property and equipment, net	$	18,670		$	21,777
	Property and equipment are stated at cost. The cost of buildings and improvements for the Company's leased San Jose, California headquarters facilities, for which it is the “deemed owner” for accounting purposes only, includes both the costs paid for directly by the Company and the costs paid for by the builder (lessor) from the period commencing with the start of construction through the lease commencement date for each building. These “building assets” are reflected as “Buildings and Improvements” in the schedule above. Building improvements paid for by the Company subsequent to the lease commencement date of each building are reflected as “Leasehold Improvements” in the schedule above.
	Effective June 2008, the building leases were amended, resulting in an extension of the lease term for both buildings through March 2020. As a result of the lease extensions, the lease financing obligations for each building were increased based on the present value of the revised lease payments on the date of the extension, with a corresponding increase to the net carrying amount of the cost of the building assets (see further information below).
	Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method as follows:
	•	Building assets and leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of the remaining lease term or estimated useful lives (see further information below);
	•	Computer equipment and related software, other equipment, and furniture and fixtures are depreciated over their estimated useful lives of two to five years; and
	•	Certain telecommunications equipment is depreciated over its estimated useful life of 10 years.
	Accounting for buildings and improvements
	In December 1999, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a real estate developer for its existing corporate headquarters in San Jose, California. In October 2000, the Company entered into a second lease agreement with the same real estate developer for an additional building at its headquarters site. These leases were scheduled to expire in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
	Effective June 2008, the building leases were amended resulting in an extension of the lease term for both buildings through March 2020. The extended leases require minimum lease payments through March 2020 totaling approximately $48.9 million. Both leases permit the Company to exercise an option to extend the respective lease for 2 sequential five-year terms. In addition, the amended leases eliminated the Company's requirement to provide the landlord with security deposits, which the Company had previously satisfied through the issuance of standby letters of credit (“LOCs”).
	The Company has historically accounted for the two buildings at its San Jose, California headquarters site under authoritative guidance pertaining to leases in which the Company is both involved in the construction of the lease assets and for which certain sale-leaseback criteria are not met. This results in the Company being the “deemed owner” of the two buildings for accounting purposes only. Accordingly, the leases associated with these facilities are accounted for as financing obligations.
	For the December 1999 and October 2000 lease agreements, the Company initially recorded lease financing obligations of $12.0 million and $15.2 million, respectively, which corresponded to the building asset costs paid for by the lessor. As a result of the lease extension in June 2008, the Company increased the carrying amount of its lease financing obligations by approximately $12.5 million to approximately $27.6 million (an amount equal to the present value of the revised lease payments at the date of the lease extension), with a corresponding increase to the net carrying amount of the building assets. In addition, all of the accumulated depreciation on the building assets at the date of the lease extensions was eliminated with a corresponding decrease to the gross carrying amount of the building assets. As a result of the extension in lease terms, the Company also extended the estimated useful lives of the building assets and the leasehold improvements to equal the amended lease term.
	For each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, the Company has recorded depreciation expense associated with the building assets of $2.0 million. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the net book value of the building assets was $12.6 million and $14.6 million, respectively.
	Under the lease agreements, a portion of the total lease payments is accounted for as an operating lease of land and recorded as expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The remaining portions of the monthly lease payments are considered to be payments of principal and interest on the lease financing obligations. For each of the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, land lease expense was $741,000. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, principal reductions on the lease financing obligations were $2.0 million, $1.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively; and interest expense was $1.2 million, $1.4 million, and $1.5 million, respectively. See Note 9 for further information on commitments for future minimum lease payments associated with the lease financing obligations.

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]	'
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) [Text Block]	'
	4. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
		Foreign currency translation adjustment		Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
		(Amount in thousands)		(Amount in thousands)		(Amount in thousands)
	Beginning balance at December 31, 2011	$	242	$	2	$	244
	Change during the year	259		6		265
	Ending balance at December 31, 2012	$	501	$	8	$	509
	Change during the year	506		—		506
	Ending balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,007	$	8	$	1,015

Stockholders_Equity_and_Employ

Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans	'
	5. Stockholders’ Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans
	a) Preferred Stock
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company was authorized to issue 5,000,000 shares of new $0.01 par value preferred stock, of which none was outstanding.
	(b) Common Stock
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company was authorized to issue 100,000,000 shares of $0.01 par value common stock, of which 43,351,850 were outstanding.
	In April 2008, the Company's board of directors approved a stock repurchase program, which authorized the Company to repurchase up to 3.0 million shares of the Company's common stock. Since inception, the Company repurchased a total of 750,000 shares under the program at a cost of $8.9 million. The stock repurchase program expired in April 2011.
	(c) Stock Option Programs
	The Company grants equity compensation awards under the 1997 Stock Plan (the “1997 Plan”). Prior to July 2008, the Company also issued options to certain members of its Board of Directors under the 1998 Director Option Plan (the “Director Option Plan”). A more detailed description of each plan can be found below.
	Stock option and other equity compensation grants are designed to reward employees, officers, directors, and certain non-employee consultants for their long-term contribution to the Company, to align their interest with those of the Company's stockholders in creating stockholder value, and to provide incentives for them to remain with the Company. The number and frequency of equity compensation grants is based on competitive practices, operating results of the Company, and accounting regulations. Since the inception of the 1997 Plan, the Company has granted equity compensation awards to all of its employees.
	Historically, the Company has issued new shares upon the exercise of stock options. However, treasury shares are also available for issuance, although the Company does not currently intend to use treasury shares for this purpose.
	1997 Stock Plan
	During 1997, the Company adopted the 1997 Stock Plan for employees, officers, directors, and non-employee consultants, which was amended and restated in May 2004, and further amended and restated in April 2013. During the year, the Board determined that it was in the best interest of the Company and the stockholders to amend and restate the Plan. In setting the share reserve under the amended Plan, the Company considered the number of outstanding awards and forecasted grants under the Plan. As of March 31, 2013 a total of 20,972,838 shares of its Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the Plan, of which 5,505,404 shares were subject to outstanding awards and 15,467,434 shares remained available for new awards under the Plan. Upon approval of the amended Plan by the shareholders, the total number of shares issuable under the Plan after March 31, 2013, was reduced from 20,972,838 to 10,905,404, including the 5,505,404 shares subject to current outstanding awards plus an additional 5,400,000 shares for future new awards. The shares available for future awards are anticipated to be sufficient to meet expected grants by the Company under the Plan for the next two to three years, however future business needs may affect this projection. In determining size of the share reserve, the Company took into account historical grant practices and the rate of granting equity awards (“burn rate”).
	Under the amended and restated Plan, the annual “evergreen” share replenishment was eliminated prospectively and a limitation on the number of shares issuable as restricted stock units and restricted shares (referred to as “full value awards”) was added to the Plan. The latter change would be effected by adding a “fungible share” ratio to the Plan whereby grants of full value awards after May 21, 2013, reduce the number of shares issuable under the Plan by 1.7 shares for each share subject to such awards. If shares subject to such awards are subsequently forfeited or otherwise would return to the Plan reserve, the unvested or cancelled shares will be returned to the share reserve as 1.7 shares for each share forfeited or otherwise returned to the Plan share reserve.
	As of December 31, 2013, a total of 10,123,801 shares of Common Stock were reserved for issuance under the 1997 Plan. Incentive stock options to purchase shares of common stock may be granted at not less than 100% of the fair market value. Options granted prior to June 15, 2000 and after May 5, 2003, generally have a term of five years from the date of grant. Options granted June 15, 2000 through May 5, 2003, and those granted after March 31, 2013, generally have a term of ten years. The exercise price of stock options granted under the 1997 Plan is determined by the Board of Directors (or a Committee of the Board of Directors), but will be at least equal to 100% of the fair market value per share of common stock on the date of grant (or at least 110% of such fair market value for an incentive stock option granted to a stockholder with greater than 10% voting power of all stock), except that up to 10% of the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the 1997 Plan (including shares that have been issued or are issuable in connection with options exercised or granted under the 1997 Plan) may have exercise prices that are from 0% to 100% of the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant. Options generally vest ratably over four years.
	The 1997 Plan also allows for the issuance of stock purchase rights and options that are immediately exercisable through execution of a restricted stock purchase agreement. Shares purchased pursuant to a stock purchase agreement generally vest ratably over four years. In the event of termination of employment, the Company, at its discretion, may repurchase unvested shares at a price equal to the original issuance price. In addition, the 1997 Plan allows for the issuance of stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock awards (“RSAs”), and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). SARs are rights to receive, in cash or shares of the Company's common stock, as designated on the grant date, the appreciation in fair market value of common stock between the exercise date and the date of grant. To date, the Company has only issued SARs that can be settled in shares of the Company's common stock. SARs may be granted alone or in tandem with options. The exercise price of a SAR will be at least equal to 100% of the fair market value per share of common stock on the date of grant. SARs issued by the Company generally vest in equal, annual installments over four years, and expire on the five year anniversary of the grant date. RSUs and RSAs are awards that result in a payment to a participant, generally in the form of an issuance of shares of the Company's common stock, at such time as specified performance goals or other vesting criteria are achieved or the awards otherwise vest. RSUs and RSAs issued by the Company generally vest in equal, annual installments over four years, although certain of these awards vest 100% after one or two years. In addition, certain of these RSU and RSA grants have additional financial-based performance requirements that must be met before vesting can occur. RSUs and RSAs with performance-based vesting conditions expire no later than the five year anniversary of the grant date if the performance criteria have not been met.
	(d) Stock Award Activity
	The following table summarizes stock award activity under all plans for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011:
				Options Outstanding
		Shares Available for Grant		Number Outstanding			Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2010	11,420,522		4,275,648			$	8.55
	Options and stock appreciation rights granted	(313,750	)	313,750			8.26
	RSUs granted	(1,381,070	)	—			—
	Options and stock appreciation rights cancelled	981,365		(981,365	)		8.64
	RSUs cancelled	480,571		—			—
	Options exercised	—		(504,561	)		7.15
	Unissued shares returned to plan	190,406		—			—
	1998 Directors Plan shares expired	(10,000	)	—			—
	Additional shares reserved	1,679,692		—			—
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2011	13,047,736		3,103,472			$	8.71
	Options granted	(1,883,388	)	1,883,388			3.21
	RSUs granted	(700,987	)	—			—
	Options and stock appreciation rights cancelled	1,047,545		(1,047,545	)		8.73
	RSUs cancelled	315,817		—			—
	Options exercised	—		—			—
	Unissued shares returned to plan	—		—			—
	1998 Directors Plan shares expired	(60,000	)	—			—
	Additional shares reserved	1,700,859		—			—
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2012	13,467,582		3,939,315			$	6.08
	Options granted	(1,785,728	)	1,785,728			2.34
	RSUs granted	(702,665	)	—			—
	Options and stock appreciation rights cancelled	1,545,194		(1,545,194	)		7.22
	RSUs cancelled	471,867		—			—
	Options exercised	—		—			—
	Unissued shares eliminated from plan	(15,542,434	)	—			—
	1998 Directors Plan shares expired	75,000		(75,000	)		—
	Additional shares reserved	7,122,039		—			—
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2013	4,650,855		4,104,849			$	4.13
	During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, no options or SARs were exercised. The total intrinsic value of options and SARS exercised in 2011 was approximately $1.2 million. The intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the market value on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the shares.
	The following table provides additional information regarding RSU and RSA activity for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011:
		Number Nonvested and Outstanding		Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair-Value
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2010	2,201,169		$	8.88
	RSUs and RSAs granted	1,381,070		8.74
	RSUs vested and released	(580,075	)	10.55
	RSUs cancelled	(480,571	)	8.96
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2011	2,521,593		$	8.4
	RSUs granted	700,987		3.25
	RSUs vested and released	(977,149	)	8.48
	RSUs cancelled	(315,817	)	7.8
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2012	1,929,614		$	6.56
	RSUs granted	419,056		2.34
	RSUs vested and released	(522,286	)	6.99
	RSUs cancelled	(458,287	)	6.19
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2013	1,368,097		$	5.22
The fair value of each RSU and RSA granted to employees was estimated on the date of grant by multiplying the number of shares granted times the fair market value of the Company's stock on the grant date.
The total intrinsic value of RSUs and RSAs vested and released during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was approximately $1.2 million, $3.7 million, and $5.1 million, respectively. The intrinsic value of vested and released RSUs and RSAs is calculated by multiplying the fair market value of the Company's stock on the vesting date by the number of shares vested. As of December 31, 2013, the number of RSUs and RSAs outstanding and expected to vest was 1,292,436, with a total intrinsic value of $2.8 million. The intrinsic value of the outstanding and expected to vest RSUs and RSAs is calculated based on the market value of the Company's closing stock price of $2.15 as of December 31, 2013, the last market trading day of 2013.
The following table provides additional information for significant ranges of outstanding and exercisable stock options and SARs as of December 31, 2013:
Exercise	Number		Weighted		Weighted
Price Range	Outstanding		Average		Average			Aggregate Intrinsic Value
			Remaining		Exercise
			Contractual Life		Price per Share
			(in years)
2.11-2.29	419,600		9.68		$	2.19		$	4,640
2.37	1,183,829		9.44		2.37			—
2.51-2.57	92,500		9.3		2.55			—
3.17	1,217,567		8.37		3.17			—
3.40-7.46	513,725		4.23		6.02			—
7.47-8.20	431,978		0.47		7.55			—
9.08-10.62	123,900		2.36		9.99			—
12.11	40,000		0.69		12.11			—
12.82	75,000		0.86		12.82			—
13.85	6,750		0.78		13.85			—
Outstanding	4,104,849		7.08		$	4.13		$	4,640
Vested and expected to vest	3,918,854		7.06		$	4.2		$	4,212
Exercisable	1,348,270		3.64		$	6.6		$	—
The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the total pretax intrinsic value, based on the Company's closing stock price of $2.15 as of December 31, 2013, which would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options as of that date.

Stock_Based_Compensation

Stock Based Compensation	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Based Compensation [Abstract]	'
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]	'
	6. Stock-based Compensation
	(a) Valuation of Options, SARs, and RSUs Granted
	The Company has elected to use the BSM option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock options and SARs that it grants. The BSM model incorporates various assumptions including volatility, expected term of the option from the date of grant to the time of exercise, risk-free interest rates, and dividend yields. The weighted average fair value of options and SARs granted during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, was $1.39, $1.85, and $4.05, respectively, and was determined using the following weighted average assumptions:
		Year ended 31 December
		2013		2012		2011
	Expected dividend yield	—%		—%		—%
	Risk-free interest rate	1.60%		0.90%		1.20%
	Expected volatility	64.80%		63.90%		64.20%
	Expected term (in years)	6.16		6.1		4.1
	The expected dividend yield reflects the fact that the Company has not paid any dividends in the past and does not currently intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based on U.S. Treasury yields in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the option. The expected volatility is based on both the historical volatility of the Company's common stock over the most recent period commensurate with the expected life of the option as well as on implied volatility calculated from the market traded options on the Company's stock. The expected term has been calculated by applying the simplified method calculation to the new 10-year term option grants made during 2013, as the Company does not have relevant and adequate exercise history for such options. Prior to this, the expected term has been calculated by applying a Monte Carlo simulation model that incorporates the Company's historical data on post-vest exercise activity and employee termination behavior.
	The grant date fair value of RSUs and RSAs granted to employees is determined by multiplying the fair market value of the Company's stock on the grant date times the number of RSUs and RSAs awarded. During 2011, the Company issued a limited number of RSUs to non-employee consultants. The final measurement date for these awards is determined at the earlier of the date at which a commitment for performance by the consultant to earn the RSUs is reached, or the date at which the consultant's performance necessary for the RSUs to vest has been completed. Between the date of issuance and the final measurement date, which is expected to be the date the consultants' performance is complete and the awards vest, the awards are remeasured based on the fair market value of the Company's stock at each reporting date. During the year ended December 31, 2013, awards granted to non-employee consultants and the related share-based payment expense was not significant.
	(b) Equity Compensation Expense for RSUs and RSAs with Financial or other Performance-Based Vesting Requirements
	As of December 31, 2013, there were 195,000 non-vested RSUs and RSAs that were subject to service-based vesting conditions as well as certain financial or other performance-based vesting requirements that must be achieved before vesting can occur. The following table contains pertinent information regarding these outstanding awards as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands except for number of awards granted):
	Grant Date		# of Awards Granted		Fair Value on Grant Date			Cumulative Expense Recognized			Unearned Compensation Expense		Latest Date Performance Condition Could be Met
	Aug-10		125,000		$	929		$	—		$	929	Apr-15
	May-11		20,000		212			—			212		Apr-15
	Nov-11		50,000		277			—			277		Apr-15
	Total		195,000		$	1,418		$	—		$	1,418
	Through June 30, 2012, cumulative compensation expense of $375,000 associated with these 195,000 unvested RSUs and RSAs had been recognized. From the date of grant through June 30, 2012, the Company had believed it was probable that the associated performance requirements would be achieved and therefore recognized expense on these awards. During the third quarter of 2012, the Company believed that the performance condition was no longer probable of achievement, however the Company had also not yet determined that the performance condition was improbable of achievement. Hence, expense recognition was discontinued beginning in the third quarter of 2012. As of December 31, 2013, the Company determined that the performance condition is improbable of achievement and therefore the cumulative compensation expense of $375,000 associated with these awards has been reversed in the quarter ended December 31, 2013.
	c) Expense Allocation
	Compensation expense for all share-based payment awards has been recognized using the accelerated multiple-option approach. As stock-based compensation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 is based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it has been reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are required to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Forfeitures have been estimated based on historical experience.
	As of December 31, 2013, total compensation cost related to non-vested stock options and other equity based awards not yet recognized was $4.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over the next 1.6 years on a weighted-average basis.
	The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 and its allocation within the consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December,
		2013				2012			2011
	Cost of product	$	193			$	567		$	864
	Cost of service	47				111			112
	Stock based compensation expense included in cost of revenues	240				678			976
	Product development	696				2,304			3,891
	Sales and marketing	635				1,896			2,251
	General and administrative	967				2,098			2,531
	Stock based compensation expense included in operating expenses	$	2,298			$	6,298		$	8,673
	Total stock based compensation expense related to stock options and share awards	$	2,538			$	6,976		$	9,649
	Tax benefit	$	—			$	—		$	—
	Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options and share awards, net of tax	$	2,538			$	6,976		$	9,649
	As of December 31, 2013, approximately $42,000 and $8,000 of stock-based compensation expense was capitalized as part of the cost of inventory and deferred cost of goods sold, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, approximately $38,000 and $3,000 of stock-based compensation expense was capitalized as part of the cost of inventory and deferred cost of goods sold, respectively.

Significant_Customers

Significant Customers	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]	'
Significant Customers	'
	7.    Significant Customers
	The Company markets its products and services throughout the world to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and systems integrators in the building, industrial, transportation, utility/home, and other automation markets. During the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the Company had five customers that accounted for a significant portion of its revenues: EBV Electronik GmbH and Avnet Europe Comm VA (“EBV/Avnet”), the Company’s primary distributors of its IIoT products in Europe, Duke Energy Corporation (“Duke”), a U.S. utility company; Enel Distribuzione Spa ("Enel"), an Italian utility company; and Eltel Networks A/S (“Eltel”) and Telvent Energia y Medioambiente SA (“Telvent”), value added resellers of the Company’s Grid products. For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 the percentage of the Company’s revenues attributable to sales made to these customers was as follows:
		Segment	Year ended 31 December
			2013	2012	2011
	Telvent	Grid	14.30%	29.70%	15.70%
	EBV/Avnet	IIoT	14.20%	8.10%	9.50%
	Enel	IIoT	13.70%	4.80%	4.50%
	Duke	Grid	5.80%	13.70%	27.20%
	Eltel	Grid	2.30%	8.10%	11.50%
	Total		50.30%	64.40%	68.40%
	In April 2011, the Company’s distributor agreement with EBV was assigned from EBV to Avnet Europe Comm VA, a limited partnership organized under the laws of Belgium (“Avnet”). Each of EBV and Avnet are indirect subsidiaries of Avnet, Inc., a New York corporation, which is a distributor of electronic parts, enterprise computing and storage products and embedded subsystems. At the time of the assignment, the term of the distributor agreement was extended and will now expire in June 2014.

Goodwill

Goodwill	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Abstract]	'
Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	8.     Goodwill
	The carrying amount of goodwill as of December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 relates to three acquisitions, including ARIGO Software GmbH (“ARIGO”) in 2001, BeAtHome in 2002, and MTC in 2003. The goodwill acquired as part of the ARIGO transaction is valued in Euros, and is therefore subject to foreign currency translation gains and losses.
	The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, net, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
		Total
	Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	8,235
	Unrealized foreign currency translation loss	41
	Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	8,276
	Unrealized foreign currency translation loss	114
	Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	8,390
	Effective in the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company changed the way it managed the business to focus the business on two operating segments based on homogeneity of products and technology- Grid and IIoT. As a result, the Company, with the assistance of an external service provider, reallocated goodwill of the Company to the Grid and IIoT operating segments using a relative fair value approach. Each operating segment's fair value was determined based on comparative market values and discounted cash flows. As of December 31, 2013, approximately $3.4 million and $5.0 million of the total goodwill balance was attributable to the Grid and IIoT operating segments, respectively. There was no indication of impairment when goodwill was reallocated to the new operating segments, as the respective fair values of each substantially exceed their carrying values (including goodwill) as of December 31, 2013.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments And Contingencies	'
	9. Commitments and Contingencies
	(a) Lease Commitments
	As discussed in Note 3, the Company accounts for the leases of its corporate headquarters facilities as lease financing obligations. As of December 31, 2013, the future minimum lease payments for the lease financing obligations were as follows (in thousands):
	2014	$	3,328
	2015		3,410
	2016		3,493
	2017		3,615
	2018		3,746
	2019 and thereafter		4,532
	Total payments	$	22,124
	Amount representing interest		(3,964	)
	Present value of future minimum lease payments	$	18,160
	Lease financing obligations classified as current	$	2,240
	Lease financing obligations classified as long-term	$	15,920
	The Company also leases facilities under operating leases for its sales, marketing, and product development personnel located elsewhere within the United States and in several foreign countries throughout Europe and Asia, including a land lease for accounting purposes associated with the Company's corporate headquarters facilities. These operating leases expire on various dates through 2020, and in some instances are cancelable with advance notice. Lastly, the Company also leases certain equipment and, for some of its sales personnel, automobiles. These operating leases are generally less than five years in duration. As of December 31, 2013, future minimum lease payments under all operating leases, including $4.8 million related to the land lease associated with the Company's corporate headquarters facilities (see Note 3), were as follows (in thousands):
	2014	$	1,355
	2015		956
	2016		907
	2017		907
	2018		822
	2019 and thereafter		905
	Total payments	$	5,852
	Rent expense for all operating leases was approximately $1.5 million for 2013, $1.7 million for 2012, and $1.9 million for 2011. Although certain of the operating lease agreements provide for escalating rent payments over the term of the lease, rent expense under these agreements is recognized on a straight-line basis. As of December 31, 2013, the Company has accrued approximately $215,000 of deferred rent related to these agreements, of which approximately $35,000 is reflected in current liabilities while the remainder is reflected in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2012, the Company has accrued approximately $251,000 of deferred rent related to these agreements, of which approximately $36,000 is reflected in current liabilities while the remainder is reflected in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.
	(b) Royalties
	The Company has certain royalty commitments associated with the shipment and licensing of certain of its products. Royalty expense is generally based on a dollar amount per unit shipped or a percentage of the underlying revenue. Royalty expense, which is recorded as a component of cost of product revenues in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations, was approximately $470,000, $508,000, and $532,000 for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, respectively.
	The Company will continue to be obligated for royalty payments in the future associated with the shipment and licensing of certain of its products. The Company is currently unable to estimate the maximum amount of these future royalties. However, such amounts will continue to be dependent on the number of units shipped or the amount of revenue generated from these products.
	(c) Guarantees
	In the normal course of business, the Company provides indemnifications of varying scope to its customers against claims of intellectual property infringement made by third parties arising from the use of its products. Historically, costs related to these indemnification provisions have not been significant. However, the Company is unable to estimate the maximum potential impact of these indemnification provisions on its future results of operations.
	As permitted under Delaware law, the Company has entered into agreements whereby it indemnifies its officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was serving, at the Company's request in such capacity. The indemnification period covers all pertinent events and occurrences during the officer's or director's lifetime. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited. However, the Company has directors and officers insurance coverage that would enable it to recover a portion of any future amounts paid. The Company believes the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements in excess of the applicable insurance coverage is minimal, if any.
	(d) Taxes
	The Company conducts operations in many tax jurisdictions throughout the world. In many of these jurisdictions, non-income based taxes such as property taxes, sales and use taxes, and value-added taxes are assessed on the Company's operations in that particular location. While the Company strives to ensure compliance with these various non-income based tax filing requirements, there have been instances where potential non-compliance exposures have been identified. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, the Company makes a provision for these exposures when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the exposure can be reasonably estimated. To date, such provisions have been immaterial, and the Company believes that, as of December 31, 2013, it has adequately provided for such contingencies. However, it is possible that the Company's results of operations, cash flows, and financial position could be harmed if one or more non-compliance tax exposures are asserted by any of the jurisdictions where the Company conducts its operations.
	(e) Legal Actions
	In April 2009, the Company received notice that the receiver for two companies that filed for the Italian law equivalent of bankruptcy protection in May 2004, Finmek Manufacturing SpA and Finmek Access SpA (collectively, the “Finmek Companies”), had filed a lawsuit under an Italian “claw back” law in Padua, Italy against the Company, seeking the return of approximately $16.7 million in payments received by the Company in the ordinary course of business for components sold by the Company to the Finmek Companies prior to the bankruptcy filing. The Finmek Companies were among Enel’s third party meters manufacturers, and from time to time through January 2004, the Company sold components to the Finmek Companies that were incorporated into the electricity meters that were manufactured by the Finmek Companies and sold to Enel SpA for the Enel Project.  The Company believed that the Italian claw back law was not applicable to its transactions with the Finmek Companies, and the claims of the Finmek Companies’ receiver were without merit. However, it was recently brought to the Company's attention that a substantial percentage of claw back cases reviewed by the local courts, which are located in the jurisdiction in which the Finmek Companies were headquartered, were being decided in favor of the Finmek Companies.  To avoid any possibility of an adverse ruling against the Company, as well as to limit administrative inconvenience and curtail litigation costs, in April 2013, with the consent of its Board of Directors, the Company decided to settle this matter. The Company reached an agreement with respect to a tentative financial settlement of $3.5 million and recognized a charge for this amount in the first quarter of 2013. This settlement was formalized and became effective in the fourth quarter of 2013, to be paid in two substantially equal installments, one in the fourth quarter of 2013 and the other in the fourth quarter of 2014. The Company did not admit that the Italian claw back law applied to its circumstances as part of this settlement.
	From time to time, in the ordinary course of business, the Company may be subject to other legal proceedings, claims, investigations, and other proceedings, including claims of alleged infringement of third-party patents and other intellectual property rights, and commercial, employment, and other matters. In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company makes a provision for a liability when it is both probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. These provisions are reviewed at least quarterly and adjusted to reflect the impacts of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and other information and events pertaining to a particular case. While the Company believes it has adequately provided for such contingencies as of December 31, 2013, the amounts of which were immaterial, it is possible that the Company’s results of operations, cash flows, and financial position could be harmed by the resolution of any such outstanding claims.
	Line of Credit
	The Company maintains a $5.0 million line of credit with its primary bank, which expires on July 1, 2014. The letter of credit contains certain financial covenants requiring the Company to maintain an overall minimum tangible net worth level and to maintain a minimum level of liquid assets. As of December 31, 2013, the Company was in compliance with these covenants. As of December 31, 2013, the Company’s primary bank has issued, against the line of credit, one standby letter of credit totaling $113,000. Other than issuing standby letters of credit, the Company has never drawn against the line of credit, nor have amounts ever been drawn against the standby letters of credit issued by the bank.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	10. Income Taxes
	The provision for income taxes attributable to continuing operations is based upon income (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations as follows (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012			2011
	Domestic	$	(18,037	)	$	(13,614	)	$	(13,782	)
	Foreign	(70		)	652			1,111
		$	(18,107	)	$	(12,962	)	$	(12,671	)
	The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012			2011
	Federal:
	Current	$	—		$	—		$	—
	Deferred	—			—			—
	Total federal provision	—			—			—
	State:
	Current	17			5			4
	Deferred	—			—			—
	Total state provision	17			5			4
	Foreign:
	Current	294			214			325
	Deferred	—			—			—
	Total foreign provision	294			214			325
	Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	311		$	219		$	329
	The provision for income taxes differs from the amount estimated by applying the statutory Federal income tax rate to loss before taxes as follows (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012			2011
	Federal tax at statutory rate of 35%	$	(6,156	)	$	(4,537	)	$	(4,435	)
	State taxes, net of federal benefit	17			5			3
	U.S.-Foreign rate differential	342			87			(46		)
	Change in Valuation Allowance	6,969			4,530			4,825
	Research and Development credits	(1,241		)	—			—
	Others	380			134			(18		)
	Total income tax expense	$	311		$	219		$	329
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, a valuation allowance has been recorded against 100% of gross deferred tax assets as a result of uncertainties regarding the realization of the asset balance. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had no significant deferred tax liabilities. The components of the net deferred income tax asset are as follows (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012
	Net operating loss carry forwards	$	60,961		$	55,669
	Tax credit carry forwards	26,869			24,826
	Fixed and intangible assets	7,246			7,486
	Capitalized research and development costs	58			58
	Reserves and other cumulative temporary differences	19,380			20,910
	Gross deferred income tax assets	114,514			108,949
	Valuation allowance	(114,514		)	(108,949		)
	Net deferred income tax assets	$	—		$	—
	As of December 31, 2013, part of the Company's valuation allowance on deferred tax assets pertains to certain tax credits and net operating loss carry forwards. In the future, it will reduce the valuation allowance associated with these credits and losses upon the earlier of the period in which it utilizes them to reduce the amount of income tax it would otherwise be required to pay on its income tax returns, or when it becomes more likely than not that the deferred tax assets are realizable. In addition, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, contains provisions that limit the net operating loss and credit carryforwards available for use in any given period upon the occurrence of certain events, including a significant change in ownership interests. The Company performed an analysis of the ownership changes in 2001. Since that time, some ownership changes may have occurred, which could cause certain of the Company's net operating loss and credit carryforwards to be limited in future periods.
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of $199.6 million for federal income tax reporting purposes and $85.7 million for state income tax reporting purposes, which expire at various dates through 2033. Of these amounts, a significant portion represents federal and state tax deductions from stock-based compensation. The tax benefit from these deductions will be recorded as an adjustment to additional paid-in capital in the year in which the benefit is realized. In addition, as of December 31, 2013, the Company had approximately $11.4 million and $15.3 million of tax credit carryforwards for research expenditures for federal and California purposes, respectively. The federal research tax credits will expire at various dates if not utilized by 2033 and the state tax credit can be carried over indefinitely. In accordance with current Internal Revenue Code rules, federal net operating loss carryforwards must be utilized in full before federal research and development tax credits can be used to offset current tax liabilities. As a result, depending on the Company's future taxable income in any given year, some or all of the federal research tax credits, as well as portions of the Company's federal and state net operating loss carryforwards, may expire before being utilized.
	Amounts held by foreign subsidiaries are generally subject to United States income taxation on repatriation to the United States. The Company currently intends to permanently reinvest its undistributed earnings from its foreign subsidiaries outside the United States and United States income taxes have not been provided on cumulative total earnings of $10.8 million. It is not practicable to determine the income tax liability that might be incurred if these earnings were to be distributed.
	The following is a rollforward of the Company's uncertain tax positions for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012
	Balance as of the beginning of the year	$	3,382		$	4,355
	Tax positions related to current year:
	Additions	31			80
	Reductions	—			—
	Tax positions related to prior years:
	Additions	—			—
	Reductions	(571		)	(405		)
	Settlements	—			—
	Lapses in statute of limitations	(704		)	(648		)
	Balance as of the end of the year	$	2,138		$	3,382
	Included in the balance of total unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2013 are potential benefits of $575,000, which if recognized, would affect the effective rate on income from continuing operations.
	On December 31, 2013, the Company had accrued interest and penalties related to the uncertain tax benefits of approximately $134,000. During 2013, the Company decreased the prior year balance by $6,000 due to both lapses in statute and change of methodology.
	The Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the United States, the tax years from 1994 remain open to examination by federal and most state tax authorities due to certain net operating loss and credit carryforward positions. In the foreign jurisdictions, the number of tax years open to examination by local tax authorities ranges from three to six years.

Warranty_Reserves

Warranty Reserves	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Warranty Reserves [Abstract]	'
Product Warranty Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	11. Warranty Reserves
	When evaluating the reserve for warranty costs, management takes into consideration the term of the warranty coverage, the quantity of product in the field that is currently under warranty, historical return rates, and historical costs of repair. In addition, certain other applicable factors, such as technical complexity, may also be taken into consideration when historical information is not yet available for recently introduced products. Estimated reserves for warranty costs are generally provided for when the associated revenue is recognized. In addition, additional warranty reserves may be established when the Company becomes aware of a specific warranty related problem, such as a product recall. Such additional warranty reserves are based on the Company's current estimate of the total out-of-pocket costs expected to be incurred to resolve the problem, including, but not limited to, costs to replace or repair the defective items and shipping costs. The reserve for warranty costs was $561,000 as of December 31, 2013 and $519,000 as of December 31, 2012. Of these amounts, $515,000 and $419,000 were included in Accrued Liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, while the remaining $46,000 and $100,000 were included in Other Long-Term Liabilities as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

Related_Parties

Related Parties	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]	'
Related Parties	'
	12. Related Parties
	In June 2000, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with Enel pursuant to which Enel purchased 3.0 million newly issued shares of its common stock for $130.7 million. The closing of this stock purchase occurred on September 11, 2000. At the closing, Enel had agreed that it would not, except under limited circumstances, sell or otherwise transfer any of those shares for a specified time period. That time period expired September 11, 2003. To the Company’s knowledge, Enel has disposed none of its 3.0 million shares. Under the terms of the stock purchase agreement, Enel has the right to nominate one member of the Company’s board of directors. A representative of Enel served on the board until March 14, 2012; no Enel representative is presently on the board.
	At the time the company entered into the stock purchase agreement with Enel, it also entered into a research and development agreement with an affiliate of Enel (the “R&D Agreement”). Under the terms of the R&D Agreement, the company cooperated with Enel to integrate its LONWORKS technology into Enel’s remote metering management project in Italy, the Contatore Elettronico. The company completed the sale of its components and products for the deployment phase of the Contatore Elettronico project during 2005. During 2006, the company supplied Enel and its designated manufacturers with limited spare parts for the Contatore Elettronico system. In October 2006, the company entered into a new development and supply agreement and a software enhancement agreement with Enel. Under the development and supply agreement, Enel and its contract manufacturers purchase additional electronic components and finished goods from the company. Under the software enhancement agreement, the company provides software enhancements to Enel for use in its Contatore Elettronico system. The software enhancement agreement expired in December 2012 and the development and supply agreement expires in December 2015, although delivery of products and services can extend beyond those dates and the agreements may be extended under certain circumstances.
	For the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company recognized revenue from products and services sold to Enel and its designated manufacturers of approximately $11.8 million and $6.5 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, $1.6 million of the Company’s total accounts receivable balance related to amounts owed by Enel and its designated manufacturers.

Restructuring

Restructuring	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	13. Restructuring
	In May 2012, the Company undertook cost cutting measures by initiating a headcount reduction of 42 full-time employees worldwide, to be terminated between May 2012 and December 2013. In connection with this restructuring plan, in 2012, the Company recorded restructuring charges of approximately $1.2 million related to termination benefits for these personnel.
	The following table sets forth a summary of restructuring activities related to the Company’s May 2012 restructuring program in 2013 (in thousands):
		December 31, 2012			Costs Incurred			Cash Payments		31-Dec-13
	Termination benefits	$	149		$	—		$	100	$	49
	The following table sets forth a summary of restructuring activities related to the Company’s May 2012 restructuring program in 2012 (in thousands):
		December 31, 2011			Costs Incurred			Cash Payments		31-Dec-12
	Termination benefits	$	—		$	1,176		$	1,027	$	149
	On February 12, 2013, the Company undertook further restructuring actions affecting approximately 43 employees to be terminated between February 2013 and December 31, 2013, as part of an overall plan to reshape the Company for the future. In connection with this restructuring, the Company recorded restructuring charges of approximately $2.5 million related to termination benefits for these personnel during the year ended December 31, 2013.
	The following table sets forth a summary of restructuring activities related to the Company's February 2013 restructuring program (in thousands):
		December 31, 2012		Costs Incurred			Cash Payments		31-Dec-13
	Termination benefits	—		2,522			2,522		—
	Accrued restructuring charges as of December 31, 2013 comprise the remaining liability balance from the May 2012 restructurings and are reflected in accrued liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2013. The Company expects to pay these accrued termination benefits through 2014.

Valuation_and_Qualifying_accou

Valuation and Qualifying accounts	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	14. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (in thousands)
		Balance at		Charged/		Write-Off of		Balance at
		Beginning		(Credited) to Revenues and Expenses		Previously		End of
		of Period				Provided		Period
						Accounts
	Year Ended December 31, 2013:
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	$	430	$	55	$	132	$	353
	Allowance for Customer Returns and Sales Credits	$	429	$	5,375	$	5,274	$	530
	Year Ended December 31, 2012:
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	$	390	$	48	$	8	$	430
	Allowance for Customer Returns and Sales Credits	$	1,411	$	4,265	$	5,247	$	429
	Year Ended December 31, 2011:
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	$	361	$	30	$	1	$	390
	Allowance for Customer Returns and Sales Credits	$	584	$	6,750	$	5,923	$	1,411
	14. Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (in thousands)
		Balance at		Charged/		Write-Off of		Balance at
		Beginning		(Credited) to Revenues and Expenses		Previously		End of
		of Period				Provided		Period
						Accounts
	Year Ended December 31, 2013:
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	$	430	$	55	$	132	$	353
	Allowance for Customer Returns and Sales Credits	$	429	$	5,375	$	5,274	$	530
	Year Ended December 31, 2012:
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	$	390	$	48	$	8	$	430
	Allowance for Customer Returns and Sales Credits	$	1,411	$	4,265	$	5,247	$	429
	Year Ended December 31, 2011:
	Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	$	361	$	30	$	1	$	390
	Allowance for Customer Returns and Sales Credits	$	584	$	6,750	$	5,923	$	1,411

Segment_Disclosure

Segment Disclosure	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Disclosure	'
	15.     Segment Disclosure
	ASC Topic 280, Segment Reporting, establishes standards for reporting information about operating segments, products and services, geographic areas of operations and major customers. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing business performance. The Company’s chief operating decision-making group is the Executive Staff, which is comprised of the Chief Executive Officer and his direct reports (CODM).
	Prior to the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company previously operated as one operating segment. Effective in the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company changed the way it managed the business to focus the business on two operating segments based on homogeneity of products and technology- Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Grid Modernization (Grid). As a result of the change, product families and services were organized and evaluated within the above mentioned operating segments.
	The Company’s IIoT segment represents Horizontal Embedded Control Platforms, such as LONWORKS and IzoT, which include components, control nodes. and development software, and which are sold typically to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to build into their industrial application solutions It allows a single device to be brought to market as a LONWORKS®, BACnet®, or other protocol-supporting device; and it can be used with any underlying wired or wireless communications link, such as Ethernet, RS-485, Wi-Fi, 15.4, or Echelon’s free topology (FT) standard. The IzoT platform provides a smooth migration path for legacy devices to the IIoT. The product portfolio includes Smart Transceivers, SmartServer Controllers, LNS and OpenLNS Operating Systems, Outdoor Lighting Controllers, SmartServer Segment Controllers and PL/RF Bridges.
	The Company’s Grid segment primarily offers vertical solutions and platform components that connect homes to the grid and allow utilities to accurately collect billing data and vital health statistics with a high degree of field-proven reliability. In addition to usage data required for billing the consumer, this segment's products collect a large number of power quality metrics at the smart meter and from other devices such as distribution transformers. This data can be used in applications such as transformer monitoring, theft detection, and fault detection to guide preventive maintenance and to reduce energy loss. The product portfolio includes Smart Meters, Distributed Control Nodes (DCNs) or Data Concentrators, NES System Software, Element Manager and Control Point Modules.
	The Company operates in three main geographic areas: the Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”); and Asia Pacific / Japan (“APJ”). Each geographic area provides products and services to the Company’s customers located in the respective region. The Company’s long-lived assets include property and equipment, goodwill, purchased technology, and deposits on its leased facilities. Long-lived assets are attributed to geographic areas based on the country where the assets are located. As of December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, long-lived assets of approximately $24.6 million and $27.7 million, respectively, were domiciled in the United States. Long-lived assets for all other locations are not material to the consolidated financial statements. Although management reviews asset information on a corporate level and allocates depreciation expense by segment, the CODM does not review asset information on a segment basis.
	The CODM allocates resources and assesses performance of operating segments based on a non-GAAP measure of segment contribution margin comprising revenue, direct costs and operating expenses, such as standard cost of goods sold, research and development, and sales and marketing expenses; indirect costs, such as manufacturing overhead and other cost of revenues allocated based on factors including headcount, usage, and revenue, as well as the benefit from allocation of loss to non-controlling interest (this impact is solely noted in the Grid segment). The CODM does not allocate to the Company's business segments certain operating expenses managed separately at the corporate level. Corporate unallocated expenses include general and administrative costs, stock-based compensation expenses, restructuring charges and other one-time, non-routine charges. Operating segments do not generate inter-segment revenue. We do not allocate gains and losses from interest and other income, or taxes to operating segments. The accounting policies for each segment are the same as those disclosed by the Company for its consolidated financial statements.
	The change from one operating segment to two operating segments was a fundamental reorganization of the entity in 2013 making it impracticable for the Company to restate the segment information for the earlier periods of 2012 and 2011, except as relates to the segment revenue information which is presented. Prior to the reorganization, the Company’s organizational structure was set up to report and track information for a single reporting unit, the Company as a whole. The reorganization into the two operating segments resulted in, among other things, a complex movement affecting a majority of the Company's employees, a significant modification to the Company's departmental organization structure, and a completely new way of presenting and reviewing operating performance for the new organizations. Prior to the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company was not structured nor was it managed in a “product line” manner. Therefore, management believes that restatement of prior year information for these segments, except as it relates to segment revenues, is impracticable.
	In accordance with the disclosure requirements of ASC280-10-50-35, the Company has disclosed the segment information for 2013 (the year in which the change has occurred) under the old basis and new basis of segmentation. Since the Company only had one operating segment previously, please refer to the consolidated statement of operations for information under the old basis of segmentation as relates to all information except revenues.
	The following table summarizes financial information for each segment used by the CODM for the year ended December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
		Grid			IIoT		Shared/ Corporate			Stock Compensation expenses			Adjustments to reconcile to GAAP reported amounts			Total
	Revenues	$	40,303		$	45,857	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	86,160
	Segment gross profit 1	13,891			29,506		—			(240		)				43,157
	Segment contribution	(5,446		)	12,272		(13,676		)	(2,538		)	—			(9,388		)
	Corporate unallocated expenses
	Restructuring charges	—			—								(2,522		)	(2,522		)
	Litigation charges	—			—								(3,452		)	(3,452		)
	Interest and other income (expense), net												(702		)	(702		)
	Interest expense on lease financing obligations												(1,235		)	(1,235		)
	Income tax expense												$	311		$	311
	Net loss attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders															$	(17,610	)
	1 Represents unallocated share based compensation expenses considered in GAAP results as part of cost of revenues, but excluded from segment gross profit calculation as presented to the CODM. This amount has been presented to reconcile the segment gross profit to total gross profit presented in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	For the year ended December 31, 2013, depreciation expense for the Grid and IIoT segments was $1.7 million and $735,000, respectively and unallocated depreciation was $1.5 million.
	The following table summarizes revenues for each segment described above for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012		2011
	Grid	$	40,303		$	85,241	$	99,428
	IIoT	45,857			48,776		57,059
	Total	$	86,160		$	134,017	$	156,487
	In North America, the Company sells its products primarily through a direct sales organization and select third-party electronics representatives. Outside North America, the Company sells its products through direct sales organizations in EMEA and APJ, value-added resellers, and local distributors. Revenues are attributed to geographic areas based on the country where the products are shipped to or the services are delivered. Summary revenue information by geography for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012		2011
	Americas
	United States	$	16,694		$	32,981	$	58,182
	Other Americas	1,677			2,485		2,524
	Total Americas	18,371			35,466		60,706
	EMEA
	Finland	10,092			38,958		23,633
	Germany	14,167			13,097		18,455
	Denmark	1,896			10,939		17,959
	Other EMEA	28,140			21,195		20,201
	Total EMEA	54,295			84,189		80,248
	APJ	13,494			14,362		15,533
	Total	$	86,160		$	134,017	$	156,487
	For information regarding the Company’s major customers, please refer to Note 7, Significant Customers.

Joint_Venture

Joint Venture	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Less Than Wholly Owned Subsidiary [Abstract]	'
Joint Venture	'
	16. Joint Venture
	On March 23, 2012, the Company entered into an agreement with Holley Metering Limited (“Holley Metering”), a designer and manufacturer of energy meters in China, to create a joint venture, Zhejiang Echelon-Holley Technology Co., Ltd. (“Echelon-Holley”). The joint venture is focusing on the development and sales of smart energy products for China and rest-of-world markets. The Company has a 51% ownership interest in the joint venture and exercises controlling influence. Therefore, Echelon-Holley’s accounts are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2013 and 2012, and for the years then ended. Holley Metering’s interests in Echelon-Holley’s net assets are reported in the noncontrolling interest in subsidiary on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2013 and 2012. Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest in Echelon-Holley was $808,000 and $363,000 during years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.
	As of December 31, 2013, Echelon and Holley Metering had contributed in cash a total of approximately $4,000,000 in Share Capital, as defined, to Echelon-Holley in proportion to their respective ownership interests.

Summary_of_Significant_Account1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Organization, Consolidation, Basis of Presentation, Business Description and Accounting Policies [Text Block]	'
	Basis of Presentation
	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and a subsidiary in which it has a controlling interest (collectively referred to as the “Company”). The Company reports noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities as a component of equity separate from the Company’s equity. All material inter-company transactions between and among the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and other consolidated entities have been eliminated in consolidation.
Risks and uncertainties [Policy Text Block]	'
	Risks and Uncertainties
	The Company’s operations and performance depend significantly on worldwide economic conditions and their impact on purchases of the Company’s products, as well as the ability of suppliers to provide the Company with products and services in a timely manner. The impact of any of the matters described below could have an adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
	•	Approximately 50.3% of net revenues for the year ended December 31, 2013 were derived from five customers. Customers in any of the Company’s target market sectors may experience unexpected reductions in demand for their products and consequently reduce their purchases from the Company, resulting in either the loss of a significant customer or a notable decrease in the level of sales to a significant customer.  In addition, if any of these customers are unable to obtain the necessary capital to operate their business, they may be unable to satisfy their payment obligations to the Company.
	•	The Company utilizes third-party contract electronic manufacturers to manufacture, assemble, and test its products.   As a result of current credit market conditions, if any of these third-parties were unable to obtain the necessary capital to operate their business, they may be unable to provide the Company with timely services or to make timely deliveries of products.
	•	Due to the continuing worldwide economic situation, coupled with the fact that the Company’s Grid customers generally procure products that have been customized to meet their requirements, the Company has limited visibility into ultimate product demand, which makes sales forecasting more difficult. As a result, anticipated demand may not materialize, which could subject the Company to increased levels of excess and obsolete inventories.
	•	From time to time, the Company has experienced shortages or interruptions in supply for certain products or components used in the manufacture of the Company’s products that have been or will be discontinued. In order to ensure an adequate supply of these items, the Company has occasionally purchased quantities of these items that are in excess of the Company’s then current estimate of short-term requirements. For example, to ensure supply, the Company procured a substantial quantity of a certain component used in one of its Grid products. If the long-term requirements do not materialize as originally expected, or if the Company develops alternative solutions that no longer employ these items and the Company is not able to dispose of these excess products or components, the Company could be subject to increased levels of excess and obsolete inventories.
Use of Estimates, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make judgments, assumptions, and estimates that affect amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates and judgments are used for revenue recognition, performance-based equity compensation, inventory valuation, allowance for warranty costs, and other loss contingencies. In order to determine the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources, the Company bases its estimates and assumptions on current facts, historical experience, and various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results experienced by the Company may differ materially from management’s estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Recently Issued Accounting Standards
	In March 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830): Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity. This ASU addresses the accounting for the cumulative translation adjustment when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business within a foreign entity. This ASU will be effective in 2014 for the Company. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance, but does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
	In July 2013, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This ASU requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss (NOL) carryforward, or similar tax loss or tax credit carryforward, rather than as a liability when (1) the uncertain tax position would reduce the NOL or other carryforward under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction and (2) the entity intends to use the deferred tax asset for that purpose. The ASU does not require new recurring disclosures. This ASU will be effective in 2014 for the Company. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance, but does not expect it to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
Revenue Recognition, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Revenue Recognition
	The Company’s revenues are derived from the sale and license of its products and to a lesser extent, from fees associated with training, technical support, and custom software design services offered to its customers. Product revenues consist of revenues from hardware sales and software licensing arrangements. Service revenues consist of product technical support (including software post-contract support services), training, and custom software development services.
	The Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, delivery to the customer’s carrier (and acceptance, as applicable) has occurred, the sales price is fixed or determinable, collectability is probable, and there are no post-delivery obligations. For non-distributor hardware sales, including sales to third party manufacturers, these criteria are generally met at the time of delivery to the customer’s carrier. However, for arrangements that contain contractual acceptance provisions, revenue recognition may be delayed until acceptance by the customer or the acceptance provisions lapse unless the Company can objectively demonstrate that the contractual acceptance criteria have been satisfied, which is generally accomplished by establishing a history of acceptance for the same or similar products.  For sales made to the Company’s distributor partners, revenue recognition criteria are generally met at the time the distributor sells the products through to its end-use customer. Service revenue is recognized as the training services are performed, or ratably over the term of the support period.
	The Company accounts for the rights of return, price protection, rebates, and other sales incentives offered to distributors of its products as a reduction in revenue. With the exception of sales to distributors, the Company’s customers are generally not entitled to return products for a refund. For sales to distributors, due to contractual rights of return and other factors that impact its ability to make a reasonable estimate of future returns and other sales incentives, revenues are not recognized until the distributor has shipped its products to the end customer.
	The Company’s multiple deliverable revenue arrangements are primarily related to sales of its Grid products, which may include, within a single arrangement, electricity meters, data concentrators and related hardware (collectively, the “Hardware”); NES system software; Element Manager software; post-contract customer support (“PCS”) for the NES system and Element Manager software; extended warranties for the Hardware; and, occasionally, specified enhancements or upgrades to software used in the NES system. With the exception of the NES system software, each of these deliverables is considered a separate unit of accounting. The NES system software functions together with an electricity meter to deliver its essential functionality and any related software license fee is charged for on a per meter basis. Therefore, the NES system software and an electricity meter are combined and considered a single unit of accounting. The Element Manager software is not considered to be part of an electricity meter’s essential functionality and, therefore, Element Manager software and any related PCS continues to be accounted for under industry specific software revenue recognition guidance. However, all other NES system deliverables are no longer within the scope of industry specific software revenue recognition guidance.
	The Company allocates revenue to each element in a multiple-element arrangement based upon their relative selling price. The Company determines the selling price for each deliverable using vendor specific objective evidence (“VSOE”) of selling price or third party evidence (“TPE”) of selling price, if it exists. If neither VSOE nor TPE of selling price exists for a deliverable, the Company uses its best estimated selling price (“BESP”) for that deliverable. Since the use of the residual method is eliminated under the accounting standards, any discounts offered by the Company are allocated to each of the deliverables. Revenue allocated to each element is then recognized when the basic revenue recognition criteria is met for the respective element.
	Consistent with its methodology under previous accounting guidance, if available, the Company determines VSOE of fair value for each element based on historical stand-alone sales to third parties or from the stated renewal rate for the elements contained in the initial contractual arrangement. The Company currently estimates selling prices for its PCS and extended warranties based on VSOE of fair value.
	In many instances, the Company is not currently able to obtain VSOE of fair value for all deliverables in an arrangement with multiple elements. This may be due to the Company infrequently selling each element separately or not pricing products within a narrow range. When VSOE cannot be established, the Company attempts to estimate the selling price of each element based on TPE. TPE would consist of competitor prices for similar deliverables when sold separately. Generally, the Company’s offerings contain significant differentiation such that the comparable pricing of products with similar functionality cannot be obtained. Furthermore, the Company is unable to reliably determine the stand-alone selling prices for similar products of its competitors. Therefore, the Company is typically not able to obtain TPE of selling price.
	When the Company is unable to establish a selling price using VSOE or TPE, which is generally the case for the Hardware and certain specified enhancements or upgrades to the Company’s NES software, the Company uses its BESP in determining the allocation of arrangement consideration. The objective of BESP is to determine the price at which the Company would transact a sale if the product or service were sold on a stand-alone basis. BESP is generally used for offerings that are not typically sold on a stand-alone basis or for new or highly customized offerings.
	The Company establishes pricing for its products and services by considering multiple factors including, but not limited to, geographies, market conditions, competitive landscape, internal costs, gross margin objectives, and industry pricing practices. The determination of pricing also includes consultation with and formal approval by the Company’s management, taking into consideration the Company’s go-to-market strategy. These pricing practices apply to both the Company’s Hardware and software products.
	Based on an analysis of pricing stated in contractual arrangements for its Hardware products in historical multiple-element transactions and, to a lesser extent, historical standalone transactions, the Company has concluded that it typically prices its Hardware within a narrow range of discounts when compared to the price listed on the Company’s standard pricing grid for similar deliverables (i.e., similar configuration, volume, geography, etc.). Therefore, the Company has determined that, for its current Hardware for which VSOE or TPE is not available, the Company’s BESP is generally comprised of prices based on a narrow range of discounts from pricing stated in its pricing grid.
	When establishing BESP for the Company’s specified software enhancements or upgrades, the Company considers multiple factors including, but not limited to, the relative value of the features and functionality being delivered by the enhancement or upgrade as compared to the value of the software product to which the enhancement or upgrade relates, as well as the Company’s pricing practices for NES system software PCS packages, which may include rights to the specified enhancements or upgrades.
	The Company regularly reviews VSOE and has established a review process for TPE and BESP. The Company maintains internal controls over the establishment and updates of these estimates. There were no material impacts during the year ended December 31, 2013, resulting from changes in VSOE, TPE, or BESP, nor does the Company expect a material impact from such changes in the near term.
Deferred Revenue and Deferred Cost of Goods Sold [Policy Text Block]	'
	Deferred Revenue and Deferred Cost of Goods Sold
	Deferred revenue consists substantially of amounts billed or payments received in advance of revenue recognition. Deferred cost of goods sold related to deferred product revenues includes direct product costs and applied overhead. Once all revenue recognition criteria have been met, the deferred revenues and associated cost of goods sold are recognized.
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block]	'
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company accounts for employee stock-based payment transactions in which the Company receives employee services in exchange for equity instruments of the enterprise. Stock-based compensation cost for restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted to employees is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. Stock-based compensation cost for RSUs granted to non-employee consultants is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company's common stock at the earlier of the date at which a commitment for performance by the consultant to earn the RSUs is reached, or the date at which the consultant's performance necessary for the RSUs to vest has been completed. Stock-based compensation cost for stock options and stock appreciation rights granted to employees (“SARs”) is estimated at the grant date based on each award's fair-value as calculated using the Black-Scholes-Merton (“BSM”) option-pricing model. The Company recognizes stock-based compensation cost as expense using the accelerated multiple-option approach over the requisite service period. Further information regarding stock-based compensation can be found in Note 6 of these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Cash and Cash Equivalents
	The Company considers bank deposits, money market investments and all debt and equity securities with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.
Investment, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Short-Term Investments
	The Company classifies its investments in marketable debt securities as available-for-sale. Securities classified as available-for-sale are reported at fair value with the related unrealized holding gains and losses, net of tax, being included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Fair Value Measurements
	The Company measures at fair value its cash equivalents and available-for-sale investments using a valuation hierarchy based on whether the inputs to those valuation techniques are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company's own assumptions. These two types of inputs have created the following fair value hierarchy:
	•	Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;
	•	Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and
	•	Level 3 - Valuations derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or significant value drivers are unobservable.
	This hierarchy requires the Company to minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to use observable market data, if available, when estimating fair value. Other than cash and money market funds, the Company's only financial assets or liabilities required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2013, are fixed income available-for-sale securities. See Note 2 of these Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a summary of the input levels used in determining the fair value of the Company's cash equivalents and short-term investments as of December 31, 2013.
Inventory, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Inventories
	Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first‑in, first‑out) or market and include material, labor and manufacturing overhead. When required, provisions are made to reduce excess and obsolete inventories to their estimated net realizable value. Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Purchased materials	$	1,343		$	2,081
	Finished goods	5,102			9,648
		$	6,445		$	11,729
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Including Goodwill
	The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability is measured by comparing the asset's carrying value to the future undiscounted cash flows the asset is expected to generate. If long-lived assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized equals the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its fair value. For the three years ended December 31, 2013, the Company recognized no impairments.
	Costs in excess of the fair value of tangible and other identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a purchase business combination are recorded as goodwill, which is tested for impairment using a two-step approach. The Company evaluates goodwill, at a minimum, on an annual basis during the first quarter and whenever events and changes in circumstances suggest that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Impairment of goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level by comparing the reporting unit's carrying amount, including goodwill, to the fair value of the reporting unit. The fair values of the reporting units are estimated using a combination of the income approach and the market approach. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, goodwill is considered impaired and a second step is performed to measure the amount of impairment loss, if any. To date, the Company has recorded no impairment of goodwill.
Software to be Sold, Leased, or Otherwise Marketed, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Software Development Costs
	For software to be sold, leased, or otherwise marketed, the Company capitalizes eligible computer software development costs upon the establishment of technological feasibility, which the Company has defined as completion of a working model. For the three years ended December 31, 2013, costs that were eligible for capitalization were insignificant and, thus, the Company has charged all software development costs to product development expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block]	'
	Accrued Liabilities
	Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,			December 31,
		2013			2012
	Accrued payroll and related costs	$	3,885		$	3,237
	Warranty reserve	515			419
	Restructuring charges	49			149
	Customer deposits	643			106
	Accrued taxes	75			117
	Litigation charges	1,875			—
	Other accrued liabilities	353			609
		$	7,395		$	4,637
Foreign Currency Transactions and Translations Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Foreign Currency Translation
	The functional currency of the Company's subsidiaries is the local currency. Accordingly, all assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate as of the applicable balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate prevailing during the period. Gains and losses resulting from the translation of the financial statements are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
	Remeasurement adjustments for non-functional currency monetary assets and liabilities, including short-term intercompany balances, are included in other income (expense) in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Currently, the Company does not employ a foreign currency hedge program utilizing foreign currency exchange contracts as the foreign currency transactions and risks to date have not been significant.
Concentration Risk, Credit Risk, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Concentrations of Credit Risk and Suppliers
	The Company's financial instruments consist of cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and lease financing obligations. The carrying value of the Company's financial instruments approximates fair value. Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of investments, which are classified as either cash equivalents or short-term investments, and trade receivables. With respect to its investments, the Company has an investment policy that limits the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution and restricts placement of the Company's investments to financial institutions independently evaluated as highly creditworthy. With respect to its trade receivables, the Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of each of its customers' financial condition. For a customer whose credit worthiness does not meet the Company's minimum criteria, the Company may require partial or full payment prior to shipment. Alternatively, prior to shipment, customers may be required to provide the Company with an irrevocable letter of credit or arrange for some other form of coverage, such as a bank guarantee, to mitigate the risk of uncollectibility. Additionally, the Company establishes an allowance for doubtful accounts and sales return allowances based upon factors surrounding the credit risk of specific customers, historical trends, and other available information. With the exception of amounts owed to the Company on sales made to certain significant customers, concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are generally limited due to the Company's large number of customers and their dispersion across many different industries and geographies. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the percentage of the Company's total accounts receivable balance that were due from the following significant customers is as follows (refer to Note 7 “Significant Customers” for a discussion of revenues generated from the Company's significant customers):
		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Telvent Energia y Medioambiente SA	15.30%		46.10%
	Enel Distribuzione Spa	14.30%		9.40%
	Eltel Networks A/S	10.10%		1.30%
	EBV Electronik GmbH / Avnet Europe Comm VA	8.60%		9.20%
	Duke Energy Corporation	7.50%		—%
	Total	55.80%		66.00%
	For most of the Company's products requiring assembly, it relies on a limited number of contract electronic manufacturers, principally Jabil and TRP.  The Company also maintains manufacturing agreements with a limited number of semiconductor manufacturers for the production of key products, including those used in the Company's Grid products.
	The Neuron Chip is an important component that the Company and its customers use in control network devices. In addition to those sold by the Company, the Neuron Chip is currently manufactured and distributed only by Cypress Semiconductor. The Company's agreement with Cypress Semiconductor is currently valid until the second quarter of 2014.
	Another semiconductor supplier, STMicroelectronics, manufactures the Company's power line smart transceiver products, for which the Company has no alternative source.  In addition, the Company currently purchases several key products and components from sole or limited source suppliers with which it does not maintain signed agreements that would obligate them to supply to the Company on negotiated terms.
	If any of the Company's key suppliers were to stop manufacturing the Company's products or cease supplying the Company with its key components, it could be expensive and time consuming to find a replacement.  Also, as the Company's Grid business grows, it will be required to expand its business with its key suppliers or find additional sources of supply.  There is no guarantee that the Company would be able to find acceptable alternatives or additional sources.
	The failure of any key manufacturer to produce a sufficient number of products on time, at agreed quality levels, and fully compliant with the Company's product, assembly and test specifications could adversely affect the Company's revenues and gross profit, and could result in claims against the Company by its customers, which could harm the Company's results of operations and financial position.
Earnings Per Share, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Computation of Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share
	Basic net loss per share is calculated by dividing net loss attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders by the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted net loss per share attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of outstanding shares assuming conversion of all potentially dilutive stock options and warrants under the treasury stock method.
	The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted net loss per share computations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012			2011
	Net loss (Numerator):
	Net loss, basic & diluted	$	(17,610	)	$	(12,818	)	$	(13,000	)
	Shares (Denominator):
	Weighted average common shares outstanding	43,092			42,650			42,083
	Shares used in basic computation	43,092			42,650			42,083
	Common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options (treasury stock method)	—			—			—
	Shares used in diluted computation	43,092			42,650			42,083
	Net loss per share:
	Basic	$	(0.41	)	$	(0.30	)	$	(0.31	)
	Diluted	$	(0.41	)	$	(0.30	)	$	(0.31	)
	For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the diluted net loss per share calculation is equivalent to the basic net loss per share calculation as there were no potentially dilutive stock options or RSUs due to the Company’s net loss position. The number of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) excluded from this calculation for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was 5,472,946, 5,868,929 and 5,625,065, respectively.
Income Tax, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Income Taxes
	Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
	The Company takes a two-step approach to recognizing and measuring uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon effective settlement. The Company re-evaluates its income tax positions on a quarterly basis to consider factors such as changes in facts or circumstances, changes in or interpretations of tax law, effectively settled issues under audit, and new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or measurement would result in recognition of a tax benefit or an additional charge to the tax provision. Interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits are classified as income tax expense.
Comprehensive Income, Policy [Policy Text Block]	'
	Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Comprehensive income (loss) for the Company consists of net loss plus the effect of unrealized holding gains or losses on investments classified as available-for-sale and foreign currency translation adjustments.

Summary_of_Significant_Account2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Inventories (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Inventories [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventory, Current [Table Text Block]	'
	Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Purchased materials	$	1,343	$	2,081
	Finished goods	5,102		9,648
		$	6,445	$	11,729

Summary_of_Significant_Account3

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Accrued Liabilities (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accrued Liabilities [Table Text Block]	'
	Accrued liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):
		December 31,		December 31,
		2013		2012
	Accrued payroll and related costs	$	3,885	$	3,237
	Warranty reserve	515		419
	Restructuring charges	49		149
	Customer deposits	643		106
	Accrued taxes	75		117
	Litigation charges	1,875		—
	Other accrued liabilities	353		609
		$	7,395	$	4,637

Summary_of_Significant_Account4

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounts receivable balances (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Significant Accounts receivable balances [Abstract]	'
Significant Accounts Receivable [Table Text Block]	'
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the percentage of the Company's total accounts receivable balance that were due from the following significant customers is as follows (refer to Note 7 “Significant Customers” for a discussion of revenues generated from the Company's significant customers):
		December 31,
		2013	2012
	Telvent Energia y Medioambiente SA	15.30%	46.10%
	Enel Distribuzione Spa	14.30%	9.40%
	Eltel Networks A/S	10.10%	1.30%
	EBV Electronik GmbH / Avnet Europe Comm VA	8.60%	9.20%
	Duke Energy Corporation	7.50%	—%
	Total	55.80%	66.00%

Summary_of_Significant_Account5

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Computation of Basic and Diluted Net loss per share (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Computation of Basic and Diluted net loss Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block]	'
	The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted net loss per share computations for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands, except per share amounts):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012			2011
	Net loss (Numerator):
	Net loss, basic & diluted	$	(17,610	)	$	(12,818	)	$	(13,000	)
	Shares (Denominator):
	Weighted average common shares outstanding	43,092			42,650			42,083
	Shares used in basic computation	43,092			42,650			42,083
	Common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options (treasury stock method)	—			—			—
	Shares used in diluted computation	43,092			42,650			42,083
	Net loss per share:
	Basic	$	(0.41	)	$	(0.30	)	$	(0.31	)
	Diluted	$	(0.41	)	$	(0.30	)	$	(0.31	)
	For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the diluted net loss per share calculation is equivalent to the basic net loss per share calculation as there were no potentially dilutive stock options or RSUs due to the Company’s net loss position. The number of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock units (“RSUs”), and restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) excluded from this calculation for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 was 5,472,946, 5,868,929 and 5,625,065, respectively.

Financial_Instruments_Tables

Financial Instruments (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013									Dec. 31, 2012
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'									'
Fair value of asset measured on a recurring basis	'									'
	The fair value of the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was determined using the following inputs at December 31, 2013 (in thousands):									The fair value of the Company’s financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis was determined using the following inputs at December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using									Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
				Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs					Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets		Significant Other Observable Inputs		Significant Unobservable Inputs
		Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)			Total		(Level 1)		(Level 2)		(Level 3)
	Money market funds (1)	$	5,254	$	5,254	$	—	$	—	Money market funds (1)	$	5,243	$	5,243	$	—	$	—
	U.S. government securities(2)	42,987		—		42,987		—		U.S. government securities(2)	42,979		—		42,979		—
	Total	$	48,241	$	5,254	$	42,987	$	—	Total	$	48,222	$	5,243	$	42,979	$	—
										(1)    Included in cash and cash equivalents in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets
										(2)	Represents the portfolio of available for sale securities and is included in short-term investments in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets
Fair value of short term investment unrealized holdings and gains	'									'
	As of December 31, 2013, the Company’s available-for-sale securities had contractual maturities from four to twelve months and an average remaining term to maturity of eleven months. As of December 31, 2013, the amortized cost basis, aggregate fair value, and gross unrealized holding gains and losses of the Company’s short-term investments by major security type were as follows (in thousands):									The amortized cost basis, aggregate fair value and gross unrealized holding gains and losses for the Company’s available-for-sale short-term investments, by major security type, were as follows as of December 31, 2012 (in thousands):
		Amortized Cost		Aggregate Fair Value		Unrealized Holding Gains		Unrealized Holding Losses			Amortized Cost		Aggregate Fair Value		Unrealized Holding Gains		Unrealized Holding Losses
	U.S. government and agency securities	$	42,979	$	42,987	$	8	$	—	U.S. government securities	$	42,971	$	42,979	$	8	$	—

Property_and_equipment_Propert

Property and equipment Property and Equipment (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Property and Equipment [Abstract]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment [Table Text Block]	'
	A summary of property and equipment, net as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 is as follows (in thousands):
		December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	Buildings and improvements	$	37,356		$	37,356
	Computer and other equipment	22,138			21,763
	Software	3,627			4,159
	Furniture and fixtures	2,625			2,728
	Leasehold improvements	4,010			3,823
		69,756			69,829
	Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(51,086		)	(48,052		)
	Property and equipment, net	$	18,670		$	21,777

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv1

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block]	'
		Foreign currency translation adjustment		Unrealized gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
		(Amount in thousands)		(Amount in thousands)		(Amount in thousands)
	Beginning balance at December 31, 2011	$	242	$	2	$	244
	Change during the year	259		6		265
	Ending balance at December 31, 2012	$	501	$	8	$	509
	Change during the year	506		—		506
	Ending balance at December 31, 2013	$	1,007	$	8	$	1,015

Stockholders_Equity_and_Employ1

Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans Stock Award Activity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Award Activity [Abstract]	'
Schedule Of Share Based Compensation Stock Options, RSU and SARS Activity [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes stock award activity under all plans for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011:
				Options Outstanding
		Shares Available for Grant		Number Outstanding		Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2010	11,420,522		4,275,648		$	8.55
	Options and stock appreciation rights granted	(313,750	)	313,750		8.26
	RSUs granted	(1,381,070	)	—		—
	Options and stock appreciation rights cancelled	981,365		(981,365	)	8.64
	RSUs cancelled	480,571		—		—
	Options exercised	—		(504,561	)	7.15
	Unissued shares returned to plan	190,406		—		—
	1998 Directors Plan shares expired	(10,000	)	—		—
	Additional shares reserved	1,679,692		—		—
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2011	13,047,736		3,103,472		$	8.71
	Options granted	(1,883,388	)	1,883,388		3.21
	RSUs granted	(700,987	)	—		—
	Options and stock appreciation rights cancelled	1,047,545		(1,047,545	)	8.73
	RSUs cancelled	315,817		—		—
	Options exercised	—		—		—
	Unissued shares returned to plan	—		—		—
	1998 Directors Plan shares expired	(60,000	)	—		—
	Additional shares reserved	1,700,859		—		—
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2012	13,467,582		3,939,315		$	6.08
	Options granted	(1,785,728	)	1,785,728		2.34
	RSUs granted	(702,665	)	—		—
	Options and stock appreciation rights cancelled	1,545,194		(1,545,194	)	7.22
	RSUs cancelled	471,867		—		—
	Options exercised	—		—		—
	Unissued shares eliminated from plan	(15,542,434	)	—		—
	1998 Directors Plan shares expired	75,000		(75,000	)	—
	Additional shares reserved	7,122,039		—		—
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2013	4,650,855		4,104,849		$	4.13
	During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, no options or SARs were exercised. The total intrinsic value of options and SARS exercised in 2011 was approximately $1.2 million. The intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the market value on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the shares.

Stockholders_Equity_and_Employ2

Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans RSU and RSA activity (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
RSU and RSA activity [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units Activity [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table provides additional information regarding RSU and RSA activity for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011:
		Number Nonvested and Outstanding		Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair-Value
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2010	2,201,169		$	8.88
	RSUs and RSAs granted	1,381,070		8.74
	RSUs vested and released	(580,075	)	10.55
	RSUs cancelled	(480,571	)	8.96
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2011	2,521,593		$	8.4
	RSUs granted	700,987		3.25
	RSUs vested and released	(977,149	)	8.48
	RSUs cancelled	(315,817	)	7.8
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2012	1,929,614		$	6.56
	RSUs granted	419,056		2.34
	RSUs vested and released	(522,286	)	6.99
	RSUs cancelled	(458,287	)	6.19
	BALANCE AT DECEMBER 31, 2013	1,368,097		$	5.22
	The fair value of each RSU and RSA granted to employees was estimated on the date of grant by multiplying the number of shares granted times the fair market value of the Company's stock on the grant date.
	The total intrinsic value of RSUs and RSAs vested and released during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 was approximately $1.2 million, $3.7 million, and $5.1 million, respectively. The intrinsic value of vested and released RSUs and RSAs is calculated by multiplying the fair market value of the Company's stock on the vesting date by the number of shares vested. As of December 31, 2013, the number of RSUs and RSAs outstanding and expected to vest was 1,292,436, with a total intrinsic value of $2.8 million. The intrinsic value of the outstanding and expected to vest RSUs and RSAs is calculated based on the market value of the Company's closing stock price of $2.15 as of December 31, 2013, the last market trading day of 2013.

Stockholders_Equity_and_Employ3

Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans Exercise Price ranges and related information for options and SARS (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Exercise Price ranges and related information for options and SARS [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, by Exercise Price Range [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table provides additional information for significant ranges of outstanding and exercisable stock options and SARs as of December 31, 2013:
	Exercise	Number	Weighted	Weighted
	Price Range	Outstanding	Average	Average		Aggregate Intrinsic Value
			Remaining	Exercise
			Contractual Life	Price per Share
			(in years)
	2.11-2.29	419,600	9.68	$	2.19	$	4,640
	2.37	1,183,829	9.44	2.37		—
	2.51-2.57	92,500	9.3	2.55		—
	3.17	1,217,567	8.37	3.17		—
	3.40-7.46	513,725	4.23	6.02		—
	7.47-8.20	431,978	0.47	7.55		—
	9.08-10.62	123,900	2.36	9.99		—
	12.11	40,000	0.69	12.11		—
	12.82	75,000	0.86	12.82		—
	13.85	6,750	0.78	13.85		—
	Outstanding	4,104,849	7.08	$	4.13	$	4,640
	Vested and expected to vest	3,918,854	7.06	$	4.2	$	4,212
	Exercisable	1,348,270	3.64	$	6.6	$	—

Stock_Based_Compensation_Table

Stock Based Compensation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Stock Based Compensation [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Share-based Payment Award, Stock Options, Valuation Assumptions [Table Text Block]	'
	The weighted average fair value of options and SARs granted during the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011, was $1.39, $1.85, and $4.05, respectively, and was determined using the following weighted average assumptions:
		Year ended 31 December
		2013		2012		2011
	Expected dividend yield	—%		—%		—%
	Risk-free interest rate	1.60%		0.90%		1.20%
	Expected volatility	64.80%		63.90%		64.20%
	Expected term (in years)	6.16		6.1		4.1
Share based Compensation by arrangement, details of performance based awards [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table contains pertinent information regarding these outstanding awards as of December 31, 2013 (in thousands except for number of awards granted):
	Grant Date		# of Awards Granted		Fair Value on Grant Date			Cumulative Expense Recognized			Unearned Compensation Expense		Latest Date Performance Condition Could be Met
	Aug-10		125,000		$	929		$	—		$	929	Apr-15
	May-11		20,000		212			—			212		Apr-15
	Nov-11		50,000		277			—			277		Apr-15
	Total		195,000		$	1,418		$	—		$	1,418
	Through June 30, 2012, cumulative compensation expense of $375,000 associated with these 195,000 unvested RSUs and RSAs had been recognized. From the date of grant through June 30, 2012, the Company had believed it was probable that the associated performance requirements would be achieved and therefore recognized expense on these awards. During the third quarter of 2012, the Company believed that the performance condition was no longer probable of achievement, however the Company had also not yet determined that the performance condition was improbable of achievement. Hence, expense recognition was discontinued beginning in the third quarter of 2012. As of December 31, 2013, the Company determined that the performance condition is improbable of achievement and therefore the cumulative compensation expense of $375,000 associated with these awards has been reversed in the quarter ended December 31, 2013.
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs	'
Schedule of Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Table Text Block]	'
	As of December 31, 2013, total compensation cost related to non-vested stock options and other equity based awards not yet recognized was $4.8 million, which is expected to be recognized over the next 1.6 years on a weighted-average basis.
	The following table summarizes stock-based compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012, and 2011 and its allocation within the consolidated statements of operations (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December,
		2013				2012			2011
	Cost of product	$	193			$	567		$	864
	Cost of service	47				111			112
	Stock based compensation expense included in cost of revenues	240				678			976
	Product development	696				2,304			3,891
	Sales and marketing	635				1,896			2,251
	General and administrative	967				2,098			2,531
	Stock based compensation expense included in operating expenses	$	2,298			$	6,298		$	8,673
	Total stock based compensation expense related to stock options and share awards	$	2,538			$	6,976		$	9,649
	Tax benefit	$	—			$	—		$	—
	Stock-based compensation expense related to stock options and share awards, net of tax	$	2,538			$	6,976		$	9,649
	As of December 31, 2013, approximately $42,000 and $8,000 of stock-based compensation expense was capitalized as part of the cost of inventory and deferred cost of goods sold, respectively. As of December 31, 2012, approximately $38,000 and $3,000 of stock-based compensation expense was capitalized as part of the cost of inventory and deferred cost of goods sold, respectively.

Significant_Customers_Tables

Significant Customers (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Risks and Uncertainties [Abstract]	'
Revenues attributable to sales to major customers	'
	For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 the percentage of the Company’s revenues attributable to sales made to these customers was as follows:
		Segment	Year ended 31 December
			2013	2012	2011
	Telvent	Grid	14.30%	29.70%	15.70%
	EBV/Avnet	IIoT	14.20%	8.10%	9.50%
	Enel	IIoT	13.70%	4.80%	4.50%
	Duke	Grid	5.80%	13.70%	27.20%
	Eltel	Grid	2.30%	8.10%	11.50%
	Total		50.30%	64.40%	68.40%

Goodwill_Tables

Goodwill (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Goodwill [Table Text Block]	'
	The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, net, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 are as follows (in thousands):
		Total
	Balance as of December 31, 2011	$	8,235
	Unrealized foreign currency translation loss	41
	Balance as of December 31, 2012	$	8,276
	Unrealized foreign currency translation loss	114
	Balance as of December 31, 2013	$	8,390
	Effective in the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company changed the way it managed the business to focus the business on two operating segments based on homogeneity of products and technology- Grid and IIoT. As a result, the Company, with the assistance of an external service provider, reallocated goodwill of the Company to the Grid and IIoT operating segments using a relative fair value approach. Each operating segment's fair value was determined based on comparative market values and discounted cash flows. As of December 31, 2013, approximately $3.4 million and $5.0 million of the total goodwill balance was attributable to the Grid and IIoT operating segments, respectively.

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies Future minimum lease payments for financing obligations (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Leases [Abstract]	'
Capital leases of Lessee [Table Text Block]	'
	As of December 31, 2013, the future minimum lease payments for the lease financing obligations were as follows (in thousands):
	2014	$	3,328
	2015		3,410
	2016		3,493
	2017		3,615
	2018		3,746
	2019 and thereafter		4,532
	Total payments	$	22,124
	Amount representing interest		(3,964	)
	Present value of future minimum lease payments	$	18,160
	Lease financing obligations classified as current	$	2,240
	Lease financing obligations classified as long-term	$	15,920

Commitments_and_Contingencies_1

Commitments and Contingencies Future minimum lease payment for Operating Leases (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Leases [Abstract]	'
Operating Leases of Lessee Disclosure [Table Text Block]	'
	As of December 31, 2013, future minimum lease payments under all operating leases, including $4.8 million related to the land lease associated with the Company's corporate headquarters facilities (see Note 3), were as follows (in thousands):
	2014	$	1,355
	2015		956
	2016		907
	2017		907
	2018		822
	2019 and thereafter		905
	Total payments	$	5,852
	Rent expense for all operating leases was approximately $1.5 million for 2013, $1.7 million for 2012, and $1.9 million for 2011. Although certain of the operating lease agreements provide for escalating rent payments over the term of the lease, rent expense under these agreements is recognized on a straight-line basis. As of December 31, 2013, the Company has accrued approximately $215,000 of deferred rent related to these agreements, of which approximately $35,000 is reflected in current liabilities while the remainder is reflected in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2012, the Company has accrued approximately $251,000 of deferred rent related to these agreements, of which approximately $36,000 is reflected in current liabilities while the remainder is reflected in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Income_Taxes_Provision_for_inc

Income Taxes Provision for income taxes, Region (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]	'
	The provision for income taxes attributable to continuing operations is based upon income (loss) before income taxes from continuing operations as follows (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012			2011
	Domestic	$	(18,037	)	$	(13,614	)	$	(13,782	)
	Foreign	(70		)	652			1,111
		$	(18,107	)	$	(12,962	)	$	(12,671	)

Income_Taxes_Components_of_inc

Income Taxes Components of income tax expense/ (benefit) (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Components of Income Tax Expense/ (Benefit) [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]	'
	The provision for income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013		2012		2011
	Federal:
	Current	$	—	$	—	$	—
	Deferred	—		—		—
	Total federal provision	—		—		—
	State:
	Current	17		5		4
	Deferred	—		—		—
	Total state provision	17		5		4
	Foreign:
	Current	294		214		325
	Deferred	—		—		—
	Total foreign provision	294		214		325
	Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	311	$	219	$	329

Income_Taxes_Effective_rate_re

Income Taxes Effective rate reconcilation (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Effective Rate Reconciliation [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]	'
	The provision for income taxes differs from the amount estimated by applying the statutory Federal income tax rate to loss before taxes as follows (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012			2011
	Federal tax at statutory rate of 35%	$	(6,156	)	$	(4,537	)	$	(4,435	)
	State taxes, net of federal benefit	17			5			3
	U.S.-Foreign rate differential	342			87			(46		)
	Change in Valuation Allowance	6,969			4,530			4,825
	Research and Development credits	(1,241		)	—			—
	Others	380			134			(18		)
	Total income tax expense	$	311		$	219		$	329

Income_Taxes_Components_of_Def

Income Taxes Components of Deferred tax asset/ liability (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Components of deferred tax asset/ liability [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]	'
	As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, a valuation allowance has been recorded against 100% of gross deferred tax assets as a result of uncertainties regarding the realization of the asset balance. As of December 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company had no significant deferred tax liabilities. The components of the net deferred income tax asset are as follows (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012
	Net operating loss carry forwards	$	60,961		$	55,669
	Tax credit carry forwards	26,869			24,826
	Fixed and intangible assets	7,246			7,486
	Capitalized research and development costs	58			58
	Reserves and other cumulative temporary differences	19,380			20,910
	Gross deferred income tax assets	114,514			108,949
	Valuation allowance	(114,514		)	(108,949		)
	Net deferred income tax assets	$	—		$	—

Income_Taxes_Companys_uncertai

Income Taxes Company's uncertain tax positions (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Company's uncertain tax positions [Abstract]	'
Summary of Income Tax Contingencies [Table Text Block]	'
	The following is a rollforward of the Company's uncertain tax positions for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012
	Balance as of the beginning of the year	$	3,382		$	4,355
	Tax positions related to current year:
	Additions	31			80
	Reductions	—			—
	Tax positions related to prior years:
	Additions	—			—
	Reductions	(571		)	(405		)
	Settlements	—			—
	Lapses in statute of limitations	(704		)	(648		)
	Balance as of the end of the year	$	2,138		$	3,382
	Included in the balance of total unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2013 are potential benefits of $575,000, which if recognized, would affect the effective rate on income from continuing operations.
	On December 31, 2013, the Company had accrued interest and penalties related to the uncertain tax benefits of approximately $134,000. During 2013, the Company decreased the prior year balance by $6,000 due to both lapses in statute and change of methodology.

Restructuring_Tables

Restructuring (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

May 2012 Restructuring Plan [Member]

'

'

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

'

'

Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table Text Block]

'

'

The following table sets forth a summary of restructuring activities related to the Company’s May 2012 restructuring program in 2013 (in thousands):

The following table sets forth a summary of restructuring activities related to the Company’s May 2012 restructuring program in 2012 (in thousands):

December 31, 2012

Costs Incurred

Cash Payments

31-Dec-13

December 31, 2011

Costs Incurred

Cash Payments

31-Dec-12

Termination benefits

$

149

$

—

$

100

$

49

Termination benefits

$

—

$

1,176

$

1,027

$

149

February 2013 Restructuring Plan [Member]

'

'

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

'

'

Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs [Table Text Block]

'

'

The following table sets forth a summary of restructuring activities related to the Company's February 2013 restructuring program (in thousands):

December 31, 2012

Costs Incurred

Cash Payments

31-Dec-13

Termination benefits

—

2,522

2,522

—

Segment_Disclosure_Tables

Segment Disclosure (Tables)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment [Table Text Block]	'
	The following table summarizes financial information for each segment used by the CODM for the year ended December 31, 2013 (in thousands):
		Grid			IIoT		Shared/ Corporate			Stock Compensation expenses			Adjustments to reconcile to GAAP reported amounts			Total
	Revenues	$	40,303		$	45,857	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	86,160
	Segment gross profit 1	13,891			29,506		—			(240		)				43,157
	Segment contribution	(5,446		)	12,272		(13,676		)	(2,538		)	—			(9,388		)
	Corporate unallocated expenses
	Restructuring charges	—			—								(2,522		)	(2,522		)
	Litigation charges	—			—								(3,452		)	(3,452		)
	Interest and other income (expense), net												(702		)	(702		)
	Interest expense on lease financing obligations												(1,235		)	(1,235		)
	Income tax expense												$	311		$	311
	Net loss attributable to Echelon Corporation Stockholders															$	(17,610	)
	1 Represents unallocated share based compensation expenses considered in GAAP results as part of cost of revenues, but excluded from segment gross profit calculation as presented to the CODM. This amount has been presented to reconcile the segment gross profit to total gross profit presented in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
	For the year ended December 31, 2013, depreciation expense for the Grid and IIoT segments was $1.7 million and $735,000, respectively and unallocated depreciation was $1.5 million.
Revenue information by operating segment	'
	The following table summarizes revenues for each segment described above for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012		2011
	Grid	$	40,303		$	85,241	$	99,428
	IIoT	45,857			48,776		57,059
	Total	$	86,160		$	134,017	$	156,487
Revenue information by geography	'
	Summary revenue information by geography for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows (in thousands):
		Year ended 31 December
		2013			2012		2011
	Americas
	United States	$	16,694		$	32,981	$	58,182
	Other Americas	1,677			2,485		2,524
	Total Americas	18,371			35,466		60,706
	EMEA
	Finland	10,092			38,958		23,633
	Germany	14,167			13,097		18,455
	Denmark	1,896			10,939		17,959
	Other EMEA	28,140			21,195		20,201
	Total EMEA	54,295			84,189		80,248
	APJ	13,494			14,362		15,533
	Total	$	86,160		$	134,017	$	156,487

Summary_of_Significant_Account6

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Percentage of net revenue	50.30%	64.40%	68.40%
Number of Customers	5	'	'

Summary_of_Significant_Account7

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventories [Abstract]	'	'
Inventory, Raw Materials, Net of Reserves	$1,343	$2,081
Inventory, Finished Goods, Net of Reserves	5,102	9,648
Inventory, Net	$6,445	$11,729

Summary_of_Significant_Account8

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Accrued Liabilities (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accrued Liabilities, Current [Abstract]	'	'
Accrued Salaries	$3,885,000	$3,237,000
Warranty reserve	515,000	419,000
Restructuring Reserve	49,000	149,000
Customer Deposits	643,000	106,000
Accrued Taxes	75,000	117,000
Litigation charges	1,875,000	0
Other Accrued Liabilities	353,000	609,000
Accrued Liabilities, Current	$7,395,000	$4,637,000

Summary_of_Significant_Account9

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Concentration of Credit Risk (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Percentage of accounts receivable total	55.80%	66.00%
Telvent [Member]	'	'
Percentage of accounts receivable	15.30%	46.10%
Enel [Member] [Member]	'	'
Percentage of accounts receivable	14.30%	9.40%
Eltel [Member]	'	'
Percentage of accounts receivable	10.10%	1.30%
Ebv Avnet [Member]	'	'
Percentage of accounts receivable	8.60%	9.20%
Duke [Member]	'	'
Percentage of accounts receivable	7.50%	0.00%

Recovered_Sheet1

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Computation of Basic and Diluted net loss per share (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Computation of Basic and Diluted net loss Per Share [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net loss Attributable to Parent	($17,610)	($12,818)	($13,000)
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	43,092,000	42,650,000	42,083,000
Shares Used in Computation of Basic Earning Loss Per Share	43,092,000	42,650,000	42,083,000
Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment	0	0	0
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	43,092,000	42,650,000	42,083,000
Earnings Per Share, Basic	($0.41)	($0.30)	($0.31)
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	($0.41)	($0.30)	($0.31)
Stock Awards Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share Amount	5,472,946	5,868,929	5,625,065

Recovered_Sheet2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Impairment of long lived assets (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Impairment of long lived assets [Abstract]	'	'	'
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	$0	$0	$0

Financial_Instruments_Details

Financial Instruments (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair value of asset measured on a recurring basis	'		'
Fixed income available-for-sale securities	$42,987		$42,979
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]	'		'
Fair value of asset measured on a recurring basis	'		'
Money market funds	5,254	[1]	5,243	[1]
Fixed income available-for-sale securities	0	[2]	0	[2]
Total	5,254		5,243
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]	'		'
Fair value of asset measured on a recurring basis	'		'
Money market funds	0	[1]	0	[1]
Fixed income available-for-sale securities	42,987	[2]	42,979	[2]
Total	42,987		42,979
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]	'		'
Fair value of asset measured on a recurring basis	'		'
Money market funds	0	[1]	0	[1]
Fixed income available-for-sale securities	0	[2]	0	[2]
Total	0		0
Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]	'		'
Fair value of asset measured on a recurring basis	'		'
Money market funds	5,254	[1]	5,243	[1]
Fixed income available-for-sale securities	42,987	[2]	42,979	[2]
Total	$48,241		$48,222
[1]	Included in cash and cash equivalents in the Companybs consolidated balance sheets
[2]	Represents the portfolio of available for sale securities and is included in short-term investments in the Companybs consolidated balance sheets

Financial_InstrumentsAvailable

Financial Instruments-Available for Sale Securities (Details 1) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Fair value of short term investment unrealized holdings and gains	'	'
Amortized Cost	$42,979	$42,971
Aggregate fair value	42,987	42,979
Unrealized Holdings gains	8	8
Unrealized Holdings Losses	$0	$0

Financial_Instruments_Details_

Financial Instruments (Details Textual)	Dec. 31, 2013
Financial Instruments (Textual) [Abstract]	'
Maximum remaining maturities period of investments included in cash equivalents	3
Short-term investments contractual maturity period minimum	4
Short-term investments contractual maturity period maximum	12
Average short-term investments maturity period	11

Property_and_equipment_Propert1

Property and equipment Property and Equipment (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Property and Equipment [Abstract]	'	'
Buildings and improvements	$37,356	$37,356
Computer and other equipment	22,138	21,763
Software	3,627	4,159
Furniture and fixtures	2,625	2,728
Leasehold improvements	4,010	3,823
Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross	69,756	69,829
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization	-51,086	-48,052
Property and equipment, net	$18,670	$21,777

Property_and_equipment_Narrati

Property and equipment Narrative (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2008	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2000	Oct. 31, 1999
Property and Equipment [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	$48,900,000	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Lease Obligations Recorded	27,600,000	'	'	'	12,000,000	15,200,000
Increase in lease financing obligations	12,500,000	'	'	'	'	'
Capital Leases, Income Statement, Amortization Expense	'	2,000,000	2,000,000	2,000,000	'	'
Net Book value of Buildings leased	'	12,600,000	14,600,000	'	'	'
Lease expense for land under operating lease	'	741,000	741,000	741,000	'	'
Repayment of Other Debt, Building Leases	'	2,000,000	1,900,000	1,700,000	'	'
Interest Expense, Other	'	($1,235,000)	($1,360,000)	($1,468,000)	'	'

Property_and_equipment_Useful_

Property and equipment Useful Lives (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Minimum [Member] | Computer And related software [Member]	'
Property Plant And Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'2 years
Minimum [Member] | Other Equipment [Member]	'
Property Plant And Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'2 years
Minimum [Member] | Furniture and Fixtures [Member]	'
Property Plant And Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'2 years
Maximum [Member] | Computer And related software [Member]	'
Property Plant And Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years
Maximum [Member] | Other Equipment [Member]	'
Property Plant And Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years
Maximum [Member] | Furniture and Fixtures [Member]	'
Property Plant And Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'5 years
Maximum [Member] | Telecommunication Equipment [Member]	'
Property Plant And Equipment Estimated Useful Lives [Line Items]	'
Property, Plant and Equipment, Useful Life	'10 years

Accumulated_Other_Comprehensiv2

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Balance at beginning of year	$509	$244
Current period change	506	265
Balance at year end	1,015	509
Accumulated Net Unrealized Investment Gain (Loss) [Member]	'	'
Balance at beginning of year	8	2
Current period change	0	6
Balance at year end	8	8
Accumulated Translation Adjustment [Member]	'	'
Balance at beginning of year	501	242
Current period change	506	259
Balance at year end	$1,007	$501

Stockholders_Equity_and_Employ4

Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans (Details Textual) (USD $)	36 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Apr. 01, 2011
Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Preferred Stock, Shares Authorized	'	5,000,000	5,000,000	'
Preferred Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	'	$0.01	$0.01	'
Common Stock, Shares Authorized	'	100,000,000	100,000,000	'
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	'	$0.01	$0.01	'
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	'	43,351,850	43,050,952	'
Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased	'	3,000,000	'	'
Treasury Stock, Shares	'	'	'	750,000
Treasury Stock, Value	$8.90	'	'	'

Stockholders_Equity_and_Employ5

Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans Stock Award Activity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2013
Stock Award Activity [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Number of Shares Available for Grant, Opening Balance	13,467,582	13,047,736	11,420,522	15,467,434
Options and SARS, Outstanding, Number, opening balance	3,939,315	3,103,472	4,275,648	5,505,404
Options and SARS, Outstanding opening balance, Weighted Average Exercise Price,	$6.08	$8.71	$8.55	'
Number Of Shares Available For Grant, Options ans SARS Granted	-1,785,728	-1,883,388	313,750	'
Options and SARS, Grants in Period	1,785,728	1,883,388	313,750	'
Options and SARS, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$2.34	$3.21	$8.26	'
Number of shares available for grant, RSU granted	-702,665	-700,987	-1,381,070	'
Number Of Shares Available For Grant, Options and SARS Canceled	1,545,194	1,047,545	981,365	'
Options and SARS, Forfeitures in Period	-1,545,194	-1,047,545	-981,365	'
Options and SARS, Forfeitures in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$7.22	$8.73	$8.64	'
Number of shares available for grant, RSU canceled	471,867	315,817	480,571	'
Options and SARS, Exercises in Period, Shares	0	0	-504,561	'
Options and SARS, Exercises in Period, Weighted Average Exercise Price	'	$0	$7.15	'
Unissued shares returned to plan	-15,542,434	0	-190,406	'
1998 Directors Plan shares expired	-75,000	-60,000	-10,000	'
Number of Additional Shares Authorized	7,122,039	1,700,859	1,679,692	'
Number of Shares Available for Grant, Ending Balance	4,650,855	13,467,582	13,047,736	15,467,434
Options and SARS, Outstanding, Number, Closing balance	4,104,849	3,939,315	3,103,472	5,505,404
Options and SARS, Outstanding ending balance, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$4.13	$6.08	$8.71	'
Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Options, Exercises in Period, Total Intrinsic Value	$0	$0	$1.20	'

Stockholders_Equity_and_Employ6

Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans 1997 Stock Plan (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Apr. 01, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2010
1997 Stock Plan [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'	'
Common Stock, Capital Shares Reserved for Future Issuance	10,123,801	'	'	10,905,404	20,972,838	'
Options and SARS, Outstanding, Number	4,104,849	3,939,315	3,103,472	'	5,505,404	4,275,648
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Additional Shares Authorized in 2013 Amendment	'	'	'	5,400,000	'	'
Number of Additional Shares Authorized	7,122,039	1,700,859	1,679,692	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Available for Grant	4,650,855	13,467,582	13,047,736	'	15,467,434	11,420,522

Stockholders_Equity_and_Employ7

Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans RSU and RSA Activity (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
RSU and RSA activity [Abstract]	'	'	'
RSU/ RSA Nonvested and outstanding opening balance, Number	1,929,614	2,521,593	2,201,169
RSU/ RSA Nonvested and Outstanding Opening balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$6.56	$8.40	$8.88
RSU/ RSA, Grants in Period	419,056	700,987	1,381,070
RSU/RSA, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$2.34	$3.25	$8.74
RSU/RSA Vested in Period	-522,286	-977,149	-580,075
RSU/ RSA Vested in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$6.99	$8.48	$10.55
RSU/ RSA Forfeited in Period	-458,287	-315,817	-480,571
RSU/RSA, Forfeitures, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$6.19	$7.80	$8.96
RSU/ RSA Nonvested and outstanding ending balance, Number	1,368,097	1,929,614	2,521,593
RSU/ RSA Nonvested and Outstanding Closing balance, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$5.22	$6.56	$8.40
Total fair value of RSUs vested and released	$1.20	$3.70	$5.10
RSU, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Number	1,292,436	'	'
RSU, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$2.80	'	'
Share Price	$2.15	'	'

Stockholders_Equity_and_Employ8

Stockholders' Equity and Employee Stock Option Plans Stock option outstanding by exercise price range (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'7 years 0 months 29 days	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	$4,640	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$4.13	'	$6.08	$8.71	$8.55
Options and SARS, Outstanding, Number	4,104,849	5,505,404	3,939,315	3,103,472	4,275,648
Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Number	3,918,854	'	'	'	'
Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'7 years 0 months 21 days	'	'	'	'
Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$4.20	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Vested and Expected to Vest, Outstanding, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	4,212	'	'	'	'
Options, Exercisable, Number	1,348,270	'	'	'	'
Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'3 years 7 months 20 days	'	'	'	'
Options, Exercisable, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$6.60	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercisable, Intrinsic Value	0	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range One [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$2.11	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$2.29	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options and SARS	419,600	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'9 years 8 months 4 days	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Outstanding Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$2.19	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	4,640	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range Two [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$2.37	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$2.37	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options and SARS	1,183,829	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'9 years 5 months 8 days	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Outstanding Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$2.37	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	0	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range Three [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$2.51	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$2.57	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options and SARS	92,500	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'9 years 3 months 18 days	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Outstanding Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$2.55	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	0	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range Four [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$3.17	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$3.17	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options and SARS	1,217,567	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'8 years 4 months 13 days	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Outstanding Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$3.17	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	0	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range Five [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$3.40	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$7.46	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options and SARS	513,725	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'4 years 2 months 23 days	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Outstanding Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$6.02	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	0	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range Six [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$7.47	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$8.20	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options and SARS	431,978	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'0 years 5 months 19 days	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Outstanding Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$7.55	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	0	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range Seven [Member] [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$9.08	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$10.62	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options and SARS	123,900	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'2 years 4 months 9 days	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Outstanding Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$9.99	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	0	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range Eight [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$12.11	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$12.11	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options and SARS	40,000	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'0 years 8 months 8 days	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Outstanding Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$12.11	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	0	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range Nine [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$12.82	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$12.82	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options and SARS	75,000	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'0 years 10 months 9 days	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Outstanding Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$12.82	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	0	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range Ten [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Exercise Price Range [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Lower Range Limit	$13.85	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Upper Range Limit	$13.85	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Number of Outstanding Options and SARS	6,750	'	'	'	'
Options and SARS Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	'0 years 9 months 10 days	'	'	'	'
Exercise Price Range, Outstanding Options, Weighted Average Exercise Price	$13.85	'	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Intrinsic Value	$0	'	'	'	'

Stock_Based_Compensation_Stock

Stock Based Compensation Stock Based Compensation, Fair Value assumptions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Stock based Compensation, Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Risk Free Interest Rate	1.60%	0.90%	1.20%
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	64.80%	63.90%	64.20%
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Term	'6 years 1 month 27 days	'6 years 1 month 6 days	'4 years 1 month 6 days
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Grants in Period, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	$1.39	$1.85	$4.05

Stock_Based_Compensation_Equit

Stock Based Compensation Equity Compensation expense for RSUs and RSAs with Financial or other Performance based vesting requirments (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended	23 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted	195,000	'
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Compensation Cost Recognized Share Based Awards Other than Options	$0	$375,000
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Compensation Cost Reversed Share Based Awards Other than Options	375,000	'
Fair Value of Performance Awards on Grant Date	1,418,000	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	1,418,000	'
Number of non-vested equity-based payment instruments with performance condition excluding stock (or unit) options	195,000	'
Aug 2010 Grant Date [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted	125,000	'
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Compensation Cost Recognized Share Based Awards Other than Options	0	'
Fair Value of Performance Awards on Grant Date	929,000	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	929,000	'
Latest Date that Performance condition could be met	'April 2015	'
May 2011 Grant Date [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted	20,000	'
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Compensation Cost Recognized Share Based Awards Other than Options	0	'
Fair Value of Performance Awards on Grant Date	212,000	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	212,000	'
Latest Date that Performance condition could be met	'April 2015	'
November 2011 Grant Date [Member]	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Non-Option Equity Instruments, Granted	50,000	'
Employee Service Share Based Compensation Nonvested Awards Compensation Cost Recognized Share Based Awards Other than Options	0	'
Fair Value of Performance Awards on Grant Date	277,000	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	$277,000	'
Latest Date that Performance condition could be met	'April 2015	'

Stock_Based_Compensation_Expen

Stock Based Compensation Expense Allocation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized	$4,800,000	'	'
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Nonvested Awards, Total Compensation Cost Not yet Recognized, Period for Recognition	'1 year 7 months 0 days	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense, Net of Tax	2,538,000	6,976,000	9,649,000
Stock based compensation capitalized in Inventory	42,000	38,000	'
Stock Based Compensation capitalized in Deferred COGS	8,000	3,000	'
Cost of Product [Member]	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	193,000	567,000	864,000
Cost of Service [Member]	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	47,000	111,000	112,000
Cost of Revenues [Member]	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	240,000	678,000	976,000
Product Development [Member]	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	696,000	2,304,000	3,891,000
Selling and Marketing Expense [Member]	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	635,000	1,896,000	2,251,000
General and Administrative Expense [Member]	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	967,000	2,098,000	2,531,000
Operating Expense [Member]	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	2,298,000	6,298,000	8,673,000
Total Share based compensation costs prior to tax benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense	2,538,000	6,976,000	9,649,000
Tax benefit [Member]	'	'	'
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Income Tax Benefit from Share-based Compensation	$0	$0	$0

Significant_Customers_Details_

Significant Customers (Details Textual)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revenues attributable to sales [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	50.30%	64.40%	68.40%
Telvent [Member] | Grid [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues attributable to sales [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	14.30%	29.70%	15.70%
Ebv Avnet [Member] | IIoT [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues attributable to sales [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	14.20%	8.10%	9.50%
Enel [Member] | IIoT [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues attributable to sales [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	13.70%	4.80%	4.50%
Duke [Member] | Grid [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues attributable to sales [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	5.80%	13.70%	27.20%
Eltel [Member] | Grid [Member]	'	'	'
Revenues attributable to sales [Line Items]	'	'	'
Total	2.30%	8.10%	11.50%

Goodwill_Details

Goodwill (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Balance as of Period End	$8,390	$8,276
Balance as of Period Start	8,276	8,235
Goodwill, translation adjustment	114	41
IIoT [Member]	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Balance as of Period End	3,388	'
Grid [Member]	'	'
Goodwill [Line Items]	'	'
Balance as of Period End	$5,002	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_2

Commitments and Contingencies Future minimum lease payments for financing transactions (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Leases [Abstract]	'
Minimum Lease Payments, Capital Leases, Next Twelve Months	$3,328
Minimum Lease Payments, Capital Leases, within Two Years	3,410
Minimum Lease Payments, Capital Leases, within Three Years	3,493
Minimum Lease Payments, Capital Leases, within Four Years	3,615
Minimum Lease Payments, Capital Leases, within Five Years	3,746
Minimum Lease Payments, Capital Leases, Thereafter	4,532
Minimum Lease Payments, Capital Leases	22,124
Interest Portion of Minimum Lease Payments, Sale Leaseback Transactions	-3,964
Capital Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Present Value of Net Minimum Payments	18,160
Other Long-term Debt for building, Current	2,240
Other Long-term Debt for building, Noncurrent	$15,920

Commitments_and_Contingencies_3

Commitments and Contingencies Future minimum lease payments for Operating Leases (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Leases [Abstract]	'	'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Twelve Months	$1,355,000	'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Two Years	956,000	'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Three Years	907,000	'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Four Years	907,000	'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due in Five Years	822,000	'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments, Due Thereafter	905,000	'	'
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments Due	5,852,000	'	'
Future minimum lease payments for land lease, Total	4,800,000	'	'
Operating Leases, Rent Expense	1,500,000	1,700,000	1,900,000
Deferred Rent Credit	215,000	251,000	'
Deferred Rent Credit, Current	$35,000	$36,000	'

Commitments_and_Contingencies_4

Commitments and Contingencies (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies (Textual) [Abstract]	'
Return of payments received for components sold	$16.70
Loss Contingency, Settlement Agreement, Consideration	$3.50

Commitments_and_Contingencies_5

Commitments and Contingencies Line of Credit (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013
Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract]	'
Line of Credit Maintained	$5,000,000
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date	1-Jul-14
Number of Letter of Credit	1
Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount	$113,000

Commitments_and_Contingencies_6

Commitments and Contingencies Royalties (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Royalties [Abstract]	'	'	'
Royalty Expense	$470,000	$508,000	$532,000

Income_Taxes_Details_Textual

Income Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Loss from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Domestic	($18,037)	($13,614)	($13,782)
Income (loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Foreign	-70	652	1,111
Loss from Continuing Operations	($18,107)	($12,962)	($12,671)

Income_Taxes_Components_of_inc1

Income Taxes Components of income tax expense/ (benefit) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Components of Income Tax Expense/ (Benefit) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Current	$0	$0	$0
Deferred	0	0	0
Total federal provision	0	0	0
Current	17	5	4
Deferred	0	0	0
Total state provision	17	5	4
Current	294	214	325
Deferred	0	0	0
Total foreign provision	294	214	325
Total income tax expense	$311	$219	$329

Recovered_Sheet3

Income Taxes Effective Rate Reconciliation (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Effective Rate Reconciliation [Abstract]	'	'	'
Income Tax Reconciliation, Income Tax Benefit, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate	($6,156)	($4,537)	($4,435)
Income Tax Reconciliation, State and Local Income Taxes	17	5	3
U.S.-Foreign rate differential	342	87	-46
Change in Valuation Allowance	6,969	4,530	4,825
Income Tax Reconciliation, Tax Credits, Research	-1,241	0	0
Others	380	134	-18
Total income tax expense	$311	$219	$329

Recovered_Sheet4

Income Taxes Components of deferred tax asset/ liability (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Components of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Abstract]	'	'
Net operating loss carry forwards	$60,961	$55,669
Tax credit carry forwards	26,869	24,826
Fixed and intangible assets	7,246	7,486
Capitalized research and development costs	58	58
Reserves and other cumulative temporary differences	19,380	20,910
Gross deferred income tax assets	114,514	108,949
Valuation allowance	-114,514	-108,949
Net deferred income tax assets	$0	$0
Percentage of deferred tax assets on which valuation allowance is created	100.00%	100.00%

Income_Taxes_Components_of_Def1

Income Taxes Components of Deferred Tax asset/ liability (Textual) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Line Items]	'
Undistributed Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries	$10.80
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member]	'
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Line Items]	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards	85.7
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Dates	'2033
State and Local Jurisdiction [Member] | Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]	'
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Line Items]	'
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	15.3
Tax Credit Carryforward, Expiration Date	'2033
Domestic Tax Authority [Member]	'
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Line Items]	'
Operating Loss Carryforwards	199.6
Operating Loss Carryforwards, Expiration Dates	'2033
Domestic Tax Authority [Member] | Research Tax Credit Carryforward [Member]	'
Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities [Line Items]	'
Tax Credit Carryforward, Amount	$11.40
Tax Credit Carryforward, Expiration Date	'2033

Income_Taxes_Companys_uncertai1

Income Taxes Company's uncertain tax positions (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Company's uncertain tax positions [Abstract]	'	'
Balance as of the beginning of the year	$3,382,000	$4,355,000
Tax positions related to current year:	'	'
Additions	31,000	80,000
Reductions	0	0
Tax positions related to prior years:	'	'
Additions	0	0
Reductions	-571,000	-405,000
Settlements	0	0
Lapses in statute of limitations	-704,000	-648,000
Balance as of the end of the year	2,138,000	3,382,000
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate	575,000	'
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued	134,000	'
Unrecognized tax benfits, reduction in accrued interest and penalties	$6,000	'

Warranty_Reserves_Details

Warranty Reserves (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Warranty Reserves [Abstract]	'	'
Warranty reserve	$515,000	$419,000
Warranty reserve, Noncurrent	46,000	100,000
Warranty reserve	$561,000	$519,000

Related_Parties_Details_Textua

Related Parties (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2000	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Related Parties - Enel (Additional Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Stock Issued During Period, Value, New Issues	$130,700,000	'	'	'
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, New Issues	3,000,000	'	'	'
Accounts receivable balance related to amounts owed by Enel and its designated manufacturers	'	1,628,000	1,552,000	'
Number of shares sold by Related Party.	'	0	'	'
Number of board members Related Party can nominate	'	1	'	'
Number of Related Party Representatives on Board	'	0	'	'
Revenue from Related Parties	'	$11,763,000	$6,458,000	$7,119,000

Restructuring_Restructuring_Pl

Restructuring Restructuring Plan (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring charges	$2,522	$1,176	$0
Restructuring Reserve, Current	49	149	'
May 2012 Restructuring Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve, opening balance	'	149	0
Restructuring charges	0	1,176	'
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash	100	1,027	'
Restructuring Reserve, Current	49	149	'
February 2013 Restructuring Plan [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Restructuring Reserve, opening balance	'	0	'
Restructuring charges	2,522	'	'
Restructuring Reserve, Settled with Cash	2,522	'	'
Restructuring Reserve, Current	$0	'	'

Restructuring_Restructuring_Pl1

Restructuring Restructuring Plan (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
February 2013 Restructuring Plan [Member]	'	'
Number of Employees Reduced by Restructuring	43	'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	2.5	'
May 2012 Restructuring Plan [Member]	'	'
Number of Employees Reduced by Restructuring	42	'
Restructuring and Related Cost, Cost Incurred to Date	'	$1.20

Valuation_and_Qualifying_accou1

Valuation and Qualifying accounts (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Member]	'	'	'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Opening Balance	$430	$390	$361
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense	55	48	30
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments	132	8	1
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Closing Balance	353	430	390
Allowance for Sales Returns [Member]	'	'	'
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'	'
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Opening Balance	429	1,411	584
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Charged to Cost and Expense	5,375	4,265	6,750
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Adjustments	5,274	5,247	5,923
Valuation Allowances and Reserves, Closing Balance	$530	$429	$1,411

Segment_Disclosure_Segment_Rep

Segment Disclosure Segment Reporting, Reporting by Segment (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	$86,160,000	[1]	$134,017,000	[1]	$156,487,000	[1]
Gross Profit	43,157,000		56,455,000		67,162,000
Segment contribution margin	-9,388,000		'		'
Restructuring charges	-2,522,000		-1,176,000		0
Litigation charges	-3,452,000		0		0
Interest and other income (expense), net	-702,000		-362,000		6,000
Interest Expense, Other	-1,235,000		-1,360,000		-1,468,000
Income Tax Expense	311,000		219,000		329,000
Net loss Attributable to Parent	-17,610,000		-12,818,000		-13,000,000
Grid [Member]	'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	40,303,000		85,241,000		99,428,000
Gross Profit	13,891,000		'		'
Segment contribution margin	-5,446,000		'		'
Depreciation	1,700,000		'		'
IIoT [Member]	'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'
Revenues	45,857,000		48,776,000		57,059,000
Gross Profit	29,506,000		'		'
Segment contribution margin	12,272,000		'		'
Depreciation	735,000		'		'
Shared/ Corporate [Member]	'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'
Segment contribution margin	-13,676,000		'		'
Depreciation	1,500,000		'		'
Stock compensation [Member]	'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'
Gross Profit	-240,000	[2]	'		'
Segment contribution margin	-2,538,000		'		'
Adjustments to reconcile GAAP to reported amounts [Member]	'		'		'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'		'		'
Restructuring charges	2,522,000		'		'
Litigation charges	3,452,000		'		'
Interest and other income (expense), net	-702,000		'		'
Interest Expense, Other	-1,235,000		'		'
Income Tax Expense	$311,000		'		'
[1]	1 Includes related party amounts of $11,763 in 2013, $6,458 in 2012, and $7,119 in 2011. See Note 12 for additional information on related party transactions.
[2]	1 Represents unallocated share based compensation expenses considered in GAAP results as part of cost of revenues, but excluded from segment gross profit calculation as presented to the CODM. This amount has been presented to reconcile the segment gross profit to total gross profit presented in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Segment_Disclosure_Details

Segment Disclosure (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue Information by operating segment [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	$86,160	[1]	$134,017	[1]	$156,487	[1]
Grid [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by operating segment [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	40,303		85,241		99,428
IIoT [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by operating segment [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	$45,857		$48,776		$57,059
[1]	1 Includes related party amounts of $11,763 in 2013, $6,458 in 2012, and $7,119 in 2011. See Note 12 for additional information on related party transactions.

Segment_Disclosure_Details_1

Segment Disclosure (Details 1) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Revenue Information by Geography [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	$86,160	[1]	$134,017	[1]	$156,487	[1]
United States [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by Geography [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	16,694		32,981		58,182
Other Americas [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by Geography [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	1,677		2,485		2,524
Total Americas [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by Geography [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	18,371		35,466		60,706
Finland [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by Geography [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	10,092		38,958		23,633
Germany [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by Geography [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	14,167		13,097		18,455
Denmark [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by Geography [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	1,896		10,939		17,959
Other EMEA [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by Geography [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	28,140		21,195		20,201
Total EMEA [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by Geography [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	54,295		84,189		80,248
APJ [Member]	'		'		'
Revenue Information by Geography [Abstract]	'		'		'
Revenues	$13,494		$14,362		$15,533
[1]	1 Includes related party amounts of $11,763 in 2013, $6,458 in 2012, and $7,119 in 2011. See Note 12 for additional information on related party transactions.

Segment_Disclosure_Details_Tex

Segment Disclosure (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Disclosure (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Long-lived assets US	$24.60	$24.60	$27.70
Number of Reportable Segments	2	'	1
Number of geographic areas	'	3	'

Joint_Venture_Details_Textual

Joint Venture (Details Textual) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Joint Venture (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	($808,000)	($363,000)	$0
Ownership interest in the joint venture	51.00%	'	'
Registered capital of the Joint venture	$4,000,000	'	'