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Other Investments | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Other Investments [Abstract] |
OTHER INVESTMENTS | 8. OTHER INVESTMENTS The Company’s gross investment in non-voting convertible preferred stock of GWS totaled $5,000,000 as of December 31, 2011, and December 31, 2010, giving the Company an approximately 28% ownership interest in GWS. GWS and its subsidiary design and sell semiconductors, conduct research and development activities, develop and license patents, and litigate against those who infringe upon its patented technologies. A director of the Company is the founder, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), as well as the majority voting shareholder, of GWS. The Company and GWS are parties to an intellectual property cross-licensing agreement, a license agreement and two supply agreements under which the Company purchases certain components from GWS. Purchases from GWS totaled approximately $5,577,000, $5,362,000 and $1,608,000 in 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. The Company owed GWS approximately $500,000 and $555,000 as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. During 2009, the Company made payments totaling $650,000 under the license agreement. The Company accounts for its investment in GWS under the equity method of accounting. The Company has determined that, while GWS is a variable interest entity, the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The key factors in the Company’s assessment were that the CEO of GWS has: (i) the power to direct the activities of GWS that most significantly impact its economic performance, and (ii) has an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits from GWS, respectively, that could potentially be significant to GWS. There was no allocation of equity method income (loss) in 2011, 2010, and 2009 as GWS incurred a net loss in those years. The balance in the Company’s net investment in GWS was zero as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.

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