<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001111778-13-000001.txt : 20130619
<SEC-HEADER>0001111778-13-000001.hdr.sgml : 20130619
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130619142243
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001111778-13-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130617
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130619
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130619

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VICOR CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000751978
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, NEC [3679]
		IRS NUMBER:				042742817
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 FRONTAGE ROAD
		CITY:			ANDOVER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01810
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9784702900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 FRONTAGE RD
		CITY:			ANDOVER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01810

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENDERSON H ALLEN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001111778

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18277
		FILM NUMBER:		13921567

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		25 FRONTAGE ROAD
		CITY:			ANDOVER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01810
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-06-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000751978</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VICOR CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>vicr</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001111778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HENDERSON H ALLEN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>25 FRONTAGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ANDOVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01810</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President Westcor</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.73</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-08-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.34</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-06-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-06-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.48</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-06-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-06-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted 8/27/2010 under the Company's Amended and Restated 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan and vest when certain defined performance milestones for the Company's Brick Business Unit are achieved.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On 6/17/2013, the issuer canceled, pursuant to the issuer's option exchange offer, options granted to the reporting person. In exchange the reporting person received replacement options, having exercise prices ranging from $6.29 to $10.48 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The replacement options for the Brick Business Unit performance options are broken into 5 price increments pursuant to the offer to exchange. The 1st 5th vests on the 1st anniversary date, the 2nd 5th on the 2nd anniversary date, the 3rd 5th on the 3rd anniversary date, the 4th 5th on the fourth anniversary date, and the last 5th on the 5th anniversary date from the new options issue.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Kemble D. Morrison Attorney in Fact for H. Allen Henderson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-06-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
