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Short-Term and Long-Term Investments - Rollforward of Credit (Gain) Loss Recognized in Earnings on Available-for-Sale Auction Rate Securities (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Available-for-sale Securities, Debt Maturities [Abstract]
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 84us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld	$ 395us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld	$ 395us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld
Changes in the amount related to credit loss for which other-than- temporary impairment was not previously recognized	(4)vicr_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsChangeInCreditLosses
Balance at the end of the period	$ 80us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld	$ 395us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld	$ 395us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentCreditLossesRecognizedInEarningsCreditLossesOnDebtSecuritiesHeld

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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesDebtMaturitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The cumulative amount of credit losses recognized in earnings related to debt securities held for which a portion of an other than temporary impairment (OTTI) was recognized in other comprehensive income (a component of shareholders' equity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 320

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27724398&loc=d3e27340-111563

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Other than temporary impairment credit losses recognized in earnings change in credit losses.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	vicr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration