Investments in Privately-held Companies, Minority Investment Entities (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
AXT, Inc [Member]
Summarized income information of all the minority investment entities that are not consolidated and accounted for under the equity method [Abstract]
Net Revenue	$ 47,824,000	$ 41,257,000	$ 32,858,000
Gross profit	21,436,000	13,836,000	11,057,000
Operating income	9,046,000	8,174,000	6,310,000
Net income	6,765,000	6,315,000	5,665,000
Equity Method Investments [Member]
Summarized income information of all the minority investment entities that are not consolidated and accounted for under the equity method [Abstract]
Net income	569,000	270,000	379,000
Summarized balance sheet information of all the minority investment entities that are not consolidated and accounted for under the equity method [Abstract]
Current assets	31,482,000	22,139,000
Noncurrent assets	39,275,000	38,941,000
Current liabilities	19,923,000	15,289,000
Noncurrent liabilities	169,000	2,296,000
Minority Investment Entities [Member]
Summarized income information of all the minority investment entities that are not consolidated and accounted for under the equity method [Abstract]
Net Revenue	11,887,000	10,240,000	8,091,000
Gross profit	5,340,000	3,328,000	2,643,000
Operating income	2,059,000	1,820,000	1,409,000
Net income	1,528,000	1,377,000	1,281,000
Minority investment entities
Dividends received	325,000	396,000	277,000
Undistributed retained earnings	$ 6,500,000	$ 5,300,000

The amount of other assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

No definition available.

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This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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The amount of current assets reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of current liabilities reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of gross profit (loss) reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before extraordinary items reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of liabilities reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of net income (loss) reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The amount of revenue from sale of goods and services reduced by sales returns, allowances, and discounts reported by an equity method investment of the entity.

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The earnings that is allocated to common stock and participating securities to the extent that each security may share in earnings as if all of the earnings for the period had been distributed.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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