Sale of HangXing	6 Months Ended
Sale of HangXing	Jun. 30, 2011
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Equity Method Investments Disclosure [Text Block]	Note 7: Sale of HangXing In March 2011, the Company sold its 25% interest in HangXing International Automation Engineering Co. Ltd. (“HangXing”) back to the majority owner, China Aero-Polytechnology Establishment for $492 ($454 net of taxes withheld). HangXing is a value-added reseller for PLC based industrial automation systems for steel manufacturing. Acorn’s investment of approximately $250 in HangXing was made in 1995. The investment was entirely written-off in 1999.

The entire disclosure for equity investment, or group of investments, for which combined disclosure is appropriate, including: (a) the name of each investee and percentage of ownership of common stock, (b) accounting policies for investments in common stock, (c) difference between the amount at which the investment is carried and the amount of underlying equity in net assets and the accounting treatment of the difference, (d) the total fair value of each identified investment for which a market value is available, (e) summarized information as to assets, liabilities, and results of operations of the investees (for investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries, common stock of joint ventures, or other investments using the equity method), and (f) material effects of possible conversions, exercises, or contingent issuances of the investee. Other disclosures include (a) the names of any investee in which the investor owns 20 percent or more of the voting stock and investment is not accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why not, and (b) the names of any investee in which the investor owns less than 20 percent of the voting stock and the investment is accounted for using the equity method, and the reasons why it is.