Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]

Note 1 – Organization and Significant Accounting Policies

Organization

Document Capture Technologies, Inc. ("DCT" or "Company") develops, designs and delivers various imaging technology solutions to all types and sizes of enterprises including governmental agencies, large corporations, small corporations, small office-home offices (“SOHO”) and professional practices, as well as consumers (referred to herein collectively as “Enterprises”). DCT is a market-leader in providing USB-powered scanning solutions to a wide variety of industries and market applications. DCT’s patented and proprietary page-imaging devices facilitate the way information is stored, shared and managed in both business and personal use.

Syscan, Inc. (“Syscan”), DCT’s wholly-owned subsidiary, was incorporated in California in 1995 to develop and manufacture a new generation of contact image sensors (“CIS”) that are complementary metal-oxide-silicon (“CMOS”) imaging sensor devices. During the late 1990s, DCT established many technical milestones and was granted numerous patents for its linear imaging technology. DCT’s patented CIS and mobile imaging scanner technology provides high quality images at extremely low power consumption levels, allowing delivery of compact scanners in a form ideally suited for laptop or desktop computer users who need a small lightweight device to scan documents.

DCT’s business model was developed around intellectual property (“IP”) driven products sold primarily to original equipment manufacturers (“OEM”), private label brands and value added resellers (“VAR”) DCT’s image-scanning products can be found in a variety of applications, including but not limited, to the following:

· Document and information management;

· Identification card and driver license scanners;

· Passport security scanners;

· Bank note and check verification;

· Business card readers;

· Barcode scanning; and

· Optical mark readers used in lottery terminals.

Basis of Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of DCT and its one subsidiary, Syscan. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. DCT’s functional currency is the United States (U.S.) dollar. As such, DCT does not have any translation adjustments. Monetary accounts denominated in non-U.S. currencies, such as cash or payables to vendors, have been re-measured to the U.S. dollar. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are included in the results of operations. To date, DCT has not entered into hedging activities to offset the impact of foreign currency fluctuations.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Management makes its best estimate of the ultimate outcome for these items based on historical trends and other information available when the financial statements are prepared. Changes in estimates are recognized in accordance with the accounting rules for the estimate, which is typically in the period when new information becomes available to management. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and highly liquid investments. DCT considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. DCT had no cash equivalents at December 31, 2011 or 2010.

Deferred Financing Costs

Deferred financing costs, which are included in other current assets, are costs incurred to obtain debt financing, including all related fees, and are amortized as interest expense over the term of the related financing using the straight-line method which approximates the interest rate method. See Note 9.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

Under the provisions of the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures, (“ASC 820”) there are three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1. Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. DCT had no Level 1 assets or liabilities during any period presented.

Level 2. Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets with insufficient volume or infrequent transactions (less active markets), or model-derived valuations in which all significant inputs are observable or can be derived principally from or corroborated with observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. DCT had no Level 2 assets or liabilities during any period presented.

Level 3. Unobservable inputs to the valuation methodology that are significant to the measurement of the fair value of assets or liabilities. DCT had no Level 3 assets. DCT’s Level 3 liabilities include (i) stock option liabilities and (ii) derivative contracts liabilities. DCT estimates the fair value of Level 3 liabilities using either the Binomial option pricing model or the Black-Scholes valuation model, depending on the attributes of the liability being measured.

The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and payables, prepaid expenses and other current assets, amounts due to related parties, and other payables and liabilities approximates fair value due to the short period of time to maturity.

Concentration of Credit Risk and Major Customers

Financial instruments that subject DCT to credit risk are cash balances maintained in excess of federal depository insurance limits and trade receivables.

Cash and Cash Equivalents. DCT maintains cash balances at several banks. Interest bearing accounts at each institution are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") up to $250,000. Non-interest bearing accounts are 100% insured. As of December 31, 2011, DCT had consolidated balances of approximately $156,000, which were not guaranteed by FDIC. DCT has not experienced any losses in such accounts and believes the exposure is minimal.

Major Customers and Trade Receivables. A relatively small number of customers account for a significant percentage of DCT’s sales. The percentage of sales derived from significant customers is as follows:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010
Customer A		21	%		11	%
Customer B		18			21
Customer C		15			**
Customer D		13			16
Customer E		**			14

**Represents less than 10% of sales.

Trade receivables from these customers whose sales represented more than 10% during the year ended December 31, 2011 totaled $1,589,000 at December 31, 2011. As of December 31, 2011 all DCT's trade receivables were unsecured. The risk with respect to trade receivables is mitigated by credit evaluations performed on customers and the short duration of payment terms extended to customers.

Concentration of Supplier Risk

Manufacturing. Historically, DCT has purchased substantially all its finished scanner imaging products from one vendor. See Note 3. If this vendor became unable to provide materials in a timely manner and DCT was unable to find alternative vendors, DCT's business, operating results and financial condition would be materially adversely affected.

During January 2010, DCT’s manufacturer announced a relocation of its primary manufacturing facility, then located in Shenzhen China, to Wuhan, Hubei China. The purpose of the relocation relates directly to an opportunity for the manufacturer to reduce its direct and overhead costs. The new building was successfully completed and the factory was fully operational on June 1, 2011 with no interruption to the manufacturing process or to DCT’s operations.

Components. DCT purchases some controller chips that are sole-sourced, as they are specialized devices. To date, DCT has been able to obtain adequate component supplies from existing sources.  If in the future DCT became unable to obtain sufficient quantities of required materials, components or subassemblies, or if such items do not meet quality standards, delays or reductions in product shipments could occur, which could harm DCT’s business, operating results and financial condition.

Inventories

Inventories consist of finished goods and components, which are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, with cost computed on a first-in, first-out basis. Provision is made for obsolete, slow-moving or defective items where appropriate. The amount of any provision is recognized as a component of cost of sales in the period the provision occurs. At December 31, 2011, an inventory allowance of $33,000 was established as a result of slow-moving inventory. There was no inventory allowance at December 31, 2010. DCT had no material inventory write offs during the years ended December 31, 2011 or 2010.

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets, stated at cost, are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of the assets using the straight-line method over periods ranging from three to five years. Significant improvements and betterments are capitalized. Routine repairs and maintenance are expensed when incurred. Gains and losses on disposal of fixed assets are recognized in the Statement of Operations based on the net disposal proceeds less the carrying amount of the assets.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

DCT’s long-lived assets are recorded at fair value only if an impairment charge is recognized. If indicators of impairment exist, DCT assesses the recoverability of the affected long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value of such assets can be recovered through the undiscounted future operating cash flows. If impairment is indicated, DCT measures the amount of such impairment by comparing the assets’ carrying value to the assets’ fair value. DCT had no impairment losses during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Revenue Recognition, Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Returns Allowances

Revenues. Revenues consist of product sales including the sale of optical image capturing devices, modules of optical image capturing devices, and chips and other optoelectronic products. Generally, revenue is recognized when the product is shipped and the risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the customer. In certain instances, when deemed appropriate by management, DCT recognizes revenue as the cash is collected.

Shipping charges billed to customers are included in net sales and the related shipping costs are included in cost of sales in the period of shipment.

Multiple Element Arrangements. DCT occasionally enters into revenue arrangements that contain multiple deliverables. For arrangements with multiple elements, revenue is allocated across the separately identified deliverables. Revenue is recognized when all criteria of revenue recognition have been met for each deliverable. Direct costs are recognized during the same period that the related revenue is recognized.

Allowance for doubtful accounts. DCT presents trade receivables, net of allowances for doubtful accounts and returns, to ensure trade receivables are not overstated due to uncollectible accounts. Allowances, when required, are calculated based on a detailed review of certain individual customer accounts and an estimation of the overall economic conditions affecting DCT’s customer base. DCT reviews a customer’s credit history before extending credit. If the financial condition of its customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required. DCT had no allowance for doubtful accounts as of December 31, 2011 or 2010 and no material trade receivable write offs during any period presented.

Return allowances. Historically, sales returns have not been significant. As such, DCT does not record a reduction to revenue for estimated product returns in the same period that the related revenue is recorded. DCT’s returns were immaterial for all periods presented.

Sales Incentives

In certain instances, DCT offers sales incentives whereby DCT gives customers additional product for certain volume-related purchases. DCT records the cost of the product-related sales incentives as a cost of sales during the period the incentive is earned.

Product Warranty

As previously discussed, DCT purchases the majority of its finished scanner imaging product from one vendor, who warrants the products against defects in material and workmanship for a period of 18 months after the completion of manufacture. As a result of such product warranty, DCT does not record a product warranty reserve. DCT’s warranty-related expenses were immaterial for all periods presented.

Research and Development Expenses

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were immaterial for all periods presented.

Employee Equity Incentive Programs

DCT has employee equity incentive plans, which are described more fully in “Note 4: Employee Equity Incentive Plans.” The straight-line attribution method is used to recognize share-based compensation over the service period of the award.

DCT estimates the fair value of the options on the grant date using the Black-Scholes valuation model under the following assumptions:

	Year Ended December 31,
	2011			2010
Weighted average expected option life in years		3.0			3.7
Weighted average expected volatility		134	%		272	%
Expected dividend yield		0	%		0	%
Weighted average risk free interest rate		1.01	%		0.97	%

Income Taxes

DCT accounts for income taxes under the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Current income tax expense or benefit is the amount of income taxes expected to be payable or refundable for the current year. A deferred income tax asset or liability is computed for the expected future impact of differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and for the expected future tax benefit to be derived from tax credits and loss carryforwards. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. All tax positions are first analyzed to determine if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained on audit, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes. After the initial analysis, the tax benefit is measured as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement.