Debt and Lines of Credit (Details Textual) In Millions, unless otherwise specified			6 Months Ended				6 Months Ended					6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended					6 Months Ended				6 Months Ended					6 Months Ended					6 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2007 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Convertible Notes [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Base Rate [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Eurodollar [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Minimum [Member] Base Rate [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Minimum [Member] Eurodollar [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Base Rate [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Eurodollar [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Maximum [Member] Base Rate [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] Maximum [Member] Eurodollar [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 High Q Laser GmbH [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Japanese private placement bonds due June 2014, interest at 0.62% [Member] Bond [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Japanese private placement bonds due June 2014, interest at 0.62% [Member] Bond [Member] JPY (¥)	Jun. 30, 2012 Japanese amortizing loans due through November 2016, interest rates from 1.25% to 1.45% [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Japanese amortizing loans due through November 2016, interest rates from 1.25% to 1.45% [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Japanese amortizing loans due through November 2016, interest rates from 1.25% to 1.45% [Member] Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Japanese amortizing loans due through November 2016, interest rates from 1.25% to 1.45% [Member] Ophir Optronics Ltd. (Ophir) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Austrian amortizing loans due through December 2020, interest rates from 2.23% to 3.25% [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Austrian amortizing loans due through December 2020, interest rates from 2.23% to 3.25% [Member] Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Austrian lines of credit, interest at 2.90% [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Israeli amortizing loans due through October 2015, interest rates from 2.97% to 4.50% [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Israeli amortizing loans due through October 2015, interest rates from 2.97% to 4.50% [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Israeli amortizing loans due through October 2015, interest rates from 2.97% to 4.50% [Member] Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Isreal Promissory Note [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Japan Promissory Note [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Japanese lines of credit [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Japanese lines of credit [Member] JPY (¥)	Jun. 30, 2012 Japanese lines of credit [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Japanese lines of credit [Member] Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Term loan due October 2016, interest at 3.00% [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Trade Notes Receivable [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 Trade Notes Receivable [Member] JPY (¥)
Line of credit facility (Textual) [Abstract]
Convertible subordinated debt, value	$ 12.4	$ 175.0
Convertible subordinated debt, interest rate			2.50%
Number of credit facilities																													Four	Four
Line of credit facility, interest rate																															2.475%	1.18%		1.475%	1.475%
Line of credit, amount available for borrowing				63.6																									7.8					6.3
Number of agreements allow Company to sell of trade note receivables																																		Two	Two
Number of promissory notes																											6	7
Aggregate principal balance of promissory notes														4.2													4.9	1.5
Maximum interest rate on loan																	1.45%							4.50%
Senior secured credit facility, term loan				65					185
Maximum borrowing capacity of all credit facility																													13.4	1,100.0				6.9	550.0
Period of term loan				Five years					Five years
Initial margin over base interest rate					1.75%	2.75%				1.75%	2.75%
Range of margin over base interest rate							1.25%	2.25%				2.00%	3.00%
Amount outstanding on the term loan									175.8
Line of credit, outstanding amount																													5.6					0.6
Outstanding letter of credit				1.4
Long-term debt, net															$ 2.50	¥ 200.00
Minimum interest rate on loan																				1.25%				2.97%
Convertible subordinated debt, Maturity Date			Feb. 15, 2012
Short term loan interest			2.50%
Short term loan due date			February 2012
Effective interest rate on the term loan									3.00%						0.62%	0.62%		1.45%	1.25%		3.25%	2.23%	2.90%		4.50%	2.97%							3.00%
Private placement bond due date															Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014
Maturity date																	November 2016							October 2015					November 30, 2012	November 30, 2012