Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Financial Statement Presentation	Financial Statement Presentation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Maxwell Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Liquidity	Liquidity As of December 31, 2014, the Company had approximately $24.7 million in cash and cash equivalents. Management believes the available cash balance will be sufficient to fund its operations, obligations as they become due, and capital investments for at least the next twelve months.
Reclassification	Reclassifications Certain prior period amounts in the consolidated balance sheets have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications include combining amounts that previously were separately disclosed as intangible assets, net with other non-current assets and amounts separately disclosed as accrued warranty with accounts payable and accrued liabilities. These reclassifications do not impact reported net income (loss) and do not otherwise have a material impact on the presentation of the overall financial statements.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. These estimates include, but are not limited to, assessing the collectability of accounts receivable, applied and unapplied production costs, production capacities, the usage and recoverability of inventories and long-lived assets, including deferred income taxes, the incurrence of warranty obligations, impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, estimation of the cost to complete certain projects, accruals for estimated losses from legal matters, and estimation of the value of stock-based compensation awards, including the probability that the performance criteria of restricted stock awards will be met.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition Revenue is derived primarily from the sale of manufactured products directly to customers. Product revenue is recognized, according to the guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Numbers 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, and 104, Revenue Recognition, when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists (upon contract signing or receipt of an authorized purchase order from a customer); (2) title passes to the customer at either shipment from the Company’s facilities or receipt at the customer facility, depending on shipping terms; (3) customer payment is deemed fixed or determinable and free of contingencies or significant uncertainties; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. This policy has been consistently applied from period to period. Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011, for three distributors of the Company's products, the Company offered extended payment terms which allowed these distributors to pay the Company after they received payment from their customer, with respect to certain sales transactions. Also beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011, for one other distributor of the Company's products, the Company offered return rights and profit margin protection with respect to certain sales transactions. Therefore, for these four distributors, the Company determined that the revenue recognition criteria of SAB 101 and 104 were not met at the time of shipment, as there was no fixed or determinable price, nor was collection reasonably assured, at least with respect to certain sales transactions. As a result, for the three distributors provided with extended payment terms, which did not provide for a fixed or determinable price, the Company deferred the recognition of revenue on all sales beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011 to the period in which cash is received. For the one distributor provided with return rights and profit margin protection, for which the Company could not estimate exposure, the Company deferred the recognition of revenue on all sales beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011 until the distributor confirmed to the Company that it was not entitled to any further returns or credits. During the third quarter of 2013, this distributor confirmed to the Company that it was not entitled to any further returns or credits, therefore, previously unrecognized revenue related to this distributor was recognized in the quarter ended September 30, 2013. Although the Company had deferred revenue recognition for a significant amount of sales to these four distributors through the quarter ended September 30, 2013, subsequent to this date the amount of deferred revenue related to these distributors has been insignificant. In addition to the deferred revenue arrangements discussed in the preceding paragraph, revenue is not recognized for sales that do not meet the revenue recognition criteria at the time of sale. Revenue is recognized once all of the criteria for revenue recognition are determined to have been met. For example, if the Company does not believe that collection of the sales price is reasonably assured at the time of sale, it defers revenue recognition until cash is received. As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, cumulative sales totaling $445,000 and $4.5 million, respectively, had not yet been recognized as revenue. The Company has recorded the cost basis of inventory shipped to customers prior to the achievement of the revenue recognition criteria of approximately $184,000 and $2.5 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, in "inventory" in the consolidated balance sheets. If the Company receives cash payment from the customer prior to the achievement of the revenue recognition criteria, the amount received from the customer is recorded as deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets. Total deferred revenue and customer deposits in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 of $703,000 and $1.0 million, respectively, relates to cash received from customers on sales for which the revenue recognition criteria had not been achieved, customer advances, as well as other less significant customer arrangements requiring the deferral of revenue.
Cash and Cash Equivalents	Cash and Cash Equivalents The Company invests its excess cash in debt instruments of the U.S. Government and its agencies, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high-quality corporate issuers. All highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less from purchase are considered cash equivalents.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts	Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Trade receivables are stated at gross invoiced amount less an allowance for uncollectible accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balance. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts based on known troubled accounts, historical experience and other currently available evidence.
Inventories	Inventories, net Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in first-out basis) or market. Finished goods and work-in-process inventory values include the cost of raw materials, labor and manufacturing overhead. Consigned inventory includes finished goods delivered to customers for which the related sale has not met the revenue recognition criteria and revenue has not been recognized. Inventory when written down to market value establishes a new cost basis and its value is not subsequently increased based upon changes in underlying facts and circumstances. The Company makes adjustments to reduce the cost of inventory to its net realizable value, if required, for estimated excess or obsolete inventories. Factors influencing these adjustments include inventories on-hand compared with historical and estimated future sales for existing and new products and assumptions about the likelihood of obsolescence. Unabsorbed costs are treated as expense in the period incurred.
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment Property and equipment are carried at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the related assets (three to ten years). Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful life or the term of the lease. Leasehold improvements funded by landlords are recorded as property and equipment, which is depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term, and deferred rent, which is amortized over the lease term. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the net book value of leasehold improvements funded by landlords was $2.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the unamortized balance of deferred rent related to landlord funding of leasehold improvements was $2.7 million, which is included in "accounts payable and accrued liabilities" and "other long-term liabilities" in the consolidated balance sheets.
Goodwill	Goodwill Goodwill, which represents the excess of the cost of an acquired business over the net fair value assigned to its assets and liabilities, is not amortized. Instead, goodwill is assessed for impairment under the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC. The Company has established December 31 as the annual impairment test date. The Company first makes a qualitative assessment as to whether goodwill is impaired and if it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, the Company performs a two-step quantitative impairment analysis to determine if goodwill is impaired. The Company may also determine to skip the qualitative assessment in any year and move directly to the quantitative test. No impairments of goodwill were reported during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012. The Company reviews goodwill for impairment annually according to the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC. The Company makes a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of goodwill impairment and if it concludes that it is more likely than not that the carrying amount of a reporting unit is greater than its fair value, then it will be required to perform the first step of the two-step quantitative impairment test. Otherwise, performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. The first step consists of estimating the fair value and comparing the estimated fair value with the carrying value of the reporting unit. If the fair value is less than the carrying value, a second step is performed to compute the amount of the impairment by determining an implied fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is the residual fair value derived by deducting the fair value of a reporting unit’s assets and liabilities from its estimated total fair value, which was calculated in step one. An impairment charge would represent the excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of the goodwill. The guidance requires goodwill to be reviewed annually at the same time every year or when an event occurs or circumstances change such that it is reasonably possible that an impairment may exist. The Company selected December 31 as its annual testing date.
Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets	Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. If the Company determines that the carrying value of the asset is not recoverable, a permanent impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value. No impairments of property and equipment were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.
Warranty Obligation	Warranty Obligation The Company provides warranties on all product sales. The majority of the Company’s warranties are for one to four years in the normal course of business. The Company accrues for the estimated warranty costs at the time of sale based on historical warranty experience plus any known or expected changes in warranty exposure.
Income Tax	Income Taxes Deferred income taxes are provided on a liability method in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC, whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recorded to reflect the tax consequences on future years of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts at each period end. If it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recognized. The guidance also provides criteria for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosures of uncertain tax positions. A tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that the position is sustainable based solely on its technical merits.
Concentration of Credit Risk	Concentration of Credit Risk The Company maintains cash balances at various financial institutions primarily in California and in Switzerland. In California, cash balances commonly exceed the $250,000 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit. In Switzerland, the banks where the Company has cash deposits are either government-owned, or in the case of cash deposited with non-government banks, deposits are insured up to 100,000 Swiss Francs. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and management believes that the Company is not exposed to any significant credit risk with respect to such cash and cash equivalents. Financial instruments, which subject the Company to potential concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of the Company’s accounts receivable. The Company’s accounts receivable result from product sales to customers in various industries and in various geographical areas, both domestic and foreign. The Company performs credit evaluations of its customers and generally requires no collateral.
Research and Development Expense	Research and Development Expense Research and development expenditures are expensed in the period incurred. Third-party funding of research and development expense under cost-sharing arrangements is recorded as an offset to research and development expense in the period the expenses are incurred.
Advertising Costs	Advertising Expense Advertising costs are expensed in the period incurred.
Shipping and Handling Expense	Shipping and Handling Expense The Company recognizes shipping and handling expenses as a component of cost of revenue.
Foreign Currencies	Foreign Currencies The Company’s primary foreign currency exposure is related to its subsidiary in Switzerland, which has Euro and local currency (Swiss Franc) revenue and operating expenses, and local currency loans. Changes in these currency exchange rates impact the reported U.S. dollar amount of revenue, expenses and debt. The functional currency of the Swiss subsidiary is the Swiss Franc. Assets and liabilities of the Swiss subsidiary are translated at month-end exchange rates, and revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated at rates of exchange that approximate the rate in effect at the time of the transaction. Any translation adjustments resulting from this process are presented separately as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are reported in "cost of revenue" and "selling, general and administrative" expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Foreign Currency Derivatives Instruments	Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments As part of its risk management strategy, the Company uses forward contracts to hedge certain foreign currency exposures. The Company's objective is to partially offset gains or losses resulting from these exposures with opposing gains or losses on the forward contracts, thereby reducing volatility of earnings created by these foreign currency exposures. In accordance with the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC, the fair values of the forward contracts are estimated at each period end based on quoted market prices and are recorded as a net asset or liability on the consolidated balance sheets. Any gains or losses recognized on these contracts are recorded in “cost of revenue” and “selling, general and administrative” expense in the consolidated statements of operations.
Net Income (Loss) per Share	Net Income (Loss) per Share In accordance with the Earnings Per Share Topic of the FASB ASC, basic net income (loss) per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share includes the impact of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares were issued. Potentially dilutive securities are not considered in the calculation of diluted net loss per share, as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.
Share-based Compensation	Stock-Based Compensation The Company has issued stock-based compensation awards to its employees and non-employee directors, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and shares under an employee stock purchase plan. The Company records compensation expense for stock-based awards in accordance with the criteria set forth in the Stock Compensation Subtopic of the FASB ASC. Although the Company has not granted stock options since 2013, the Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of historical stock option grants. The determination of the fair value of stock options utilizing the Black-Scholes model was affected by the Company’s stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected term, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. The fair value of restricted stock and restricted stock units with service-based or performance-based vesting is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense equal to the fair value of each restricted stock award is recognized ratably over the requisite service period. For restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards with vesting contingent on Company performance conditions, the Company uses the requisite service period that is most likely to occur. The requisite service period is estimated based on the expected achievement date of the performance condition. If it is unlikely that a performance condition will be achieved, no compensation expense is recognized unless is later determined that achievement of the performance condition is likely. The requisite service period may be adjusted for changes in the expected outcomes of the related performance conditions, with the impact of such changes recognized as a cumulative adjustment in the consolidated statement of operations in the period in which the expectation changes. In 2014, the Company issued market-condition restricted stock units to certain members of executive management. Since the vesting of the market-condition restricted stock units is dependent on stock price performance, the fair values of these awards were estimated using a Monte-Carlo valuation model. The determination of the fair value of market-condition restricted stock units utilizing a Monte-Carlo valuation model was affected by the Company’s stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends. Share-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statement of operations is based on equity awards ultimately expected to vest. The FASB ASC requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods with a cumulative catch up adjustment if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. For market-condition awards, because the effect of the market-condition is reflected as a discount to the awards fair value at grant date, subsequent forfeitures do not result in a reversal of expense.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	Recent Accounting Pronouncements In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The standard provides companies with a single model for accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific revenue guidance. The core principle of the model is to recognize revenue when control of the goods or services transfers to the customer, as opposed to recognizing revenue when the risks and rewards transfer to the customer under the existing revenue guidance. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The guidance permits companies to either apply the requirements retrospectively to all prior periods presented, or apply the requirements in the year of adoption, through a cumulative adjustment. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements. In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The standard requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued and provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. Certain disclosures will be required if conditions give rise to substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. ASU 2014-15 applies to all entities and is effective for annual and interim reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on its financial statements.
Business Enterprise Information	Business Enterprise Information The Company operates as a single operating segment. According to the FASB ASC Topic Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker ("CODM") in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is the Chief Executive Officer who evaluates the Company’s financial information and resources and assesses performance on a consolidated basis.
Fair Value Measurement	Fair Value Measurement The Company records certain financial instruments at fair value in accordance with the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC. As of December 31, 2014, the financial instruments to which this topic applied were financial instruments for foreign currency forward contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the fair value of these foreign currency forward contracts was a liability of $1.6 million, which is recorded in “accounts payable and accrued liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of these derivative instruments is measured using models following quoted market prices in active markets for identical instruments, which is a Level 2 input under the fair value hierarchy of the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC. All forward contracts as of December 31, 2014 matured on January 5, 2015 or February 3, 2015. Also see Note 6, Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments and Note 11, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for further discussion of fair value measurements. The carrying value of short-term and long-term borrowings approximates fair value because of the relative short maturity of these instruments and the interest rates the Company could currently obtain.

Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Maxwell Technologies, Inc. and its subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”). All intercompany transactions and account balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Liquidity

As of December 31, 2014, the Company had approximately $24.7 million in cash and cash equivalents. Management believes the available cash balance will be sufficient to fund its operations, obligations as they become due, and capital investments for at least the next twelve months.

Reclassification

Reclassifications

Certain prior period amounts in the consolidated balance sheets have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. These reclassifications include combining amounts that previously were separately disclosed as intangible assets, net with other non-current assets and amounts separately disclosed as accrued warranty with accounts payable and accrued liabilities. These reclassifications do not impact reported net income (loss) and do not otherwise have a material impact on the presentation of the overall financial statements.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts and related disclosures. These estimates include, but are not limited to, assessing the collectability of accounts receivable, applied and unapplied production costs, production capacities, the usage and recoverability of inventories and long-lived assets, including deferred income taxes, the incurrence of warranty obligations, impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, estimation of the cost to complete certain projects, accruals for estimated losses from legal matters, and estimation of the value of stock-based compensation awards, including the probability that the performance criteria of restricted stock awards will be met.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is derived primarily from the sale of manufactured products directly to customers. Product revenue is recognized, according to the guidelines of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) Staff Accounting Bulletin (“SAB”) Numbers 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements, and 104, Revenue Recognition, when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists (upon contract signing or receipt of an authorized purchase order from a customer); (2) title passes to the customer at either shipment from the Company’s facilities or receipt at the customer facility, depending on shipping terms; (3) customer payment is deemed fixed or determinable and free of contingencies or significant uncertainties; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured. This policy has been consistently applied from period to period.

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011, for three distributors of the Company's products, the Company offered extended payment terms which allowed these distributors to pay the Company after they received payment from their customer, with respect to certain sales transactions. Also beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011, for one other distributor of the Company's products, the Company offered return rights and profit margin protection with respect to certain sales transactions. Therefore, for these four distributors, the Company determined that the revenue recognition criteria of SAB 101 and 104 were not met at the time of shipment, as there was no fixed or determinable price, nor was collection reasonably assured, at least with respect to certain sales transactions. As a result, for the three distributors provided with extended payment terms, which did not provide for a fixed or determinable price, the Company deferred the recognition of revenue on all sales beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011 to the period in which cash is received. For the one distributor provided with return rights and profit margin protection, for which the Company could not estimate exposure, the Company deferred the recognition of revenue on all sales beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011 until the distributor confirmed to the Company that it was not entitled to any further returns or credits. During the third quarter of 2013, this distributor confirmed to the Company that it was not entitled to any further returns or credits, therefore, previously unrecognized revenue related to this distributor was recognized in the quarter ended September 30, 2013. Although the Company had deferred revenue recognition for a significant amount of sales to these four distributors through the quarter ended September 30, 2013, subsequent to this date the amount of deferred revenue related to these distributors has been insignificant.

In addition to the deferred revenue arrangements discussed in the preceding paragraph, revenue is not recognized for sales that do not meet the revenue recognition criteria at the time of sale. Revenue is recognized once all of the criteria for revenue recognition are determined to have been met. For example, if the Company does not believe that collection of the sales price is reasonably assured at the time of sale, it defers revenue recognition until cash is received.

As of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, cumulative sales totaling $445,000 and $4.5 million, respectively, had not yet been recognized as revenue. The Company has recorded the cost basis of inventory shipped to customers prior to the achievement of the revenue recognition criteria of approximately $184,000 and $2.5 million at December 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively, in "inventory" in the consolidated balance sheets.

If the Company receives cash payment from the customer prior to the achievement of the revenue recognition criteria, the amount received from the customer is recorded as deferred revenue in the consolidated balance sheets. Total deferred revenue and customer deposits in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2014 and 2013 of $703,000 and $1.0 million, respectively, relates to cash received from customers on sales for which the revenue recognition criteria had not been achieved, customer advances, as well as other less significant customer arrangements requiring the deferral of revenue.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company invests its excess cash in debt instruments of the U.S. Government and its agencies, bank certificates of deposit, commercial paper and high-quality corporate issuers. All highly liquid instruments with an original maturity of three months or less from purchase are considered cash equivalents.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Trade receivables are stated at gross invoiced amount less an allowance for uncollectible accounts. The allowance for doubtful accounts reflects management’s best estimate of probable losses inherent in the accounts receivable balance. Management determines the allowance for doubtful accounts based on known troubled accounts, historical experience and other currently available evidence.

Inventories

Inventories, net

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in first-out basis) or market. Finished goods and work-in-process inventory values include the cost of raw materials, labor and manufacturing overhead. Consigned inventory includes finished goods delivered to customers for which the related sale has not met the revenue recognition criteria and revenue has not been recognized. Inventory when written down to market value establishes a new cost basis and its value is not subsequently increased based upon changes in underlying facts and circumstances. The Company makes adjustments to reduce the cost of inventory to its net realizable value, if required, for estimated excess or obsolete inventories. Factors influencing these adjustments include inventories on-hand compared with historical and estimated future sales for existing and new products and assumptions about the likelihood of obsolescence. Unabsorbed costs are treated as expense in the period incurred.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment are carried at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the related assets (three to ten years). Leasehold improvements are depreciated over the shorter of their estimated useful life or the term of the lease. Leasehold improvements funded by landlords are recorded as property and equipment, which is depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the asset or the lease term, and deferred rent, which is amortized over the lease term. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the net book value of leasehold improvements funded by landlords was $2.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, the unamortized balance of deferred rent related to landlord funding of leasehold improvements was $2.7 million, which is included in "accounts payable and accrued liabilities" and "other long-term liabilities" in the consolidated balance sheets.

Goodwill

Goodwill, which represents the excess of the cost of an acquired business over the net fair value assigned to its assets and liabilities, is not amortized. Instead, goodwill is assessed for impairment under the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC. The Company has established December 31 as the annual impairment test date. The Company first makes a qualitative assessment as to whether goodwill is impaired and if it is more likely than not that goodwill is impaired, the Company performs a two-step quantitative impairment analysis to determine if goodwill is impaired. The Company may also determine to skip the qualitative assessment in any year and move directly to the quantitative test. No impairments of goodwill were reported during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

The Company reviews goodwill for impairment annually according to the Intangibles—Goodwill and Other Topic of the FASB ASC. The Company makes a qualitative evaluation about the likelihood of goodwill impairment and if it concludes that it is more likely than not that the carrying amount of a reporting unit is greater than its fair value, then it will be required to perform the first step of the two-step quantitative impairment test. Otherwise, performing the two-step impairment test is unnecessary. The first step consists of estimating the fair value and comparing the estimated fair value with the carrying value of the reporting unit. If the fair value is less than the carrying value, a second step is performed to compute the amount of the impairment by determining an implied fair value of goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is the residual fair value derived by deducting the fair value of a reporting unit’s assets and liabilities from its estimated total fair value, which was calculated in step one. An impairment charge would represent the excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of the goodwill. The guidance requires goodwill to be reviewed annually at the same time every year or when an event occurs or circumstances change such that it is reasonably possible that an impairment may exist. The Company selected December 31 as its annual testing date.

Long-Lived Assets and Intangible Assets

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

Property and equipment are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. If the Company determines that the carrying value of the asset is not recoverable, a permanent impairment charge is recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the long-lived asset exceeds its fair value. No impairments of property and equipment were recorded during the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Warranty Obligation

The Company provides warranties on all product sales. The majority of the Company’s warranties are for one to four years in the normal course of business. The Company accrues for the estimated warranty costs at the time of sale based on historical warranty experience plus any known or expected changes in warranty exposure.

Income Tax

Income Taxes

Deferred income taxes are provided on a liability method in accordance with the Income Taxes Topic of the FASB ASC, whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences. Under this method, deferred income taxes are recorded to reflect the tax consequences on future years of temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts at each period end. If it is more likely than not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized, a valuation allowance is recognized. The guidance also provides criteria for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosures of uncertain tax positions. A tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized if it is “more likely than not” that the position is sustainable based solely on its technical merits.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company maintains cash balances at various financial institutions primarily in California and in Switzerland. In California, cash balances commonly exceed the $250,000 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance limit. In Switzerland, the banks where the Company has cash deposits are either government-owned, or in the case of cash deposited with non-government banks, deposits are insured up to 100,000 Swiss Francs. The Company has not experienced any losses in such accounts and management believes that the Company is not exposed to any significant credit risk with respect to such cash and cash equivalents.

Financial instruments, which subject the Company to potential concentrations of credit risk, consist principally of the Company’s accounts receivable. The Company’s accounts receivable result from product sales to customers in various industries and in various geographical areas, both domestic and foreign. The Company performs credit evaluations of its customers and generally requires no collateral.

Research and Development Expense

Research and development expenditures are expensed in the period incurred. Third-party funding of research and development expense under cost-sharing arrangements is recorded as an offset to research and development expense in the period the expenses are incurred.

Advertising Costs

Advertising Expense

Advertising costs are expensed in the period incurred.

Shipping and Handling Expense

The Company recognizes shipping and handling expenses as a component of cost of revenue.

Foreign Currencies

The Company’s primary foreign currency exposure is related to its subsidiary in Switzerland, which has Euro and local currency (Swiss Franc) revenue and operating expenses, and local currency loans. Changes in these currency exchange rates impact the reported U.S. dollar amount of revenue, expenses and debt. The functional currency of the Swiss subsidiary is the Swiss Franc. Assets and liabilities of the Swiss subsidiary are translated at month-end exchange rates, and revenues, expenses, gains and losses are translated at rates of exchange that approximate the rate in effect at the time of the transaction. Any translation adjustments resulting from this process are presented separately as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income within stockholders’ equity in the consolidated balance sheets. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are reported in "cost of revenue" and "selling, general and administrative" expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

Foreign Currency Derivatives Instruments

Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments

As part of its risk management strategy, the Company uses forward contracts to hedge certain foreign currency exposures. The Company's objective is to partially offset gains or losses resulting from these exposures with opposing gains or losses on the forward contracts, thereby reducing volatility of earnings created by these foreign currency exposures. In accordance with the Derivatives and Hedging Topic of the FASB ASC, the fair values of the forward contracts are estimated at each period end based on quoted market prices and are recorded as a net asset or liability on the consolidated balance sheets. Any gains or losses recognized on these contracts are recorded in “cost of revenue” and “selling, general and administrative” expense in the consolidated statements of operations.

Net Income (Loss) per Share

In accordance with the Earnings Per Share Topic of the FASB ASC, basic net income (loss) per share is calculated using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per share includes the impact of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if dilutive potential common shares were issued. Potentially dilutive securities are not considered in the calculation of diluted net loss per share, as their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.

Share-based Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company has issued stock-based compensation awards to its employees and non-employee directors, including stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and shares under an employee stock purchase plan. The Company records compensation expense for stock-based awards in accordance with the criteria set forth in the Stock Compensation Subtopic of the FASB ASC. Although the Company has not granted stock options since 2013, the Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of historical stock option grants. The determination of the fair value of stock options utilizing the Black-Scholes model was affected by the Company’s stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected term, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends.

The fair value of restricted stock and restricted stock units with service-based or performance-based vesting is based on the closing market price of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. Compensation expense equal to the fair value of each restricted stock award is recognized ratably over the requisite service period. For restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards with vesting contingent on Company performance conditions, the Company uses the requisite service period that is most likely to occur. The requisite service period is estimated based on the expected achievement date of the performance condition. If it is unlikely that a performance condition will be achieved, no compensation expense is recognized unless is later determined that achievement of the performance condition is likely. The requisite service period may be adjusted for changes in the expected outcomes of the related performance conditions, with the impact of such changes recognized as a cumulative adjustment in the consolidated statement of operations in the period in which the expectation changes.

In 2014, the Company issued market-condition restricted stock units to certain members of executive management. Since the vesting of the market-condition restricted stock units is dependent on stock price performance, the fair values of these awards were estimated using a Monte-Carlo valuation model. The determination of the fair value of market-condition restricted stock units utilizing a Monte-Carlo valuation model was affected by the Company’s stock price and a number of assumptions, including expected volatility, expected life, risk-free interest rate and expected dividends.

Share-based compensation expense recognized in the consolidated statement of operations is based on equity awards ultimately expected to vest. The FASB ASC requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods with a cumulative catch up adjustment if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. For market-condition awards, because the effect of the market-condition is reflected as a discount to the awards fair value at grant date, subsequent forfeitures do not result in a reversal of expense.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”). The standard provides companies with a single model for accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific revenue guidance. The core principle of the model is to recognize revenue when control of the goods or services transfers to the customer, as opposed to recognizing revenue when the risks and rewards transfer to the customer under the existing revenue guidance. ASU 2014-09 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The guidance permits companies to either apply the requirements retrospectively to all prior periods presented, or apply the requirements in the year of adoption, through a cumulative adjustment. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on its consolidated financial statements.

In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-15, Disclosure of Uncertainties About an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern. The standard requires management to perform interim and annual assessments of an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year of the date the financial statements are issued and provides guidance on determining when and how to disclose going concern uncertainties in the financial statements. Certain disclosures will be required if conditions give rise to substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern. ASU 2014-15 applies to all entities and is effective for annual and interim reporting periods ending after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect that the adoption of this standard will have a material effect on its financial statements.

Business Enterprise Information

The Company operates as a single operating segment. According to the FASB ASC Topic Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise for which separate financial information is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker ("CODM") in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s CODM is the Chief Executive Officer who evaluates the Company’s financial information and resources and assesses performance on a consolidated basis.

Fair Value Measurement

The Company records certain financial instruments at fair value in accordance with the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC. As of December 31, 2014, the financial instruments to which this topic applied were financial instruments for foreign currency forward contracts. As of December 31, 2014, the fair value of these foreign currency forward contracts was a liability of $1.6 million, which is recorded in “accounts payable and accrued liabilities” in the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of these derivative instruments is measured using models following quoted market prices in active markets for identical instruments, which is a Level 2 input under the fair value hierarchy of the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the FASB ASC. All forward contracts as of December 31, 2014 matured on January 5, 2015 or February 3, 2015. Also see Note 6, Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments and Note 11, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for further discussion of fair value measurements.

The carrying value of short-term and long-term borrowings approximates fair value because of the relative short maturity of these instruments and the interest rates the Company could currently obtain.