Long-term contracts (Unbilled Contracts) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Long-Term Contracts Unbilled Contracts Details
Billable within 30 days	$ 5	$ 63
Billable between 31 and 90 days	0	0
Billable after 90 days	7	7
Total billable	$ 12	$ 70

The amount of unbilled receivables from customers under long-term contracts that have not been billed and are billable after 90 days of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mvis_BillableAfter90Days
Namespace Prefix:	mvis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of unbilled receivables from customers under long-term contracts that have not been billed and are billable within 31 and 90 days of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mvis_BillableBetween31And90Days
Namespace Prefix:	mvis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of unbilled receivables from customers under long-term contracts that have not been billed and are billable within 30 days of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	mvis_BillableWithin30Days
Namespace Prefix:	mvis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	mvis_LongtermContractsServicesBillableDetailsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	mvis_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of unbilled receivables from customers under long-term contracts that have not been billed and were not billable at the balance sheet date.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 910

-SubTopic 310

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6471494&loc=d3e49336-109356

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnbilledReceivablesNotBillableAtBalanceSheetDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant