Intangible assets - Note 7

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Notes to Financial Statements

Intangible assets - Note 7

7. Intangible assets

Our intangible assets consist exclusively of technology-based purchased patents. The patents are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit, ranging from one to 17 years. The gross value of our intangible assets was $1.6 million as of December 31, 2014 and 2013. Amortization expense was $132,000 and $158,000 in 2014 and 2013, respectively. In 2014, we recorded an impairment amounting to $40,000 on 5 patents that were abandoned in prosecution. In 2013, we recorded an impairment amounting to $277,000 on 42 patents that were abandoned in prosecution.

The following table outlines the estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets held at December 31, 2014:

Year ended December 31,		Amount
2015	$	128,000
2016		127,000
2017		116,000
2018		115,000
2019		115,000
Thereafter		372,000
Total	$	973,000