Intangible assets - Note 7

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Notes to Financial Statements

Intangible assets - Note 7

7. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Our intangible assets consist exclusively of technology-based purchased patents. Our patents are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit, ranging from one to seventeen years. The gross value of our intangible assets was $1.6 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014. Amortization expense was $128,000 in 2015, compared to $132,000 in 2014 and $158,000 in 2013. In 2015, there were no impairments recorded and none of our patents were abandoned in prosecution. In 2014, we recorded an impairment amounting to $40,000 on five patents that were abandoned in prosecution. In 2013, we recorded an impairment amounting to $277,000 on forty-two patents that were abandoned in prosecution. The following table outlines our estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets held at December 31, 2015 (in thousands):

Years Ended December 31,		Amount
2016	$	127
2017		116
2018		115
2019		115
2020		98
Thereafter		274
	$	845