Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Notes to Financial Statements
Management's Statement	The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, have been prepared by MicroVision, Inc. ("we" or "our") and have not been audited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to state fairly the financial position at March 31, 2016 and the results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented have been made and consist of normal recurring adjustments. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. You should read these condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that may be attained for the entire fiscal year. We have incurred significant losses since inception. We have funded our operations to date primarily through the sale of common stock, convertible preferred stock, warrants, the issuance of convertible debt and, to a lesser extent, from development contract revenues, licensing activities and product and component sales. At March 31, 2016, we had $11.2 million in cash and cash equivalents. Based on our current operating plan, and assuming no additional funds from our existing At-the-Market (ATM) facility discussed in Note 7, we anticipate that we have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to fund our operations through December 2016. We will require additional cash to fund our operating plan past that time. We plan to obtain additional cash through the issuance of equity or debt securities and/or product sales and licensing activities. There can be no assurance that additional cash will be available or that, if available, it will be available on terms acceptable to us on a timely basis. If adequate funds are not available on a timely basis, we intend to consider limiting our operations substantially. This limitation of operations could include reducing our planned investment in our production capacities or research and development projects, staff, operating costs, or capital expenditures. We are introducing new technology into an emerging market which creates significant uncertainty about our ability to accurately project revenue, costs and cash flows. Our capital requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to, the rate at which original design manufacturers (ODMs) or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) introduce products incorporating our PicoP® scanning technology and the market acceptance and competitive position of such products. If revenues are less than we anticipate, if the mix of revenues and the associated margins vary from anticipated amounts or if expenses exceed the amounts budgeted, we may require additional capital earlier than expected to fund our operations. In addition, our operating plan provides for the development of strategic relationships with suppliers of components and systems and equipment manufacturers that may require additional investments by us. We have received a report from our independent registered public accounting firm regarding the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 that includes an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements are prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern.
Net Loss Per Share	Basic net loss per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the periods. Diluted net loss per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and the dilutive effect of all potentially dilutive securities, including common stock equivalents and convertible securities. Diluted net loss per share is equal to basic net loss per share because the effect of dilutive securities outstanding during the periods, including options and warrants computed using the treasury stock method, is anti-dilutive.
Inventory	Our inventory consists of raw materials and finished goods assemblies. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Management periodically assesses the need to account for obsolescence of inventory and adjusts the carrying value of inventory to its net realizable value when required. In addition, we reduce the value of our inventory to its estimated scrap value when management determines that it is not probable that the inventory will be consumed through the normal course of business during the next twelve months. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we recorded aggregate write-downs of $7.1 million and $6.9 million, respectively, offsetting inventory deemed to be obsolete or scrap inventory. From time to time, we may enter into arrangements to sell the obsolete or scrap inventory, or enter into consignment agreements with third parties to sell the units, resulting in a gain in the period such transactions are realized.
Share-based Compensation	We issue share-based compensation to employees in the form of options exercisable into our common stock and restricted shares of our common stock. We account for equity instruments issued to employees using the straight-line attribution method of allocating the fair value of share-based compensation expense over the requisite service period of the related award. We determine the fair value of options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with estimates of option lives, stock price volatility and interest rates, expensed over the periods of service, allowing for pre-vest forfeitures. The fair value of restricted shares is determined by the closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the date of grant. Changes in the estimated inputs, or using other option valuation methods, could result in materially different option values and share-based compensation expense.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2016

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2016, the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, and Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, have been prepared by MicroVision, Inc. ("we" or "our") and have not been audited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to state fairly the financial position at March 31, 2016 and the results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented have been made and consist of normal recurring adjustments. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. You should read these condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2016 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results that may be attained for the entire fiscal year.

We have incurred significant losses since inception. We have funded our operations to date primarily through the sale of common stock, convertible preferred stock, warrants, the issuance of convertible debt and, to a lesser extent, from development contract revenues, licensing activities and product and component sales. At March 31, 2016, we had $11.2 million in cash and cash equivalents.

Based on our current operating plan, and assuming no additional funds from our existing At-the-Market (ATM) facility discussed in Note 7, we anticipate that we have sufficient cash and cash equivalents to fund our operations through December 2016. We will require additional cash to fund our operating plan past that time. We plan to obtain additional cash through the issuance of equity or debt securities and/or product sales and licensing activities. There can be no assurance that additional cash will be available or that, if available, it will be available on terms acceptable to us on a timely basis. If adequate funds are not available on a timely basis, we intend to consider limiting our operations substantially. This limitation of operations could include reducing our planned investment in our production capacities or research and development projects, staff, operating costs, or capital expenditures.

We are introducing new technology into an emerging market which creates significant uncertainty about our ability to accurately project revenue, costs and cash flows. Our capital requirements will depend on many factors, including, but not limited to, the rate at which original design manufacturers (ODMs) or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) introduce products incorporating our PicoP® scanning technology and the market acceptance and competitive position of such products. If revenues are less than we anticipate, if the mix of revenues and the associated margins vary from anticipated amounts or if expenses exceed the amounts budgeted, we may require additional capital earlier than expected to fund our operations. In addition, our operating plan provides for the development of strategic relationships with suppliers of components and systems and equipment manufacturers that may require additional investments by us.

We have received a report from our independent registered public accounting firm regarding the consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 that includes an explanatory paragraph expressing substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements are prepared assuming we will continue as a going concern.

Net Loss Per Share

Basic net loss per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the periods. Diluted net loss per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and the dilutive effect of all potentially dilutive securities, including common stock equivalents and convertible securities. Diluted net loss per share is equal to basic net loss per share because the effect of dilutive securities outstanding during the periods, including options and warrants computed using the treasury stock method, is anti-dilutive.

Inventory

Our inventory consists of raw materials and finished goods assemblies. Inventory is stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Management periodically assesses the need to account for obsolescence of inventory and adjusts the carrying value of inventory to its net realizable value when required.

In addition, we reduce the value of our inventory to its estimated scrap value when management determines that it is not probable that the inventory will be consumed through the normal course of business during the next twelve months. At March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, we recorded aggregate write-downs of $7.1 million and $6.9 million, respectively, offsetting inventory deemed to be obsolete or scrap inventory. From time to time, we may enter into arrangements to sell the obsolete or scrap inventory, or enter into consignment agreements with third parties to sell the units, resulting in a gain in the period such transactions are realized.

Share-based Compensation

We issue share-based compensation to employees in the form of options exercisable into our common stock and restricted shares of our common stock. We account for equity instruments issued to employees using the straight-line attribution method of allocating the fair value of share-based compensation expense over the requisite service period of the related award. We determine the fair value of options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with estimates of option lives, stock price volatility and interest rates, expensed over the periods of service, allowing for pre-vest forfeitures. The fair value of restricted shares is determined by the closing price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on the date of grant. Changes in the estimated inputs, or using other option valuation methods, could result in materially different option values and share-based compensation expense.