Intangible assets - Note 7

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Notes to Financial Statements

Intangible assets - Note 7

7. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Our intangible assets consist exclusively of technology-based purchased patents. The gross value of our intangible assets was $1.6 million in each of the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. Amortization expense was $127,000 in 2016, $128,000 in 2015, and $132,000 in 2014. In 2016 and 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. The following table outlines our estimated future amortization expense related to intangible assets held at December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

Years Ended December 31,		Amount
2017	$	116
2018		115
2019		115
2020		98
2021		80
Thereafter		194
	$	718