NOTE 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments. Fair values of marketable securities are based on quoted market prices.

Marketable Securities

We classify securities with original maturities greater than three months and remaining maturities one year or less as short-term marketable securities and securities with remaining maturities greater than one year as long-term marketable securities. Securities not due at a single maturity date are classified by their average life. We classify all of our marketable securities as available-for-sale, thus securities are recorded at fair value and any associated unrealized gain or loss, net of tax, is included as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).” We use a specific-identification cost basis to determine gains and losses. The amortized cost of marketable securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity, both of which are included in interest income.

We consider an other-than-temporary impairment of our marketable securities to exist if we determine it is probable that we will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of a debt security. If we judged a decline in fair value for any security to be other than temporary, the cost basis of the individual security would be written down and a charge recognized in net income. We consider a number of factors in determining whether other-than-temporary impairment exists, including: credit market conditions; the credit ratings of the securities; historical default rates for securities of comparable credit rating; the presence of insurance of the securities and, if insured, the credit rating and financial condition of the insurer; the effect of market interest rates on the value of the securities; and the duration and extent of any unrealized losses. We also consider the likelihood that we will be required to sell the securities prior to maturity based on our financial condition and anticipated cash flows. We determined that no write-downs for other-than-temporary impairment were required on available-for-sale securities during fiscal 2016, 2015, or 2014.

Concentration of Risk and Financial Instruments

Financial instruments potentially subject to significant concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash equivalents, marketable securities, and accounts receivable.

Cash and cash equivalents have been maintained in financial institutions we believe have high credit quality, however these accounts are generally in excess of federally insured amounts. We have invested our excess cash in corporate-backed and municipal-backed bonds and money market instruments. Our investment policy prescribes purchases of only high-grade securities, and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one issuer.

Our customers are throughout the world. We generally do not require collateral from our customers, but we perform ongoing credit evaluations of their financial condition. More information on accounts receivable is contained in the paragraph titled “Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts” of this note.

Additionally, we are dependent on critical suppliers including our packaging vendors and suppliers of certain raw silicon and semiconductor wafers that are incorporated in our products.

Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We grant credit to customers in the normal course of business and at times may require customers to prepay for an order prior to shipment. Accounts receivable are recorded net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. We make estimates of the uncollectibility of accounts receivable. We specifically analyze accounts receivable, historical bad debts, and customer creditworthiness when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance. We had no charges or provisions to our allowance for doubtful accounts in fiscal 2016, 2015, or 2014.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined by the first in, first out method. We record inventory reserves when we determine certain inventory is unlikely to be sold based on sales trends, turnover, competition, and other market factors.

Product Warranty

In general we warranty our products to be free from defects in material and workmanship for one year.

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are stated at cost. Depreciation of machinery and equipment, and furniture and fixtures is recorded over the estimated useful lives of the assets, generally five years, using the straight-line method. Amortization of leasehold improvements is recorded using the straight-line method over the lesser of the lease term or five-year useful life. We record losses on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets’ carrying amount. We have not identified any indicators of impairment during fiscal 2016, 2015, or 2014.

Revenue Recognition

Product Revenue Recognition

We recognize product revenue when evidence of an arrangement exists, the price to the buyer is fixed and determinable, collectability is reasonably assured and the product has shipped. Our sales are shipped FOB shipping point, meaning that our customers (end users and distributors) take title and assume the risks and rewards of ownership on shipment. Our customers may return defective products for refund or replacement under warranty, and have other very limited rights of return.

Shipping charges billed to customers are included in product sales and the related shipping costs are included in selling, general, and administrative expense. Such shipping costs were $20,721 for fiscal 2016, $12,771 for fiscal 2015, and $15,542 for fiscal 2014.

Our stocking distributors take title and assume the risks and rewards of product ownership. Payments from our distributors are not contingent on resale or any other matter other than the passage of time, and delivery of products is not dependent on the number of units resold to the ultimate customer. There are no other significant acceptance criteria, pricing or payment terms that would affect revenue recognition.

Accounting for Commissions and Discounts

We sometimes utilize independent sales representatives that provide services relating to promoting our products and facilitating product sales but do not purchase our products. We pay commissions to sales representatives based on the amount of revenue facilitated, and such commissions are recorded as selling, general, and administrative expenses. Under certain limited circumstances, our distributors may earn commissions for activities unrelated to their purchases of our products, such as for facilitating the sale of custom products or research and development contracts with third parties. We recognize any such commissions as selling, general, and administrative expenses.

We presume consideration given to a customer is a reduction in revenue unless both of the following conditions are met: (i) we receive an identifiable benefit in exchange for the consideration and the identifiable benefit is sufficiently separable from the customer’s purchase of our products such that we could have purchased the products or services from a third party; and (ii) we can reasonably estimate the fair value of the benefit received. We recognize discounts provided to our distributors as reductions in revenue.

Research and Development Contract Revenue Recognition

We recognize contract revenues pro-rata as work progresses. Our research and development contracts do not contain post-shipment obligations. Contracts may be either firm-fixed-price or cost-plus-fixed-fee. Firm-fixed-price contracts provide for a price that is not subject to any adjustment based on our cost in performing the contract.

Cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts are cost-reimbursement contracts that also provide for payment to us of a negotiated fee that is fixed at the inception of the contract. The costs for which we earn reimbursement are the actual costs incurred and are recorded in the period in which they are incurred. We recognize the contract fees pro-rata as work progresses.

Income Taxes

We account for income taxes using the liability method. Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. We provide valuation allowances against deferred tax assets if we determine that it is less likely than not that we will be able to utilize the deferred tax assets.

Research and Development Expense Recognition

Research and development costs are expensed as they are incurred.

Stock-Based Compensation

We measure stock-based compensation cost at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and recognize the compensation expense over the requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period. We estimate pre-vesting option forfeitures at the time of grant by analyzing historical data and revise those estimates in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. Ultimately, the total expense recognized over the vesting period will only be for those awards that vest.

Net Income Per Share

Net income per basic share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares issued and outstanding during each year. Net income per diluted share amounts assume conversion, exercise or issuance of all potential common stock instruments (stock options and warrants). Stock options totaling 6,000 for fiscal 2016, 4,000 for fiscal 2015, and 4,000 for fiscal 2014 were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise prices were greater than the market price of the common stock. The following table reflects the components of common shares outstanding:

	Year Ended March 31
	2016		2015		2014
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic		4,850,209		4,855,504		4,851,460
Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options		2,393		16,431		15,639
Warrants		-		-		592
Shares used in computing net income per share – diluted		4,852,602		4,871,935		4,867,691

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

In November 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-17,

Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes

. ASU 2015-17 simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes and require that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. This update applies to all entities that present a classified statement of financial position. These amendments may be applied either prospectively to all deferred tax liabilities and assets or retrospectively to all periods presented. If the guidance is applied prospectively, disclosure is made in the first interim and first annual period of change, the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle and a statement that prior periods were not retrospectively adjusted. If the guidance is applied retrospectively, disclosure is made in the first interim and first annual period of change, the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle and quantitative information about the effects of the accounting change on prior periods. The amendments are effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Earlier application is permitted for all entities as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. We early adopted ASU 2015-17 during our fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 on a prospective basis. Accordingly, our fiscal 2016 Balance Sheet classifies deferred tax liabilities and assets as noncurrent. Our fiscal 2015 Balance Sheet was not retrospectively adjusted.

Future Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-10,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing

. ASU 2016-10 is intended to reduce the cost and complexity of applying the guidance in the FASB's new revenue standard on identifying performance obligations, and is also intended to improve the operability and understandability of the licensing implementation guidance. The effective date for ASU 2016-10 is the same as for ASU 2014-09, which will be our first quarter of fiscal 2019. We have not yet evaluated the impact of ASU 2014-09 on our financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09,

Compensation—Stock Compensation

, which simplifies the accounting for the taxes related to stock based compensation, including adjustments to how excess tax benefits and a company’s payments for tax withholdings should be classified. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within that year, which will be fiscal 2018 for us. We do not expect adoption of ASU 2016-09 to have a significant impact on our financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-08,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Principal versus Agent Considerations

. ASU 2016-08 is intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations. The effective date for ASU 2016-08 is the same as for ASU 2014-09, which will be our first quarter of fiscal 2019. We have not yet evaluated the impact of ASU 2014-09 on our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02,

Lease Accounting

. ASU 2016-02 requires recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet of lessees. This update is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018, which will be fiscal 2020 for us. ASU 2016-02 requires a modified retrospective transition approach and provides certain optional transition relief. We have not yet evaluated the impact of ASU 2016-02 on our financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-1,

Financial Instruments—Overall: Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

. The amendment changes the accounting for and financial statement presentation of equity investments, other than those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee. The amendment provides clarity on the measurement methodology to be used for the required disclosure of fair value of financial instruments measured at amortized cost on the balance sheet and clarifies that an entity should evaluate the need for a valuation allowance on deferred tax assets related to available-for-sale securities in combination with the entity’s other deferred tax assets, among other changes. The amendment is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those fiscal years, which will be fiscal 2019 for us. We do not expect adoption of ASU 2016-1 to have a significant impact on our financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11,

Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory

. ASU 2015-11 requires inventory that is recorded using the first-in, first-out method to be measured at the lower of cost or net realizable value. ASU 2015-11 will be effective prospectively for our fiscal 2018, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect adoption of ASU 2015-11 to have a significant impact on our financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)

, which supersedes the revenue recognition requirements in Accounting Standards Codification 605,

Revenue Recognition

. ASU 2014-09 is based on the principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. It also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The guidance permits two methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14,

Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date

, which deferred the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. As a result, ASU 2014-09 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, which will be our first quarter of fiscal 2019. We have not yet evaluated the impact of ASU 2014-09 on our financial statements.