UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 13,534	$ 11,790	$ 28,065	$ 22,271
Cost of revenues	7,763	5,891	16,167	11,659
Gross profit	5,771	5,899	11,898	10,612
Operating expenses:
Research and development	1,113	792	2,147	1,584
Selling, general and administrative	2,938	2,266	5,877	4,266
Goodwill and intangible assets impairment	1,833	0	1,833	0
Total operating expenses	5,884	3,058	9,857	5,850
Income (loss) from operations	(113)	2,841	2,041	4,762
Interest expense, net	(65)	(64)	(131)	(159)
Other income (expense), net	64	123	336	(358)
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(114)	2,900	2,246	4,245
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	531	(107)	1,481	(99)
Net income (loss)	(645)	3,007	765	4,344
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	58	30	219	30
Net income (loss) attributable to Southwall	(587)	3,037	984	4,374
Deemed dividend on preferred stock	122	122	244	244
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ (709)	$ 2,915	$ 740	$ 4,130
Net income (loss) per common share (1):
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.12)	$ 0.51	$ 0.13	$ 0.72
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.12)	$ 0.42	$ 0.14	$ 0.61
Weighted average shares used in computing per share amounts (1):
Basic (in shares)	5,811	5,766	5,809	5,762
Diluted (in shares)	5,811	7,215	7,204	7,198