Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue:
Product revenue	$ 207,538	$ 204,749	$ 183,290
Service revenue	59,215	51,283	45,218
Total revenue	266,753	256,032	228,508
Cost of sales	159,161	145,312	132,760
Gross profit	107,592	110,720	95,748
Operating expenses:
Product development and engineering	24,318	21,788	22,732
Selling, general and administrative	72,855	74,592	77,599
Impairment of goodwill	7,095	0	0
Total operating expenses	104,268	96,380	100,331
Operating income (loss)	3,324	14,340	(4,583)
Interest expense	(930)	(950)	(1,310)
Gain from settlement of deferred consideration obligation	0	520	20,524
Gain from sales of investments in unconsolidated entities	0	0	3,488
Other income (loss), net	(1,227)	(2,576)	623
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	1,167	11,334	18,742
Provision for income taxes	4,579	2,660	4,159
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(3,412)	8,674	14,583
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes of $(20), $727, and $2,097, respectively	(3,414)	42,106	(13,183)
Net income (loss)	(6,826)	50,780	1,400
Less:
Net income from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	2,089	1,757
Net income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	47
Net income (loss) attributable to MRV	(6,826)	48,691	(404)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to MRV	(3,412)	6,585	12,826
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to MRV	$ (3,414)	$ 42,106	$ (13,230)
Net income (loss) attributable to MRV per share — basic:
From continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.04	$ 0.08
From discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.27	$ (0.08)
Net income (loss) attributable to MRV per share — basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.31	$ 0.00
Net income (loss) attributable to MRV per share — diluted:
From continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.04	$ 0.08
From discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)	$ 0.27	$ (0.08)
Net income (loss) attributable to MRV per share — diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.04)	$ 0.31	$ 0.00
Weighted average number of shares:
Basic (in shares)	157,561	157,569	157,547
Diluted (in shares)	157,561	158,423	157,665