Organization and Summary of significant accounting policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of MRV and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. MRV consolidates the financial results of less than majority-owned subsidiaries when it has effective control, voting control, or has provided the entity's working capital. When investment by others in these enterprises reduces the Company's voting control below 50%, MRV discontinues consolidation and uses the cost or equity method of accounting for these investments, unless otherwise required. The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by MRV, and are unaudited, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations although MRV believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2013 (this “Form 10-Q”) should be read in conjunction with “Selected Financial Data,” “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” and the Financial Statements and Notes thereto included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 (the “2012 Form 10-K”) filed with the SEC.
Restricted Time Deposits	Restricted time deposits represent investments that are restricted as to withdrawal. Restricted time deposits generally secure standby letters of credit, bank lines of credit, or bank loans. Investments in and releases of restricted time deposits are included in investing activities on the Company's Statement of Cash Flows unless the time deposits relate to an underlying bank loan and will be used to repay the loan, in which case the related cash flows are treated as financing activities.
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Policy	Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk primarily consist of cash and cash equivalents placed with high credit quality institutions and accounts receivable due from customers. MRV evaluates the collectability of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. If the Company becomes aware of a customer's inability to meet its financial obligations after a sale has occurred, the Company records an allowance to reduce the net receivable to the amount that it reasonably believes to be collectable from the customer. For all other customers, the Company records allowances for doubtful accounts based on the length of time the receivables are past due, the current business environment, and historical experience. If the financial conditions of MRV's customers were to deteriorate or if economic conditions worsen, additional allowances may be required in the future.

Entity's cash and cash equivalents accounting policy with respect to restricted balances. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or company statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits.

+ References+ Details

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for trade and other accounts receivables. This disclosure may include the basis at which such receivables are carried in the entity's statements of financial position (for example, net realizable value), how the entity determines the level of its allowance for doubtful accounts, when impairments, charge-offs or recoveries are recognized, and the entity's income recognition policies for such receivables, including its treatment of related fees and costs, its treatment of premiums, discounts or unearned income, when accrual of interest is discontinued, how the entity records payments received on nonaccrual receivables and its policy for resuming accrual of interest on such receivables. If the enterprise holds a large number of similar loans, disclosure may include the accounting policy for the anticipation of prepayments and significant assumptions underlying prepayment estimates for amortization of premiums, discounts, and nonrefundable fees and costs.

+ References+ Details