Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($) shares
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	$ 379,000	$ 218,000
Inventory, Net	11,453,000	15,635,000	$ 12,334
Inventory Valuation Reserves	670,000	505,000	591
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets Held-for-use	0	0	0
Capitalized Computer Software, Additions	1,086,000	128,000	34,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0	0	0
Severance Costs	$ 1,498,000	1,568,000	1,494,000
Product Warranty Term	1 year
Financial Grants in Support of Research and Development	$ 2,738,000	$ 3,002,000	$ 2,116,000
Share-based Compensation Arrangement byShare-based Payment Award, Number of Expired Equity Incentive Plans	2
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Equity Incentive Plans	3
Share-based Compensation, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Number of Plans	1
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount (in Shares) | shares	403,632	1,811	2,730,867
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	$ 108,285,000	$ 104,073,000
Available-for-sale Securities	107,784,000	103,777,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	534,000	410,000
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Receivable	0	0
Write-off of Expired Option Related to Equity Method Investment	400,000	0
Foreign Exchange Option [Member]
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Price Risk Cash Flow Hedge Asset, at Fair Value	12,850,000	16,575,000
Forward Contracts [Member]
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Price Risk Cash Flow Hedge Asset, at Fair Value	1,800,000
Debt Securities [Member]
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	102,717,000	101,474,000
Available-for-sale Securities	102,216,000	$ 101,178,000
Available-for-sale Securities, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Loss, before Tax	$ 501,000
Minimum [Member]
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	3 years
Derivative Instrument Hedging Period	1 month
Maximum [Member]
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	7 years 109 days
Derivative Instrument Hedging Period	12 months
Computer Software, Intangible Asset [Member]
Note 2 - Significant Accounting Policies (Details) [Line Items]
Finite-Lived Intangible Asset, Useful Life	3 years