Note 8 - Income Taxes (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2020
Notes Tables  
Schedule of Income before Income Tax, Domestic and Foreign [Table Text Block]
Income from continuing operations before income taxes (in thousands)
  
2019
  
2018
Domestic
   $
400
 
   $
(2,331
)
Foreign
    
4,635
 
    
3,931
 
Total
   $
5,035
 
   $
1,600
 
Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]
Components of income tax expense (in thousands)
  
2019
  
2018
Current
                
Federal
   $
34
 
   $
48
 
Foreign
    
1,455
 
    
1,695
 
State and other
    
181
 
    
196
 
Total current income tax expense
    
1,670
 
    
1,939
 
Deferred
                
Federal
    
—
 
    
—
 
Foreign
    
(211
)
    
211
 
State and other
    
—
 
    
—
 
Total deferred income tax expense/(benefit)
    
(211
)
    
211
 
Total income tax expense
   $
1,459
 
   $
2,150
 
Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]
(In thousands)
  
2019
  
2018
Tax expense at federal statutory rate
   $
1,057
 
   $
340
 
State expense, net of federal income tax effect
    
147
 
    
145
 
Deferred balance adjustment    
(212
)
    
—
 
Domestic valuation allowance
    
(337
)
    
(2,612
)
Domestic return to provision    
(172
)
    
2,617
 
Global Intangible Low Tax Income Inclusion
    
703
 
    
438
 
Permanent differences other
    
(5
)
    
126
 
Valuation allowance for state NOLs
    
(2
)
    
76
 
Differences in foreign tax rate
    
(79
)
    
334
 
Foreign rate change    
(63
)
    
—
 
Deferred tax on unremitted earnings
    
183
 
    
413
 
Foreign withholding taxes    
274
 
    
252
 
All other, net expense
    
(35
)
    
21
 
Total income tax expense
   $
1,459
 
   $
2,150
 
Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]
Components of deferred income tax assets (in thousands)
  
2019
  
2018
U.S. Federal NOL carryforward
   $
7,209
 
   $
7,480
 
Deferred compensation
    
401
 
    
382
 
Research tax credit
    
2,686
 
    
2,703
 
Foreign NOL carryforward
    
223
 
    
390
 
Foreign tax credit
    
2,580
 
    
2,305
 
Stock compensation
    
429
 
    
459
 
Other accruals not yet deducted
    
328
 
    
349
 
State NOL carryforward
    
2,567
 
    
2,552
 
Accrued commissions and incentives
    
354
 
    
643
 
Inventory valuation allowance
    
75
 
    
112
 
Other
    
132
 
    
159
 
Deferred tax assets, gross
    
16,984
 
    
17,534
 
Valuation allowance
    
(15,937
)
    
(16,199
)
Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances
   $
1,047
 
   $
1,335
 
                 
Components of the deferred income tax liability
      
 
      
 
Depreciation
   $
(1,275
)
   $
(1,734
)
Foreign subsidiaries unremitted earnings
    
(470
)
    
(498
)
Prepaid
    
(61
)
    
(80
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
   $
(1,806
)
   $
(2,312
)
                 
Deferred tax liability, net
   $
(759
)
   $
(977
)
                 
Balance sheet classification
      
 
      
 
Long-term assets
   $
293
 
   $
458
 
Long-term liability
    
(1,052
)
    
(1,435
)
Total deferred tax liabilities, net of valuation allowances
   $
(759
)
   $
(977
)
Summary of Income Tax Contingencies [Table Text Block]
(In thousands)
  
2019
  
2018
Balance at beginning of the year
   $
1,447
 
   $
1,301
 
Increases in positions taken in a prior period
    
(26
)
    
9
 
Increases in positions taken in a current period
    
132
 
    
147
 
Decreases due to lapse of statute of limitations
    
(8
)
    
(10
)
Balance at end of the year
   $
1,545
 
   $
1,447