Consolidated Statements Of Operations And Comprehensive Loss (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Net revenue $ 63,656 $ 76,459 $ 52,114
Cost of revenue (42,932) (51,117) (35,183)
Gross profit 20,724 25,342 16,931
Operating expenses:      
Research and development, net (21,326) (19,641) (16,920)
Selling and marketing (12,836) (6,221) (3,867)
General and administrative (12,735) (9,491) (10,798)
Assets impairment (6,599)    
Total operating expenses (53,496) (35,353) (31,585)
Loss from operations (32,772) (10,011) (14,654)
Other income/(expense):      
Interest income 673 1,071 1,422
Foreign exchange gain/(loss), net 1,678 634 (7)
Gain on disposal of marketable equity securities 1,517 367 2,461
Others, net 501 466 408
Loss before income taxes and share of profit of an unconsolidated affiliate subject to equity accounting (28,403) (7,473) (10,370)
Income tax (expense)/benefit 861 (750) (532)
Net loss before share of profit of an unconsolidated affiliate subject to equity accounting (27,542) (8,223) (10,902)
Equity in profit of an unconsolidated affiliate subject to equity accounting, net of tax     3
Net loss from continuing operations (27,542) (8,223) (10,899)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (12,576) (16,884) (9,782)
Net loss (40,118) (25,107) (20,681)
Loss attributable to non-controlling interest (11,918) (6,463) (1,914)
Loss attributed to Vimicro International Corporation (28,200) (18,644) (18,767)
Other comprehensive income      
Foreign currency translation adjustment 3,309 2,535 93
Unrealized gain/(loss) on marketable equity securities (1,368) 913 484
Comprehensive loss (38,177) (21,659) (20,104)
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest (10,444) (5,431) (1,869)
Comprehensive loss attributable to Vimicro International Corporation (27,733) (16,228) (18,235)
Loss per share - basic and diluted      
continuing operations $ (0.10) $ (0.02) $ (0.06)
discontinued operations $ (0.09) $ (0.11) $ (0.07)
Total loss per share - basic and diluted $ (0.19) $ (0.13) $ (0.13)
Weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding      
Basic and diluted 145,123,889 147,815,985 143,182,200
Components of share-based compensation expenses are included in the following expense captions:      
Share-based compensation expense (2,421) (4,063) (8,955)
Research And Development, Net [Member]
     
Components of share-based compensation expenses are included in the following expense captions:      
Share-based compensation expense (782) (1,918) (3,119)
Selling And Marketing [Member]
     
Components of share-based compensation expenses are included in the following expense captions:      
Share-based compensation expense (80) (190) (261)
General and Administrative [Member]
     
Components of share-based compensation expenses are included in the following expense captions:      
Share-based compensation expense $ (1,559) $ (1,955) $ (5,575)