SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Product Warranty, Revenue Recognition, Advertising Costs, Income Taxes, Employee Social Security and Welfare Benefit Plans, Government Grants, Profit Appropriation and Segment Reporting - Narrative) (Details) (USD $)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
item
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Government grants      
Proceeds from government grants $ 29,600,000 $ 9,000,000 $ 13,300,000
Advertising costs      
Advertising costs charged to expense 685,000 365,000 301,000
Employee social security and welfare benefit plans      
Welfare benefits expenses 4,358,000 3,863,000 3,700,000
Profit appropriation      
Appropriation to statutory reserves       
Total appropriation 4,068,000 2,782,000  
Segment reporting      
Number of principal business segments 2    
Statutory Reserve [Member]      
Profit appropriation      
Appropriation to statutory reserves $ 1,286,000    
Minimum [Member]      
Product Warranty      
Period of warranties 1 year    
Revenue recognition      
Credit term of distributors 30 days    
Maximum [Member]      
Product Warranty      
Period of warranties 5 years    
Revenue recognition      
Credit term of distributors 90 days    
Vimicro China [Member]      
Profit appropriation      
Minimum percentage of net profit to be allocated to statutory reserve fund 10.00%    
Amount up to which appropriation required to be made to statutory reserve fund 50.00%    
VIE [Member]      
Profit appropriation      
Minimum percentage of net profit to be allocated to statutory reserve fund 10.00%    
Amount up to which appropriation required to be made to statutory reserve fund 50.00%