Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information Document and Entity Information Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Document Type Amendment Flag Document Period End Date Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Filer Category Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Consolidated Balance Sheets Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value, Total Short-term Investments Short-term investments Short-term Investments, Total Accounts Receivable, Net Accounts Receivable, Net, Total Costs in Excess of Billings on Uncompleted Contracts or Programs Expected to be Collected within One Year Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts Inventory, Net Inventories Inventory, Net, Total Assets Held-for-sale, Current Facility held for sale Assets Held-for-sale, Current, Total Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid Expense and Other Assets, Current, Total Assets, Current Total current assets Property and equipment, at cost: Land Land Buildings and Improvements, Gross Building Buildings and Improvements, Gross, Total Machinery and Equipment, Gross Machinery and equipment Machinery and Equipment, Gross, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Gross, Beginning Balance Property, plant and equipment, gross Property, plant and equipment, gross Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Less accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Ending Balance Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Beginning Balance Less accumulated depreciation Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Net property and equipment Patent Costs, Net Of Accumulated Amortization Patent Costs, Net Of Accumulated Amortization Patent costs, net of accumulated amortization of $807,689 and $781,608 Trademark Costs, Net Of Accumulated Amortization Trademark Costs, Net Of Accumulated Amortization Trademark costs, net of accumulated amortization of $58,621 and $55,256 Other Assets, Noncurrent Other assets Other Assets, Noncurrent, Total Asset Total assets Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Accounts Payable, Current Accounts payable Accounts Payable, Current, Total Other Liabilities, Current Other current liabilities Other Liabilities, Current, Total Deferred Compensation Liability, Current Short-term deferred compensation under executive employment agreements Deferred Compensation Liability, Current, Total Billings in Excess of Cost Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts Billings in Excess of Cost, Total Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent Long-term deferred compensation under executive employment agreements Deferred Compensation Liability, Classified, Noncurrent, Total Liabilities Total liabilities Stockholders' equity: Stockholders' equity: Common Stock, Value, Issued Common Stock, Value, Issued, Ending Balance Common Stock, Value, Issued, Beginning Balance Common stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; 36,326,516 and 36,213,293 shares issued and outstanding Common Stock, Value, Issued, Total Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Ending Balance Additional Paid in Capital, Common Stock, Beginning Balance Additional paid-in capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Ending Balance Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Beginning Balance Accumulated deficit Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit), Total Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Total stockholders' equity Liabilities And Stockholders Equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Patent costs, accumulated amortization Patent Costs,Accumulated Amortization Patent costs, accumulated amortization Trademark costs, accumulated amortization Trademark Costs, Accumulated Amortization Trademark costs, accumulated amortization Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share Common stock, par value per share Common Stock, Shares Authorized Common stock, shares authorized Common Stock, Shares, Issued Common stock, shares issued and outstanding Common Stock, Shares, Issued, Total Consolidated Statements of Operations Revenue: Contracts Revenue Contract services Sales Revenue, Goods, Net Product sales Sales Revenue, Goods, Net, Total Revenues Total Revenues Costs and Expenses [Abstract] Operating costs and expenses: Contract Revenue Cost Costs of contract services Cost of Goods Sold Costs of product sales Cost of Goods Sold, Total Research and Development Expense Research and development Research and Development Expense, Total Production engineering Production engineering Reimbursement of costs under DOE grant Reimbursement of costs under DOE grant Reimbursement of costs under DOE grant Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling, general and administrative Selling, General and Administrative Expense, Total Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment Gain on sale of long-lived asset Gain on sale of long-lived asset Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment, Total Costs and Expenses Total Costs and Expenses Operating Income (Loss) Loss before other income (expense) Nonoperating Income (Expense) [Abstract] Other income (expense): Investment Income, Interest Interest income Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Other Other Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total Nonoperating Income (Expense) Total nonoperating income (expense) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net loss Net loss Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted Net loss per common share - basic and diluted Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted, Total Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - basic and diluted Weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding - basic and diluted Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities: Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Nonproduction, Total Share-based Compensation Non-cash equity based compensation Share-based Compensation, Total Increase (Decrease) in Operating Assets [Abstract] Change in operating assets and liabilities: Increase Decrease Accounts Receivable and Costs and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings on Uncompleted Contracts Increase Decrease Accounts Receivable and Costs and Estimated Earnings in Excess of Billings on Uncompleted Contracts Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Inventories Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories, Total Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid, Deferred Expense and Other Assets, Total Increase (Decrease) in Other Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities Accounts payable and other current liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Billing in Excess of Cost of Earnings Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings on uncompleted contracts Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Employer Contribution Deferred compensation under executive employment agreements Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash used in operating activities Net cash used in operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from investing activities: Payments to Acquire Short-term Investments Purchases of short-term investments Purchases of short-term investments Proceeds from Maturities, Prepayments and Calls of Short-term Investments Maturities of short-term investments Increase (Decrease) in Other Noncurrent Assets Decrease (increase) in other long-term assets Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Acquisition of property and equipment Acquisition of property and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Proceeds from Property and Equipment Reimbursements from Grantors Proceeds from Property and Equipment Reimbursements from Grantors Property and equipment reimbursements received from DOE under grant Payments to Acquire Intangible Assets Increase in patent and trademark costs Increase in patent and trademark costs Increase in patent and trademark costs Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment Cash proceeds from the sale of equipment Proceeds from Sale of Property, Plant, and Equipment, Total Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from Issuance of Shares under Incentive and Share-based Compensation Plans, Including Stock Options Issuance of common stock upon exercise of employee stock options Issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan Proceeds from Issuance of Shares under Incentive and Share-based Compensation Plans, Including Stock Options, Total Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Issuance of common stock upon exercise of employee stock options Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Purchase of treasury stock Purchase of treasury stock Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Assets Held-for-sale, Current [Abstract] Gross Value of Facility Held for Sale Facility Held for Sale Gross Value Accumulated Depreciation for Facility Held For Sale Facility Held for Sale Accumulated Depreciation Basis of Presentation Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Basis of Presentation Accounts Receivable Additional Disclosures [Abstract] Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Text Block] Allowance for Doubtful Accounts Stock-Based Compensation Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Stock-Based Compensation Investments Investment [Text Block] Investment Contract In Process [Abstract] Contracts in Process Contract In Process Disclosure [Text Block] Contract In Process Disclosure [Text Block] Contracts in Process Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Inventories Disclosure of Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale [Table Text Block] Facility Held for Sale Government Grants [Abstract] Government Grants Government Grants Disclosure [text Block] Government Grants Disclosure [Text Block] Government Grants Other Current Liabilities Other Liabilities Disclosure [Text Block] Other Current Liabilities Stockholders' Equity Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] Stockholders' Equity Significant Customers [Abstract] Significant Customers Significant Customers Disclosure [Text Block] Significant Customers Disclosure [Text Block] Significant Customers Income Taxes Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Income Taxes Loss Per Common Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Loss Per Common Share Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value of Financial Instruments Disclosure [Text Block] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Disclosure [Text Block] Fair Value of Financial Instruments Fair Value Measurement [Abstract] Fair Value Measurement Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Fair Value Measurements " Segments Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Segments CommitmentsAndContingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Commitments and Contingencies