| Component: (Network and Table) | |
|---|---|
| Network | 00500 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (http://www.ao-inc.com/role/StatementConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlows)  | 
| Table | (Implied) | 
| Reporting Entity [Axis] | 0001158114 (http://www.sec.gov/CIK) | 
| Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] | Period [Axis] | ||
|---|---|---|---|
2016-01-01 - 2016-12-31  | 2015-01-01 - 2015-12-31  | 2014-01-01 - 2014-12-31  | |
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]  | |||
Operating activities:  | |||
Net income  | 31,234,000    | 10,793,000    | 4,283,000    | 
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic  | 31,234,000    | 10,793,000    | 4,283,000    | 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:  | |||
Lowerof Cost or Market Adjustment  | |||
Depreciation and amortization  | |||
Deferred income taxes, net  | |||
Loss on disposal of assets  | |||
Share-based compensation  | |||
Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain)  | (  | ||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:  | |||
Accounts receivable, trade  | (  | (  | (  | 
Notes receivable  | (  | ||
Inventories  | (  | (  | |
Other current assets  | (  | (  | |
Accounts payable  | (  | ||
Accrued liabilities  | |||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities  | (  | ||
Investing activities:  | |||
Purchase of short-term investments  | (  | (  | |
Maturities of short-term investments  | |||
Change in restricted cash for construction in progress  | (  | ||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment  | (  | (  | (  | 
Proceeds from disposal of equipment  | |||
Deposits and deferred charges  | (  | (  | |
Purchase of intangible assets  | (  | (  | (  | 
Net cash used in investing activities  | (  | (  | (  | 
Financing activities:  | |||
Proceeds from issuance notes payable and long-term debt  | |||
Principal payments of long-term debt and notes payable  | (  | (  | (  | 
Proceeds from line of credit borrowings  | |||
Repayments of line of credit borrowings  | (  | (  | (  | 
Proceeds from bank acceptance payable  | |||
Repayments of bank acceptance payable  | (  | (  | (  | 
Repayments of notes payable  | (  | (  | (  | 
Decrease (increase) in restricted cash  | (  | ||
Exercise of stock options  | |||
Proceeds from common stock offering, net  | |||
Other  | |||
Net cash provided by financing activities  | |||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash  | (  | (  | |
Net increase (decrease) in cash  | (  | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period  | 28,074,000    | ||
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period  | 50,224,000    | 28,074,000    | 32,175,000    | 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:  | |||
Cash paid for (received from):  | |||
Interest  | |||
Income taxes  | (  | ||
Non-cash investing and financing activities:  | |||
Purchase of intangible assets with notes payable  | |||