Note 1 - Description of Business and Basis of Presentation	6 Months Ended
Jun. 29, 2012
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]	1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation AuthenTec, Inc. (“AuthenTec”, “our”, “we”, etc.) is a leading provider of mobile and network security solutions for enterprise, government and consumer markets. We provide a series of products including fingerprint sensors, software and intellectual property (IP) that provide security, convenience, personalization and navigation features in such end-use products as PCs, tablets, smartphones, printers, network servers and gateways. During the periods covered by these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, we operated in two reporting segments: Smart Sensor Solutions (“SSS”) - comprised of smart fingerprint sensors, area sensors (TouchChip sensors), identity management and electronic commerce (e-commerce) solutions – and Embedded Security Solutions (“ESS”) – network and mobile system security solutions. We primarily sell our products to original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, original design manufacturers, or ODMs, contract manufacturers, software application vendors, and service providers. We operate a fabless manufacturing model, whereby manufacturing requirements are outsourced to third parties. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). They do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AuthenTec, Inc and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation. In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair statement of our results of operations for the interim periods reported and of our financial condition as of the date of the interim balance sheet have been included. Operating results for the three months ended June 29, 2012 are not indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 28, 2012 or for any other period. Revenue Recognition - Software Contracts Requiring Contract Accounting A majority of our software sales do not require significant production, modification or customization at the time of delivery to the customer, however, at times we enter into certain multiple element arrangements that include the sale of software with other elements that involve services to provide significant production, modification, or customization of the software. Under these arrangements, software license fees and professional service revenues are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method over the customization period, which generally ranges from 3 to 24 months. For contracts with customization period that is less than 3 months, we recognize revenue based on the completed contract method. Under the percentage-of-completion method, revenues and profits are recognized throughout the term of the customization based upon estimates of total labor hours incurred and revenues to be generated over the term of the customization. Changes in estimates of total labor hours and the related effect on the timing of revenues and profits are recognized in the period in which they are determinable. Accordingly, changes in these estimates could occur and have a material effect on our operating results in the period of change. Revenue Recognition – Smart Sensors Certain of our smart sensor sales are made to distributors under agreements providing for price protection and limited right of return on unsold merchandise. Revenue and cost relating to distributor sales are deferred until the product is sold by the distributor. Related revenue and costs are then reflected in income based on sales reported by distributors. As of June 29, 2012, the deferred cost of sales included in inventory related to these distributor sales was $92,000, and the deferred revenue was $263,000. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 30, 2011 contained in our Annual Report on the Form 10-K, filed with the SEC March 9, 2012. The year end consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements set forth in this report, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We utilize a 52/53 week fiscal year. Our current 52 week fiscal year will end on December 28, 2012. References to past or future quarterly or annual periods in our financial statements are to those respective fiscal periods which vary from exact calendar quarters or years.

Note 1 - Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

6 Months Ended

Jun. 29, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

AuthenTec, Inc. (“AuthenTec”, “our”, “we”, etc.) is a leading provider of mobile and network security solutions for enterprise, government and consumer markets. We provide a series of products including fingerprint sensors, software and intellectual property (IP) that provide security, convenience, personalization and navigation features in such end-use products as PCs, tablets, smartphones, printers, network servers and gateways. During the periods covered by these unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, we operated in two reporting segments: Smart Sensor Solutions (“SSS”) - comprised of smart fingerprint sensors, area sensors (TouchChip sensors), identity management and electronic commerce (e-commerce) solutions – and Embedded Security Solutions (“ESS”) – network and mobile system security solutions.

We primarily sell our products to original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, original design manufacturers, or ODMs, contract manufacturers, software application vendors, and service providers. We operate a fabless manufacturing model, whereby manufacturing requirements are outsourced to third parties.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). They do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AuthenTec, Inc and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation. In our opinion, all adjustments, consisting primarily of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair statement of our results of operations for the interim periods reported and of our financial condition as of the date of the interim balance sheet have been included. Operating results for the three months ended June 29, 2012 are not indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 28, 2012 or for any other period.

Revenue Recognition - Software Contracts Requiring Contract Accounting

A majority of our software sales do not require significant production, modification or customization at the time of delivery to the customer, however, at times we enter into certain multiple element arrangements that include the sale of software with other elements that involve services to provide significant production, modification, or customization of the software. Under these arrangements, software license fees and professional service revenues are recognized using the percentage-of-completion method over the customization period, which generally ranges from 3 to 24 months. For contracts with customization period that is less than 3 months, we recognize revenue based on the completed contract method. Under the percentage-of-completion method, revenues and profits are recognized throughout the term of the customization based upon estimates of total labor hours incurred and revenues to be generated over the term of the customization. Changes in estimates of total labor hours and the related effect on the timing of revenues and profits are recognized in the period in which they are determinable. Accordingly, changes in these estimates could occur and have a material effect on our operating results in the period of change.

Revenue Recognition – Smart Sensors

Certain of our smart sensor sales are made to distributors under agreements providing for price protection and limited right of return on unsold merchandise. Revenue and cost relating to distributor sales are deferred until the product is sold by the distributor. Related revenue and costs are then reflected in income based on sales reported by distributors. As of June 29, 2012, the deferred cost of sales included in inventory related to these distributor sales was $92,000, and the deferred revenue was $263,000.

These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes for the year ended December 30, 2011 contained in our Annual Report on the Form 10-K, filed with the SEC March 9, 2012.

The year end consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements set forth in this report, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

We utilize a 52/53 week fiscal year. Our current 52 week fiscal year will end on December 28, 2012. References to past or future quarterly or annual periods in our financial statements are to those respective fiscal periods which vary from exact calendar quarters or years.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for organization, consolidation and basis of presentation of financial statements disclosure.

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+ Details

AUTHENTEC INC 10-Q