The carrying amount of the liability component of convertible debt, which may be settled in cash upon conversion.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Convertible, Maximum Threshold Percentage Of Stock Price Multiplied By Converstion Ratio

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Threshold period of specified consecutive trading days within which common stock price to conversion price of convertible debt instruments must exceed threshold percentage for a specified number of trading days to trigger conversion feature, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Convertible, Threshold Percentage Of Stock Price Trigger

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Threshold number of specified trading days that common stock price to conversion price of convertible debt instruments must exceed threshold percentage within a specified consecutive trading period to trigger conversion feature.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Debt Default, Minimum Debt Outstanding As A Percentage In Aggregate Principal Amount of the Notes

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Debt Default, Threshold For Debt Repayment Acceleration, Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Debt Default, Threshold Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rmbs_DebtInstrumentDebtDefaultThresholdPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Early Redemption, Percentage Of Debt Repaid

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rmbs_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Issuance Cost, Convertible, Equity Component

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Issuance Cost, Convertible, Liability Component

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rmbs_DebtIssuanceCostConvertibleLiabilityComponent
Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Default period of interest payment which may result in the acceleration of the maturity of convertible notes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	rmbs_Defaultperiodofinterestpayment
Namespace Prefix:	rmbs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount of the equity component of convertible debt which may be settled in cash upon conversion.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 31

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6031898-161870

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The ratio applied to the debt for purposes of determining the number of shares of the equity security into which the debt will be converted.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21475-112644

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21506-112644

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21521-112644

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Conversion Rate

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509012

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(5))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Remaining amortization period for discount on the liability component of convertible debt which may be settled in cash upon conversion, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of debt issuance costs (for example, but not limited to, legal, accounting, broker, and regulatory fees).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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Convertible Notes (Details 2) (Convertible Senior Notes [Member], USD $)	0 Months Ended
	Aug. 16, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of convertible notes		$ 310,500,000	$ 172,500,000
1.125% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Conversion ratio	82.8329
Principal amount of convertible notes	138,000,000	138,000,000	0
Liability component, principal amount	107,700,000
Equity component, principal amount	30,300,000
Amortization period for interest expense	5 years
Convertible notes stated interest rate (as a percent)	1.125%	1.125%
Expected term of debt	5 years
Issuance costs	3,600,000
Issuance costs for liability component	2,800,000
Issuance costs for equity component	800,000
Initial conversion price	$ 12.07
Percentage of debt repaid upon default	100.00%
Default period of interest payment resulting in acceleration of the maturity	30 days
Minimum debt repayment as a percentage of outstanding debt after written notice of default	25.00%
Threshold for debt repayment acceleration, amount	$ 40,000,000
1.125% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 \| Triggering Event to Surrender The Notes For Early Conversion, One
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Threshold for trading days	20 days
Number of consecutive trading days for threshold	30 days
Percentage of stock price to trigger conversion	130.00%
1.125% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 \| Triggering Event to Surrender The Notes For Early Conversion, Two
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Threshold for trading days	5 days
Number of consecutive trading days for threshold	5 days
Maximum threshold percentage of stock price multiplied by converstion ratio	98.00%
1.125% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 \| Triggering Event to trigger the acceleration of the maturity of the notes, Five
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Period for written notice of debt default	60 days
Minimum debt repayment as a percentage of outstanding debt after written notice of default	25.00%
1.125% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 \| Triggering Event to trigger the acceleration of the maturity of the notes, Six
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Period for written notice of debt default	30 days
Minimum debt repayment as a percentage of outstanding debt after written notice of default	25.00%