XML 43 R55.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) | 0 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |  |  | 0 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 0 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jul. 05, 2011 Claim | May 17, 2013 USD ($) | Jun. 17, 2011 Claim | May 12, 2011 Claim Employees | Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($) Bonds | Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($) Bonds | Sep. 30, 2013 EUR (€) | Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($) | Oct. 17, 2011 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. USD ($) | Oct. 17, 2011 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. CNY | Oct. 08, 2011 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. USD ($) | Oct. 08, 2011 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. CNY | Sep. 13, 2011 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. USD ($) | Sep. 13, 2011 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. CNY | Feb. 27, 2012 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. USD ($) | Feb. 27, 2012 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. CNY | Dec. 22, 2011 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. USD ($) | Dec. 22, 2011 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. CNY | Sep. 30, 2013 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2011 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. USD ($) | Mar. 31, 2011 Sinovel Wind Group Co. Ltd. CNY | Sep. 16, 2011 Dalian Guotong Electric Co. Ltd. USD ($) | Sep. 16, 2011 Dalian Guotong Electric Co. Ltd. CNY | May 12, 2011 Ghodawat Energy Pvt Ltd USD ($) | May 12, 2011 Ghodawat Energy Pvt Ltd EUR (€)
Commitments And Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adverse purchase commitments |  |  |  |  | $ 962,000 | $ 962,000 |  | $ 1,440,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjusted accrual for adverse purchase commitments |  |  |  |  | 200,000 | 500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of putative securities complaints |  |  | 4 | 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of officers putative securities filed against |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of complaints additionally asserted claims against the underwriters |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss contingency |  | 1,800,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of claims consolidated | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sought compensation amount |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 157,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 58,000,000 | 370,000,000 |  |  | 17,000,000 | 105,000,000 | 190,000,000 | 1,200,000,000 |  | 76,000,000 | 485,000,000 |  |  | 24,000,000 | 18,000,000
Value of the undelivered components |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 720,000,000 | 4,600,000,000 |  |  |  |
Damages claimed for unauthorized use of software |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,000,000 | 38,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Monetary damages for trade secret infringement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 453,000,000 | 2,900,000,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Monetary losses from copyright infringement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 200,000 | 1,200,000 |  |
Counterclaims under License Agreement |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,000,000 | 6,000,000
Restricted cash included in current assets |  |  |  |  | 2,021,000 | 2,021,000 |  | 6,136,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restricted cash |  |  |  |  | 4,901,000 | 4,901,000 |  | 4,820,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of performance bonds in support of customer contracts |  |  |  |  | 1 | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Value of performance bond |  |  |  |  | 200,000 | 200,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt instrument maturity date |  |  |  |  |  | Mar. 31, 2014 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Line of credit outstanding |  |  |  |  | $ 3,600,000 | $ 3,600,000 | € 2,700,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Details
Name: | amsc_CommitmentsAndContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Counterclaim for damages sought. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_CounterclaimForDamagesSought
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Damages claimed for unauthorized use of software. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_DamagesClaimedForUnauthorizedUseOfSoftware
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Long-term purchase commitment, adverse purchase commitment, accrual. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAdversePurchaseCommitmentAccrual
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Loss contingency number of claims consolidated. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_LossContingencyNumberOfClaimsConsolidated
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Monetary damages for trade secret infringement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_MonetaryDamagesForTradeSecretInfringement
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Monetary losses from copyright infringement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_MonetaryLossesFromCopyrightInfringement
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of complaints additionally asserted claims against the underwriters. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_NumberOfComplaintAdditionallyAssertedClaimsAgainstUnderwriters
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:positiveIntegerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of officers putative securities filed against. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_NumberOfOfficersPutativeSecuritiesFiledAgainst
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of performance bonds in support of customer contracts. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_NumberOfPerformanceBondsInSupportOfCustomerContracts
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Performance bond, value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_PerformanceBondValue
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The floor amount as of the balance sheet date that the entity must expend to satisfy the terms of disclosed arrangements (excluding long-term commitments) in which the entity must commit resources to supply goods or services to one or more customers. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | amsc_SupplyCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted
Namespace Prefix: | amsc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + 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)(2)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 19, 22 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of loss pertaining to the specified contingency that was charged against earnings in the period, including the effects of revisions in previously reported estimates. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyLossInPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The total number of new claims filed pertaining to a loss contingency during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyNewClaimsFiledNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Minimum amount to be expended to satisfy the terms of arrangements in which the entity has agreed to expend funds to procure goods or services, excluding long-term purchase commitments or unconditional purchase obligations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 25 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 19 -Article 7 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 17 -Article 9 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.17) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.(a)(19)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_PurchaseCommitmentRemainingMinimumAmountCommitted
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 1 -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 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Cash and equivalents whose use in whole or in part is restricted for the long-term, generally by contractual agreements or regulatory requirements. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 1 -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 210.5-02.1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant