XML 14 R54.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Warrants and Derivative Liabilities - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
0 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Nov. 13, 2014
Nov. 15, 2013
Jun. 05, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Mar. 02, 2014
Oct. 09, 2013
Apr. 04, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 19, 2014
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Common stock, shares issued 9,100,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues                      
Gain (loss) in change of fair value of derivative instruments and warrants       $ 2,288amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants $ 535amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants $ 3,048amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants $ 1,890amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants          
Convertible debt instrument redemption waiting period             1 year          
Convertible debt instrument contractual term             30 months          
Warrants expiration date   May 15, 2019 Dec. 05, 2017                  
Common stock units offered 9,100,000us-gaap_CommonUnitIssued                      
Warrant to purchase one share of common stock 90.00%amsc_WarrantsToPurchaseOneShareOfCommonStock                      
Number Of Warrants Issued To Purchase Common Stock 8,200,000amsc_NumberOfWarrantsIssuedToPurchaseCommonStock                      
Shares issued, price per share $ 1.10us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare     $ 1.10us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare   $ 1.10us-gaap_SaleOfStockPricePerShare            
Convertible Bond                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Gain (loss) in change of fair value of derivative instruments and warrants         200amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= amsc_ConvertibleBondMember
  500amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= amsc_ConvertibleBondMember
         
Senior Secured Term Loan First Warrant                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Gain (loss) in change of fair value of derivative instruments and warrants       100amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredTermLoanFirstWarrantMember
100amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredTermLoanFirstWarrantMember
100amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredTermLoanFirstWarrantMember
100amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredTermLoanFirstWarrantMember
         
Hudson Warrant                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Gain (loss) in change of fair value of derivative instruments and warrants       1,100amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= amsc_HudsonWarrantMember
  1,100amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightAxis
= amsc_HudsonWarrantMember
           
Capital Ventures International                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Warrant exercise, waiting period             6 months          
Warrant exercise period             5 years          
Common stock, shares issued       9,100,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
               
Required notification period             61 days          
Gain (loss) in change of fair value of derivative instruments and warrants       1,000amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
300amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
1,700amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
1,200amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
         
Debt conversion, shares issued               6,600,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
       
Senior Convertible Debt | Capital Ventures International                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Number of shares received from warrants received to purchase common stock                   3,094,060amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsSharesOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
   
Exercise price       $ 2.21invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
        $ 2.61invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
$ 5.45invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtMember
   
New Unsecured Senior Convertible Note                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Conversion price                   $ 4.85us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
3.19us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleConversionPrice1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
 
Debt conversion, shares issued               6,600,000us-gaap_DebtConversionConvertedInstrumentSharesIssued1
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
       
New Unsecured Senior Convertible Note | Capital Ventures International | Minimum                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Beneficial ownership limitation percentage                     4.99%amsc_BeneficialOwnershipLimitationPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
 
New Unsecured Senior Convertible Note | Capital Ventures International | Maximum                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Beneficial ownership limitation percentage                     9.99%amsc_BeneficialOwnershipLimitationPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_CapitalVenturesInternationalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_NewUnsecuredSeniorConvertibleNoteMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
 
Senior Secured Loan                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Number of shares received from warrants received to purchase common stock   256,410amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsSharesOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
                   
Exercise price   1.95invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
      $ 1.70invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
           
Common stock, shares issued 9,100,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
                     
Senior Secured Loan | Maximum                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Gain (loss) in change of fair value of derivative instruments and warrants       $ 100amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
$ 100amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
$ 200amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
$ 100amsc_GainLossInChangeOfFairValueOfDerivativeInstrumentsAndWarrants
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
         
Senior Secured Loan | Hercules Technology Growth Capital                        
Derivative [Line Items]                        
Number of shares received from warrants received to purchase common stock   256,410amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsSharesOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
139,276amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsSharesOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
                588,235amsc_PurchaseCommitmentIssuanceOfWarrantsSharesOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Exercise price   1.95invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
3.59invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
  $ 1.95invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
$ 1.70invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
          $ 1.10invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember
Common stock, shares issued 9,100,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= amsc_HerculesTechnologyGrowthCapitalMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= amsc_SeniorSecuredLoanMember