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Business and Basis for Presentation | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2014
Business and Basis for Presentation [Abstract] |
Business and Basis for Presentation | (1) Business and Basis for Presentation Research Frontiers Incorporated (“Research Frontiers” or the “Company”) operates in a single business segment which is engaged in the development and marketing of technology and devices to control the flow of light. Such devices, often referred to as "light valves" or suspended particle devices (SPDs), use colloidal particles that are either incorporated within a liquid suspension or a film, which is usually enclosed between two sheets of glass or plastic having transparent, electrically conductive coatings on the facing surfaces thereof. At least one of the two sheets is transparent. SPD technology, made possible by a flexible light-control film invented by Research Frontiers, allows the user to instantly and precisely control the shading of glass/plastic manually or automatically. SPD technology has numerous product applications, including: SPD-Smart™ windows, sunshades, skylights and interior partitions for homes and buildings; automotive windows, sunroofs, sun-visors, sunshades, rear-view mirrors, instrument panels and navigation systems; aircraft windows; eyewear products; and flat panel displays for electronic products. SPD-Smart light control film is now being developed for, or used in, architectural, automotive, marine, aerospace and appliance applications. The Company has historically utilized its cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, and the proceeds from the sale of its investments to fund its research and development of SPD light valves, for marketing initiatives, and for other working capital purposes. The Company's working capital and capital requirements depend upon numerous factors, including the results of research and development activities, competitive and technological developments, the timing and cost of patent filings, and the development of new licensees and changes in the Company's relationships with its existing licensees. The degree of dependence of the Company's working capital requirements on each of the foregoing factors cannot be quantified; increased research and development activities and related costs would increase such requirements; the addition of new licensees may provide additional working capital or working capital requirements, and changes in relationships with existing licensees would have a favorable or negative impact depending upon the nature of such changes. There can be no assurance that expenditures will not exceed the anticipated amounts or that additional financing, if required, will be available when needed or, if available, that its terms will be favorable or acceptable to the Company. Eventual success of the Company and generation of positive cash flow will be dependent upon the commercialization of products using the Company's technology by the Company's licensees and payments of continuing royalties on account thereof. To date, the Company has not generated sufficient revenue from its licensees to fund its operations. During the year ended December 31, 2014, it was noted that the Company was applying the expected term of warrants granted in 2009 to certain consultants, rather than the contractual term, which is required by GAAP. The result of using expected terms of the warrants was an increase to previously reported consultant compensation charges included in Operating Expenses in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Operations. The impact of this change to the prior periods is not considered material to each of the periods presented. As a consequence, the Company is revising its financial presentation herein as follows: (i(i) for the year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012 consultant compensation charges have been increased by $195,524 and $105,959, respectively, (ii) the Company's balance sheet as of December 31, 2013 has been revised by increasing Additional Paid in Capital and Accumulated Deficit each by $400,006 to reflect the use of this contractual term valuation assumption (iii) the Company's Statement of Shareholders' Equity has been revised to increase Accumulated Deficit and Additional Pain In Capital as of December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011 by $195,524, $105,959 and $98,523, respectively. This adjustment had no impact on the Company's use of cash or cash flow.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for the nature of an entity's business, the major products or services it sells or provides and its principal markets, including the locations of those markets. If the entity operates in more than one business, the disclosure also indicates the relative importance of its operations in each business and the basis for the determination (for example, assets, revenues, or earnings). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 275 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6927468&loc=d3e6003-108592 + Details
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