Amortization Period For Debt Issuance Cost Convertible Notes

No definition available.

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest expense related to 4.00% convertible debt instruments which has been recognized for the period, including the contractual interest coupon and amortization of the debt discount, if any.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of debt issuance costs (for example, but not limited to, legal, accounting, broker, and regulatory fees) for 4.00% Convertible Notes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

4.00% Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of shares of common stock if the 4.00% Notes are converted.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_MaximumNumberOfSharesUponConversionOf400Notes
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Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number Of Consecutive Trading Days On Which Trading Price Is Examined For Triggering Of Conversion

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_NumberOfConsecutiveTradingDaysOnWhichTradingPriceIsExaminedForTriggeringOfConversion
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of consecutive trading days the Company's common stock has been above the threshold for conversion

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_NumberofConsecutiveTradingDaysWithinMeasurementPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Trading Days to Trigger Measurement Period Within Date Company Provides Notice of Redemption

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Conversion triggering common stock trading price as a percentage of price last reported in Measurement period converted at conversion rate.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_PercentageCompanySCommonStockHasBeenAboveConversionPrice
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of principal amount that the redemption price will be equal to.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	affx_PercentageOfPrincipalAmountThatRedemptionPriceWillBeEqualTo
Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Repurchase of Aggregate Principal Amount of Convertible Notes

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	affx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
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

+ Details

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

- Definition

Ratio applied to the conversion of debt instrument into equity with equity shares divided by debt principal amount.

+ References

Reference 1: 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 2: 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 3: 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

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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-Paragraph 7
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21521-112644

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the issuance of a long-term debt instrument which can be exchanged for a specified amount of another security, typically the entity's common stock, at the option of the issuer or the holder.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 14
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=affx_FourPointZeroZeroPercentConvertibleSeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

LONG-TERM DEBT OBLIGATIONS - 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes (Details) - 4.00% Convertible Senior Notes [Member]		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 25, 2012 USD ($) $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Notes	$ 105,000,000			$ 105,000,000
4.00%, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	4.00%
Debt issuance costs	$ 3,900,000
Proceeds from issuance of 4.00% convertible senior notes	$ 101,100,000
Amortization period for debt issuance cost related to convertible notes	7 years
Conversion ration (in shares)	170.0319
Principal amount of convertible notes	$ 1,000
Maximum number of shares upon conversion of the 4.00% Notes \| shares	17,857,143
Conversion price of convertible debt \| $ / shares	$ 5.88
Percentage of common stock above conversion price (in hundredths)	130.00%
Number of consecutive trading days within measurement period	20 days
Number of consecutive trading days on which trading price is examined for triggering of conversion	30 days
Number of trading days to trigger measurement period within date company provides notice of redemption	5 days
Redemption price percentage of principal	100.00%
Interest expense		$ 4,800,000	$ 4,800,000