$RMBS
RAMBUS INC Stock $rmbs

$rmbs Overview Financials Valuation SEC Filings Company Website

2012 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000091727313000009 Filed on February 22, 2013

Income Statement

Concept	2012	2011 Q4	2011 Q3
Revenue	$234.1M	$83.36M	$100.3M
YoY Change	-25.07%	-8.3%	216.29%
Cost Of Revenue	$28.37M	$7.500M	$7.425M
YoY Change	17.8%	294.74%	442.76%
Gross Profit	$205.7M	$75.90M	$92.84M
YoY Change	-28.65%	-14.72%	205.39%
Gross Profit Margin	87.88%	91.05%	92.59%
Selling, General & Admin	$112.8M	$58.20M	$48.95M
YoY Change	-31.25%	203.13%	75.22%
% of Gross Profit	54.86%	76.68%	52.73%
Research & Development	$140.5M	$35.80M	$32.32M
YoY Change	21.44%	43.2%	40.5%
% of Gross Profit	68.31%	47.17%	34.81%
Depreciation & Amortization	$13.19M	$10.60M	$10.00M
YoY Change	10.9%	140.91%	177.78%
% of Gross Profit	6.41%	13.97%	10.77%
Operating Expenses	$253.3M	$94.00M	$81.27M
YoY Change	-9.47%	112.67%	59.54%
Operating Profit	-$90.43M	-$18.13M	$10.74M
YoY Change	5787.63%	-140.48%	-152.27%
Interest Expense	$27.51M	-$6.300M	$6.350M
YoY Change	10.8%	21.15%	-238.04%
% of Operating Profit			59.15%
Other Income/Expense, Net	-$27.45M
YoY Change	13.13%
Pretax Income	-$117.9M	-$24.40M	$4.558M
YoY Change	356.9%	-164.72%	-128.31%
Income Tax	$16.45M	$4.300M	$4.080M
% Of Pretax Income			89.51%
Net Earnings	-$134.3M	-$28.70M	$500.0K
YoY Change	211.68%	-186.71%	-102.43%
Net Earnings / Revenue	-57.4%	-34.43%	0.5%
Basic Earnings Per Share	-$1.21
Diluted Earnings Per Share	-$1.21	-$260.4K	$4.325K
COMMON SHARES
Basic Shares Outstanding	110.8M shares	110.2M shares	112.3M shares
Diluted Shares Outstanding	110.8M shares	110.2M shares	115.6M shares

Balance Sheet

Concept	2012	2011 Q4	2011 Q3
SHORT-TERM ASSETS
Cash & Short-Term Investments	$203.3M	$289.5M	$292.8M
YoY Change	-29.78%	-43.46%	-39.62%
Cash & Equivalents	$149.0M	$162.2M	$160.8M
Short-Term Investments	$54.30M	$127.2M	$131.9M
Other Short-Term Assets	$11.30M	$10.90M	$12.00M
YoY Change	3.67%	-18.05%	-9.09%
Inventory
Prepaid Expenses
Receivables	$500.0K	$1.026M	$900.0K
Other Receivables	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
Total Short-Term Assets	$215.2M	$301.4M	$305.6M
YoY Change	-28.6%	-42.91%	-38.67%
LONG-TERM ASSETS
Property, Plant & Equipment	$86.90M	$81.11M	$72.50M
YoY Change	7.15%	19.62%	45.88%
Goodwill		$115.1M
YoY Change
Intangibles
YoY Change
Long-Term Investments
YoY Change
Other Assets	$7.600M	$6.539M	$12.80M
YoY Change	-46.1%	-21.22%	60.0%
Total Long-Term Assets	$372.6M	$392.3M	$389.9M
YoY Change	-5.02%	189.93%	288.73%
TOTAL ASSETS
Total Short-Term Assets	$215.2M	$301.4M	$305.6M
Total Long-Term Assets	$372.6M	$392.3M	$389.9M
Total Assets	$587.8M	$693.7M	$695.5M
YoY Change	-15.27%	4.59%	16.19%
SHORT-TERM LIABILITIES
YoY Change
Accounts Payable	$7.900M	$16.57M	$18.10M
YoY Change	-52.41%	176.12%	53.39%
Accrued Expenses	$33.80M	$42.30M	$37.30M
YoY Change	-20.09%	18.49%	27.3%
Deferred Revenue
YoY Change
Short-Term Debt	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
YoY Change
Long-Term Debt Due
YoY Change
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$54.10M	$65.31M	$66.30M
YoY Change	-17.15%	17.04%	-11.13%
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
Long-Term Debt	$193.5M	$177.3M	$166.7M
YoY Change	9.14%	18.67%	40.32%
Other Long-Term Liabilities	$18.60M	$11.32M	$13.40M
YoY Change	-12.68%	16.67%	318.75%
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$212.1M	$11.32M	$180.1M
YoY Change	6.8%	-92.89%	47.62%
TOTAL LIABILITIES
Total Short-Term Liabilities	$54.10M	$65.31M	$66.30M
Total Long-Term Liabilities	$212.1M	$11.32M	$180.1M
Total Liabilities	$266.2M	$263.9M	$246.5M
YoY Change	0.87%	22.78%	25.32%
SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
Retained Earnings		-$619.6M
YoY Change
Common Stock		$1.050B
YoY Change
Preferred Stock
YoY Change
Treasury Stock (at cost)
YoY Change
Treasury Stock Shares
Shareholders Equity	$321.6M	$429.8M	$449.0M
YoY Change
Total Liabilities & Shareholders Equity	$587.8M	$693.7M	$695.5M
YoY Change	-15.27%	4.59%	16.19%

Cashflow Statement

Concept	2012	2011 Q4	2011 Q3
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income	-$134.3M	-$28.70M	$500.0K
YoY Change	211.68%	-186.71%	-102.43%
Depreciation, Depletion And Amortization	$13.19M	$10.60M	$10.00M
YoY Change	10.9%	140.91%	177.78%
Cash From Operating Activities	-$17.50M	$2.000M	$35.60M
YoY Change	-133.02%	-96.42%	1086.67%
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Capital Expenditures	$21.81M	-$5.400M	-$4.200M
YoY Change	12.24%	-66.04%	-69.57%
Acquisitions	$46.28M
YoY Change	-72.35%
Other Investing Activities	$26.10M	$3.700M	$46.30M
YoY Change	-845.71%	-108.03%	-801.52%
Cash From Investing Activities	$2.600M	-$1.700M	$42.20M
YoY Change	-110.79%	-97.26%	-306.86%
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash Dividend Paid
YoY Change
Common Stock Issuance & Retirement, Net	$0.00
YoY Change
Debt Paid & Issued, Net
YoY Change
Cash From Financing Activities	1.700M	1.100M	-96.60M
YoY Change	-102.08%	-65.63%	-2.23%
NET CHANGE
Cash From Operating Activities	-17.50M	2.000M	35.60M
Cash From Investing Activities	2.600M	-1.700M	42.20M
Cash From Financing Activities	1.700M	1.100M	-96.60M
Net Change In Cash	-13.20M	1.400M	-18.80M
YoY Change	-75.09%	-146.67%	-83.82%
FREE CASH FLOW
Cash From Operating Activities	-$17.50M	$2.000M	$35.60M
Capital Expenditures	$21.81M	-$5.400M	-$4.200M
Free Cash Flow	-$39.31M	$7.400M	$39.80M
YoY Change	-217.1%	-89.68%	136.9%

Facts In Submission

Frame	Concept Type	Concept / XBRL Key	Value	Unit
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	16567000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Payable Current AccountsPayableCurrent	7918000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	1026000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accounts Receivable Net Current AccountsReceivableNetCurrent	529000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	6533000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent AccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	9946000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	66443000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Depreciation Depletion And Amortization Property Plant And Equipment AccumulatedDepreciationDepletionAndAmortizationPropertyPlantAndEquipment	55893000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-475000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Available For Sale Securities Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax	-386000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	86000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentNetOfTax	86000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-389000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Loss Net Of Tax AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax	-300000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1049716000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Additional Paid In Capital Common Stock AdditionalPaidInCapitalCommonStock	1075761000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	30528000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	28354000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Sharebased Compensation Requisite Service Period Recognition Value AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalSharebasedCompensationRequisiteServicePeriodRecognitionValue	22546000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	11075000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	14695000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Amortization Of Financing Costs And Discounts AmortizationOfFinancingCostsAndDiscounts	12622000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	20191000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	5066000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Amortization Of Intangible Assets AmortizationOfIntangibleAssets	30345000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	693654000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Assets Assets	587812000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	301376000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Assets Current AssetsCurrent	215176000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	264767000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Amortized Cost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesAmortizedCost	183926000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesCurrent	127212000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Current AvailableForSaleSecuritiesCurrent	54346000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	264667000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Fair Value Disclosure AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure	183915000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Losses1 AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLosses1	100000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Available For Sale Securities Gross Unrealized Losses1 AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLosses1	15000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGain	0	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Availableforsale Securities Gross Unrealized Gain AvailableforsaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGain	4000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	24789000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Cash Cash	19415000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	162244000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	148984000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	289073000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Cash And Cash Equivalents At Carrying Value CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue	215262000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Commitments And Contingencies CommitmentsAndContingencies		USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share CommonStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Authorized CommonStockSharesAuthorized	500000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	111525021	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Issued CommonStockSharesIssued	110267145	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	110267145	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Shares Outstanding CommonStockSharesOutstanding	111525021	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	110000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Common Stock Value CommonStockValue	112000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-43080000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	-134247000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Comprehensive Income Net Of Tax ComprehensiveIncomeNetOfTax	150468000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Contracts Revenue ContractsRevenue	13359000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Contracts Revenue ContractsRevenue	1666000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Contracts Revenue ContractsRevenue	3235000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Convertible Long Term Notes Payable ConvertibleLongTermNotesPayable	133493000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Convertible Long Term Notes Payable ConvertibleLongTermNotesPayable	147556000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Cost Of Revenue CostOfRevenue	28372000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Cost Of Revenue CostOfRevenue	6937000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Cost Of Revenue CostOfRevenue	24085000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	313899000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	324485000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	96508000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	77964000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	80421000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	101493000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	68722000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	54157000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	61470000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	104630000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Costs And Expenses CostsAndExpenses	89527000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	16595000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	55332000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current Federal Tax Expense Benefit CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit	15048000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	886000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	401000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current Foreign Tax Expense Benefit CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit	543000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	-2868000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	17000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Current State And Local Tax Expense Benefit CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit	1467000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Face Amount DebtInstrumentFaceAmount	172500000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Face Amount DebtInstrumentFaceAmount	172500000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount	24900000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Debt Instrument Unamortized Discount DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount	39000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	587000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	255000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Federal Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-255000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-328000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	207000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	9000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-73000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	-246000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3728000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Deferred State And Local Income Tax Expense Benefit DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	2934000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	162188000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Gross DeferredTaxAssetsGross	219006000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	4523000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Liabilities Net DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet	8274000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	788000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Current DeferredTaxAssetsNetCurrent	2798000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent	4458000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Net Noncurrent DeferredTaxAssetsNetNoncurrent	7531000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	8432000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Operating Loss Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsOperatingLossCarryforwards	38133000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	76826000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Credit Carryforwards DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwards	58314000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	64193000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Compensation And Benefits Share Based Compensation Cost DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCost	58329000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	13190000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsOther	19624000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Tax Deferred Expense Reserves And Accruals Other DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsOther	35050000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	206464000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	140982000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	723000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Deferred Tax Liabilities Noncurrent DeferredTaxLiabilitiesNoncurrent	2055000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	11894000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Depreciation Depreciation	10101000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Description Of New Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted DescriptionOfNewAccountingPronouncementsNotYetAdopted	<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Recent Accounting Pronouncement</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">In </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">December 2012</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-11, “Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities”. ASU 2011-11 will require the Company to disclose information about offsetting and related arrangements to enable users of its financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. The new guidance is effective for the Company's interim period ending March 31, 2013. The disclosures required are to be applied retrospectively for all comparative periods presented. The Company does not expect that this guidance will have an impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows as it is disclosure-only in nature. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">In July 2012, the FASB amended its guidance to simplify how an entity tests indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. The amendment will allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative impairment test. An entity no longer will be required to calculate the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The amendment becomes effective for the Company’s interim period ending March 31, 2013 and early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect that this guidance will have an impact on its financial position or results of operations as it does not have any indefinite-lived intangible assets.</font></div></div>
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	1.34
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	-0.39
CY2012	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	-1.21
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	-0.29
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	-0.26
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	-0.25
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	-0.10
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	-0.52
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	-0.04
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	-0.14
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Basic Undistributed EarningsPerShareBasicUndistributed	0.00
CY2012	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	-1.21
CY2011	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	-0.39
CY2010	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	1.30
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	-0.52
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	-0.29
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	0.00
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	-0.26
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	-0.04
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	-0.25
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	-0.14
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Earnings Per Share Diluted Undistributed EarningsPerShareDilutedUndistributed	-0.10
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.669
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.140
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Continuing Operations EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations	0.275
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	0.350
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	-0.350
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation At Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate	-0.350
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	-0.270
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	0.324
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Change In Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationChangeInDeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance	1.923
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	0.024
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	0.330
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Foreign Income Tax Rate Differential EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationForeignIncomeTaxRateDifferential	0.174
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	0.007
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	0.028
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Nondeductible Expense Share Based Compensation Cost EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost	0.003
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.022
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	0.005
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Other Adjustments EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationOtherAdjustments	-0.014
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.005
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	0.001
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation State And Local Income Taxes EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationStateAndLocalIncomeTaxes	-0.001
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits Foreign EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsForeign	-1.977
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits Foreign EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsForeign	-0.133
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits Foreign EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsForeign	0.000
CY2012	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits Research EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsResearch	0.000
CY2011	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits Research EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsResearch	-0.010
CY2010	us-gaap	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Tax Credits Research EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationTaxCreditsResearch	-0.003
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	23992000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Employee Related Liabilities Current EmployeeRelatedLiabilitiesCurrent	31763000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	50372000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Accumulated Amortization FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization	71592000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense After Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseAfterYearFive	16895000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Next Twelve Months FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths	32417000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Five FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive	24125000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Four FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour	25766000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Three FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree	26660000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Amortization Expense Year Two FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo	27310000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	232327000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Gross FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross	224765000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	181955000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Finite Lived Intangible Assets Net FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet	153173000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments	-87000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Investments GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	153000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Gain Loss On Sale Of Property Plant Equipment GainLossOnSaleOfPropertyPlantEquipment	-8000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	126800000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	6200000	USD
	us-gaap	Gain Loss Related To Litigation Settlement GainLossRelatedToLitigationSettlement	133000000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	124969000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Goodwill	115148000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Acquired During Period GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod	23521000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Goodwill Gross GoodwillGross	138669000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Goodwill Impairment Loss GoodwillImpairmentLoss	-13700000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	-117885000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	208044000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Extraordinary Items Noncontrolling Interest IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesExtraordinaryItemsNoncontrollingInterest	-25801000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	208044000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-117885000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Loss From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes Minority Interest And Income Loss From Equity Method Investments IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments	-25801000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	16451000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	57127000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Tax Expense Benefit IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	17252000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	16254000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	16384000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Income Taxes Paid Net IncomeTaxesPaidNet	56689000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	10452000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-9664000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable	-3811000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-497000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	-2714000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accounts Receivable IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable	1651000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	-1047000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	1506000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Accrued Income Taxes Payable IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedIncomeTaxesPayable	-3522000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Employee Related Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInEmployeeRelatedLiabilities	1842000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Employee Related Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInEmployeeRelatedLiabilities	-783000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Employee Related Liabilities IncreaseDecreaseInEmployeeRelatedLiabilities	28050000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-8810000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-4643000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Increase Decrease In Prepaid Deferred Expense And Other Assets IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidDeferredExpenseAndOtherAssets	-8379000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	27510000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	4100000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Legal Fees LegalFees	244000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Legal Fees LegalFees	4190000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	20228000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Expense InterestExpense	24828000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	8625000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	8625000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Interest Paid Net InterestPaidNet	8625000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	2700000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Lease And Rental Expense LeaseAndRentalExpense	6800000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Legal Fees LegalFees	16187000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	263860000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Liabilities	266218000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	693654000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities And Stockholders Equity LiabilitiesAndStockholdersEquity	587812000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	65311000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Liabilities Current LiabilitiesCurrent	54134000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Litigation Settlement Expense LitigationSettlementExpense	10900000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Unrealized Gain Loss MarketableSecuritiesUnrealizedGainLoss	89000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Unrealized Gain Loss MarketableSecuritiesUnrealizedGainLoss	-449000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Marketable Securities Unrealized Gain Loss MarketableSecuritiesUnrealizedGainLoss	-27000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Nature Of Operations NatureOfOperations	<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;"> Formation and Business of the Company</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Rambus Inc. (the “Company” or “Rambus”), the innovative technology solutions company that brings invention to market, was incorporated in California in March 1990 and reincorporated in Delaware in March 1997. Unleashing the intellectual power of its engineers and scientists in a collaborative and synergistic way, the Company invents, develops, offers and licenses solutions that challenge and enable its customers to create the future. In addition to licensing, the Company is creating new business opportunities through offering products and services where its goal is to perpetuate strong company operating performance and long-term stockholder value. The Company generates revenue by licensing its inventions and solutions, whether in the form of patent licensing, solutions licensing, or services, to market-leading companies.     </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">While the Company has historically focused its efforts on the development of technologies for electronics memory and chip interfaces, it has been expanding its portfolio of inventions and solutions to address additional markets in lighting, displays, chip and system security, digital media, as well as new areas within the semiconductor industry, such as imaging and non-volatile memory. The Company intends to continue its growth into new technology fields, consistent with our mission to create great value through its innovations and to make those technologies available through its licensing business model. Key to the Company's efforts, both in its current businesses and in any new area of diversification, will be hiring and retaining inventors, scientists and engineers to lead the development of inventions and technology solutions for these fields of focus, and the management and business support personnel necessary to execute its plans and strategies.</font></div></div>
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInContinuingOperations	-53018000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInContinuingOperations	-73811000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInContinuingOperations	-13260000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-81905000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-127526000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Financing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesContinuingOperations	1658000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-24105000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	2583000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Investing Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-181503000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-10585000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-4230000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	52992000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	-17501000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Cash Provided By Used In Operating Activities Continuing Operations NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesContinuingOperations	235218000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-134336000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	150917000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-43053000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	478000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-32216000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-27890000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-28716000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-16132000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Net Income Loss Available To Common Stockholders Basic NetIncomeLossAvailableToCommonStockholdersBasic	-58098000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Fixed Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionFixedAssetsAcquired1	1709000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Fixed Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionFixedAssetsAcquired1	7714000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Fixed Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionFixedAssetsAcquired1	3093000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Intangible Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Intangible Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	500000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Intangible Assets Acquired1 NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionIntangibleAssetsAcquired1	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-1536000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	226882000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-90434000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	8370000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-21749000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-17558000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-2508000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-18134000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	10736000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-4027000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Operating Income Loss OperatingIncomeLoss	-47100000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	12402000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Accrued Liabilities Current OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	6479000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	6539000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Assets Noncurrent OtherAssetsNoncurrent	3131000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	11317000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Other Liabilities Noncurrent OtherLiabilitiesNoncurrent	12076000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Tenant Allowance PaymentsForProceedsFromTenantAllowance	-292000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Tenant Allowance PaymentsForProceedsFromTenantAllowance	-8800000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments For Proceeds From Tenant Allowance PaymentsForProceedsFromTenantAllowance	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	195108000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments For Repurchase Of Common Stock PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments For Restructuring PaymentsForRestructuring	6395000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecurities	110716000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecurities	173996000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Available For Sale Securities PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecurities	428768000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	17000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	46278000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Businesses Net Of Cash Acquired PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired	167381000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets	7760000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets	1700000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Intangible Assets PaymentsToAcquireIntangibleAssets	1210000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	21809000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	26700000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Payments To Acquire Property Plant And Equipment PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment	19431000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share PreferredStockParOrStatedValuePerShare	0.001
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	5000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Authorized PreferredStockSharesAuthorized	5000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Issued PreferredStockSharesIssued	0	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Shares Outstanding PreferredStockSharesOutstanding	0	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Preferred Stock Value PreferredStockValue	0	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	10529000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Prepaid Expense And Other Assets Current PrepaidExpenseAndOtherAssetsCurrent	8096000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	16514000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	4103000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Issuance Of Shares Under Incentive And Share Based Compensation Plans Including Stock Options ProceedsFromIssuanceOfSharesUnderIncentiveAndShareBasedCompensationPlansIncludingStockOptions	12282000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Legal Settlements ProceedsFromLegalSettlements	500000000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Legal Settlements ProceedsFromLegalSettlements	99400000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Legal Settlements ProceedsFromLegalSettlements	87800000	USD
CY2010Q2	us-gaap	Proceeds From Legal Settlements ProceedsFromLegalSettlements	25000000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Proceeds From Legal Settlements ProceedsFromLegalSettlements	25000000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Proceeds From Legal Settlements ProceedsFromLegalSettlements	25000000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	296639000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	183086000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Maturities Prepayments And Calls Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromMaturitiesPrepaymentsAndCallsOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	337880000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	33000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Available For Sale Securities ProceedsFromSaleOfAvailableForSaleSecurities	1829000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	0	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Proceeds From Sale Of Property Plant And Equipment ProceedsFromSaleOfPropertyPlantAndEquipment	257000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	136998000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Gross PropertyPlantAndEquipmentGross	153348000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	81105000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Property Plant And Equipment Net PropertyPlantAndEquipmentNet	86905000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Repayments Of Convertible Debt RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Repayments Of Convertible Debt RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt	136950000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Repayments Of Convertible Debt RepaymentsOfConvertibleDebt	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	140503000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	92706000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Research And Development Expense ResearchAndDevelopmentExpense	115696000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	0	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	0	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	7301000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	6600000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Charges RestructuringCharges	700000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve RestructuringReserve	0	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Restructuring Reserve RestructuringReserve	906000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	-753979000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Retained Earnings Accumulated Deficit RetainedEarningsAccumulatedDeficit	-619643000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Revenue Recognition Long Term Contracts RevenueRecognitionLongTermContracts	<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;">Contract Revenue</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Rambus generally recognizes revenue using percentage of completion for development contracts related to licenses of its solutions that involve significant engineering and integration services. For agreements accounted for using the percentage-of-completion method, Rambus determines progress to completion using input measures based upon contract costs incurred. Part of these contract fees may be due upon the achievement of certain milestones, such as provision of certain deliverables by Rambus or production of chips by the customer. The remaining fees may be due on pre-determined dates and include significant up-front fees.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">A provision for estimated losses on fixed price contracts is made, if necessary, in the period in which the loss becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated. If the Company determines that it is necessary to revise the estimates of the total costs required to complete a contract, the total amount of revenue recognized over the life of the contract would not be affected. However, to the extent the new assumptions regarding the total efforts necessary to complete a project are less than the original assumptions, the contract fees would be recognized sooner than originally expected. Conversely, if the newly estimated total efforts necessary to complete a project are longer than the original assumptions, the contract fees will be recognized over a longer period.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">If application of the percentage-of-completion method results in recognizable revenue prior to an invoicing event under a customer contract, Rambus will recognize the revenue and record an unbilled receivable. As of </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">December 31, 2012</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> and </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">2011</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">, the balances of unbilled receivable were not material. Amounts invoiced to its customers in excess of recognizable revenue are recorded as deferred revenue. The timing and amounts invoiced to customers can vary significantly depending on specific contract terms and can therefore have a material impact on deferred revenue or unbilled receivables in any given period.</font></div></div>
CY2012	us-gaap	Revenue Recognition Services Royalty Fees RevenueRecognitionServicesRoyaltyFees	<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;">Royalty Revenue</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Rambus recognizes royalty revenue upon notification by its customers and when deemed collectible. The terms of the royalty agreements generally either require customers to give Rambus notification and to pay the royalties within </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">60 days</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> of the end of the quarter during which the sales occur or are based on a fixed royalty that is due within </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">45 days</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> of the end of the quarter. Many of Rambus’ customers have the right to cancel their licenses. In such arrangements, revenue is only recognized to the extent that is consistent with the cancellation provisions. Cancellation provisions within such contracts generally provide for a prospective cancellation with no refund of fees already remitted by customers for products provided and payment for services rendered prior to the date of cancellation. Rambus has </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;">two</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"> types of royalty revenue: (1) patent license royalties and (2) solutions license royalties.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Patent licenses - Rambus licenses its broad portfolio of patented inventions to companies who use these inventions in the development and manufacture of their own products. Such licensing agreements may cover the license of part, or all, of its patent portfolio. The contractual terms of the agreements generally provide for payments over an extended period of time. For the licensing agreements with fixed royalty payments, Rambus generally recognizes revenue from these arrangements as amounts become due. For the licensing agreements with variable royalty payments which can be based on either a percentage of sales or number of units sold, Rambus earns royalties at the time that the customers’ sales occur. Rambus’ customers, however, do not report and pay royalties owed for sales in any given quarter until after the conclusion of that quarter. As Rambus is unable to estimate the customers’ sales in any given quarter to determine the royalties due to Rambus, it recognizes royalty revenues based on royalties reported by customers during the quarter and when other revenue recognition criteria are met. </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">In addition, Rambus may enter into certain settlements of patent infringement disputes. The amount of consideration received upon any settlement (including but not limited to past royalty payments, future royalty payments and punitive damages) is allocated to each element of the settlement based on the fair value of each element. In addition, revenues related to past royalties are recognized upon execution of the agreement by both parties, provided that the amounts are fixed or determinable, there are no significant undelivered obligations and collectability is reasonably assured. Rambus does not recognize any revenues prior to execution of the agreement since there is no reliable basis on which it can estimate the amounts for royalties related to previous periods or assess collectability. Elements that are related to royalty revenue in nature (including but not limited to past royalty payments and future royalty payments) will be recorded as royalty revenue in the consolidated statements of operations. Elements that are not related to royalty revenue in nature (including but not limited to punitive damage and settlement) will be recorded as gain from settlement which is reflected as a separate line item within the operating expenses section in the consolidated statements of operations.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Solutions licenses - Rambus develops proprietary and industry-standard products that it provides to its customers under solutions license agreements. These arrangements include royalties, which can be based on either a percentage of sales or number of units sold. Rambus earns royalties on such licensed products sold worldwide by its customers at the time that the customers’ sales occur. Rambus’ customers, however, do not report and pay royalties owed for sales in any given quarter until after the conclusion of that quarter. As Rambus is unable to estimate the customers’ sales in any given quarter to determine the royalties due to Rambus, it recognizes royalty revenues based on royalties reported by customers during the quarter and when other revenue recognition criteria are met. </font></div></div>
CY2012	us-gaap	Royalty Revenue RoyaltyRevenue	232385000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Royalty Revenue RoyaltyRevenue	320155000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Royalty Revenue RoyaltyRevenue	299004000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	312363000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	234051000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	323390000	USD
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	66214000	USD
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	57530000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	57443000	USD
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	62863000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	83359000	USD
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	56215000	USD
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	100263000	USD
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Sales Revenue Net SalesRevenueNet	62527000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	164131000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	119475000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Selling General And Administrative Expense SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense	112594000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	27996000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	30548000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation ShareBasedCompensation	22546000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Authorized ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized	21400000	shares
CY2006Q1	us-gaap	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Number Of Shares Authorized ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized	8400000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Acquisitions StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueAcquisitions	86143000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value New Issues StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueNewIssues	78500000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	3501000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	15067000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Stock Issued During Period Value Share Based Compensation StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueShareBasedCompensation	10094000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	19000000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchase Program Remaining Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramRemainingNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	5200000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased And Retired During Period Value StockRepurchasedAndRetiredDuringPeriodValue	195107000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Shares StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodShares	9500000	shares
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Stock Repurchased During Period Value StockRepurchasedDuringPeriodValue	195100000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	321594000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	429794000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	255327000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Stockholders Equity StockholdersEquity	334783000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Undistributed Earnings Of Foreign Subsidiaries UndistributedEarningsOfForeignSubsidiaries	6700000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	16773000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	16610000	USD
CY2010Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	11816000	USD
CY2009Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits UnrecognizedTaxBenefits	10353000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	725000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	78000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Decreases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	1947000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	608000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	1401000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Current Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions	589000	USD
CY2011	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	4911000	USD
CY2010	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	140000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Increases Resulting From Prior Period Tax Positions UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions	1521000	USD
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	2600000	USD
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Unrecognized Tax Benefits That Would Impact Effective Tax Rate UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsThatWouldImpactEffectiveTaxRate	2000000	USD
CY2012	us-gaap	Use Of Estimates UseOfEstimates	<div style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;"><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Use of Estimates</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:10px;text-align:left;text-indent:18px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.</font></div></div>
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	110769000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	115884000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	110041000	shares
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	107613000	shares
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	110826000	shares
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	109992000	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	110358000	shares
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	110553000	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	115552000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	110171000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Diluted Shares Outstanding WeightedAverageNumberOfDilutedSharesOutstanding	111332000	shares
CY2012	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	110769000	shares
CY2010	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	112456000	shares
CY2011	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	110041000	shares
CY2012Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	111332000	shares
CY2011Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	112334000	shares
CY2012Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	110358000	shares
CY2011Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	109992000	shares
CY2012Q2	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	110553000	shares
CY2011Q4	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	110171000	shares
CY2012Q3	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	110826000	shares
CY2011Q1	us-gaap	Weighted Average Number Of Shares Outstanding Basic WeightedAverageNumberOfSharesOutstandingBasic	107613000	shares
CY2011	rmbs	Accrued Litigation Expense AccruedLitigationExpense	6442000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Accrued Litigation Expense AccruedLitigationExpense	-1087000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Accrued Litigation Expense AccruedLitigationExpense	-680000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Accrued Litigation Expenses AccruedLitigationExpenses	9822000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Accrued Litigation Expenses AccruedLitigationExpenses	10502000	USD
CY2011Q3	rmbs	Actual Number Of Shares Put Back ActualNumberOfSharesPutBack	4800000	shares
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Deferred Tax Liabilities Convertible Debt DeferredTaxLiabilitiesConvertibleDebt	12932000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Common Stock Maximum Aggregate Purchase Price CommonStockMaximumAggregatePurchasePrice	100000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Common Stock Shares With Which Contractual Put Rights Are Associated Value CommonStockSharesWithWhichContractualPutRightsAreAssociatedValue	113500000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Construction Costs Capitalized ConstructionCostsCapitalized	43000000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Construction Costs Capitalized ConstructionCostsCapitalized	42100000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Contractual Amount Total ContractualAmountTotal	294678000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Contractual Obligation Payments Due After Fifth Full Fiscal Year ContractualObligationPaymentsDueAfterFifthFullFiscalYear	18984000	USD
CY2011Q3	rmbs	Actual Value Of Shares Put Back ActualValueOfSharesPutBack	100000000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Adjustment Interest Expense Convertible Notes AdjustmentInterestExpenseConvertibleNotes	700000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Adjustments To Additional Paid In Capital Increase In Carrying Amount Of Redeemable Common Stock AdjustmentsToAdditionalPaidInCapitalIncreaseInCarryingAmountOfRedeemableCommonStock	-13500000	USD
CY2011Q1	rmbs	All Stocks Issued During Period Samsung Settlement Related AllStocksIssuedDuringPeriodSamsungSettlementRelated	9600000	shares
CY2010Q1	rmbs	All Stocks Issued During Period Samsung Settlement Related AllStocksIssuedDuringPeriodSamsungSettlementRelated	9600000	shares
CY2011Q1	rmbs	Amount Of Each Installment For Litigation Settlements Proceeds AmountOfEachInstallmentForLitigationSettlementsProceeds	200000000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments Amortized Cost Disclosure CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsAmortizedCostDisclosure	289556000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments Amortized Cost Disclosure CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsAmortizedCostDisclosure	203341000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments Fair Value Disclosure CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure	203330000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Cash Cash Equivalents And Short Term Investments Fair Value Disclosure CashCashEquivalentsAndShortTermInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure	289456000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Cash Fair Value Disclosure CashFairValueDisclosure	24789000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Cash Fair Value Disclosure CashFairValueDisclosure	19415000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Contractual Obligation Payments Due Fifth Full Fiscal Year ContractualObligationPaymentsDueFifthFullFiscalYear	8544000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Contractual Obligation Payments Due First Full Fiscal Year ContractualObligationPaymentsDueFirstFullFiscalYear	44761000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Contractual Obligation Payments Due Fourth Full Fiscal Year ContractualObligationPaymentsDueFourthFullFiscalYear	8394000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Contractual Obligation Payments Due Second Full Fiscal Year ContractualObligationPaymentsDueSecondFullFiscalYear	203749000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Contractual Obligation Payments Due Third Full Fiscal Year ContractualObligationPaymentsDueThirdFullFiscalYear	10246000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Cost Method Investment Maximum Ownership Percentage CostMethodInvestmentMaximumOwnershipPercentage	0.20
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Cumulative Payments On Behalf Of Current And Former Officers CumulativePaymentsOnBehalfOfCurrentAndFormerOfficers	31900000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Cumulative Payments On Behalf Of Current And Former Officers CumulativePaymentsOnBehalfOfCurrentAndFormerOfficers	32200000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Cumulative Proceeds From Insurance Settlement Indemnification Activities CumulativeProceedsFromInsuranceSettlementIndemnificationActivities	12300000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Current And Long Term Imputed Financing Obligation CurrentAndLongTermImputedFinancingObligation	45900000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Current And Long Term Imputed Financing Obligation CurrentAndLongTermImputedFinancingObligation	43800000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Customer Licensing Income CustomerLicensingIncome	246716000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Customer Licensing Income CustomerLicensingIncome	450190000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Customer Licensing Income CustomerLicensingIncome	317813000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Deferred Tax Assets Depreciation And Amortization DeferredTaxAssetsDepreciationAndAmortization	2063000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Deferred Tax Assets Depreciation And Amortization DeferredTaxAssetsDepreciationAndAmortization	20230000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Deferred Tax Assets Net Before Deducting Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsNetBeforeDeductingValuationAllowance	210987000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Deferred Tax Assets Net Before Deducting Valuation Allowance DeferredTaxAssetsNetBeforeDeductingValuationAllowance	149256000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Deferred Tax Liabilities Convertible Debt DeferredTaxLiabilitiesConvertibleDebt	8019000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Defined Contribution Plan Employee Contribution Limit Percentage Of Compensation DefinedContributionPlanEmployeeContributionLimitPercentageOfCompensation	0.60
CY2011	rmbs	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Contribution DefinedContributionPlanEmployerContribution	1600000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Contribution DefinedContributionPlanEmployerContribution	2100000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Contribution DefinedContributionPlanEmployerContribution	1200000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Match Employee Contribution Level One DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchEmployeeContributionLevelOne	0.06
CY2012	rmbs	Defined Contribution Plan Employer Match Level One DefinedContributionPlanEmployerMatchLevelOne	0.50
CY2012	rmbs	Dilutive Potential Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount Due To Loss DilutivePotentialSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmountDueToLoss	6800000	shares
CY2011	rmbs	Dilutive Potential Securities Excluded From Computation Of Earnings Per Share Amount Due To Loss DilutivePotentialSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmountDueToLoss	4100000	shares
CY2011	rmbs	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Capitalized Merger And Acquisition Costs EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationCapitalizedMergerAndAcquisitionCosts	0.059
CY2012	rmbs	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Capitalized Merger And Acquisition Costs EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationCapitalizedMergerAndAcquisitionCosts	0.003
CY2010	rmbs	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Capitalized Merger And Acquisition Costs EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationCapitalizedMergerAndAcquisitionCosts	0.000
CY2011	rmbs	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Executive Compensation EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationExecutiveCompensation	0.020
CY2012	rmbs	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Executive Compensation EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationExecutiveCompensation	0.003
CY2010	rmbs	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Executive Compensation EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationExecutiveCompensation	0.007
CY2011	rmbs	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Withholding Tax EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationWithholdingTax	0.642
CY2012	rmbs	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Withholding Tax EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationWithholdingTax	0.133
CY2010	rmbs	Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation Withholding Tax EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationWithholdingTax	0.173
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Estimated Future Future Revenue Recognition Year Two As Of Balance Sheet Date EstimatedFutureFutureRevenueRecognitionYearTwoAsOfBalanceSheetDate	100000000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Estimated Future Revenue Recognition Year One As Of Balance Sheet Date EstimatedFutureRevenueRecognitionYearOneAsOfBalanceSheetDate	100000000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Financing Expense From Lease Facilities FinancingExpenseFromLeaseFacilities	4100000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Financing Expense From Lease Facilities FinancingExpenseFromLeaseFacilities	3300000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Financing Expense From Lease Facilities FinancingExpenseFromLeaseFacilities	500000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Gain Recognition Estimate From Settlement Agreement As Of Balance Sheet Date GainRecognitionEstimateFromSettlementAgreementAsOfBalanceSheetDate	133000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Gain Recognition From Settlement Agreement Estimated Fair Value GainRecognitionFromSettlementAgreementEstimatedFairValue	133000000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Gross Unrealized Gain On Securities And Cash GrossUnrealizedGainOnSecuritiesAndCash	0	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Gross Unrealized Gain On Securities And Cash GrossUnrealizedGainOnSecuritiesAndCash	4000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Gross Unrealized Loss On Securities And Cash GrossUnrealizedLossOnSecuritiesAndCash	100000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Gross Unrealized Loss On Securities And Cash GrossUnrealizedLossOnSecuritiesAndCash	15000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Impairment Of Goodwill And Long Lived Assets ImpairmentOfGoodwillAndLongLivedAssets	0	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Impairment Of Goodwill And Long Lived Assets ImpairmentOfGoodwillAndLongLivedAssets	35471000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Impairment Of Goodwill And Long Lived Assets ImpairmentOfGoodwillAndLongLivedAssets	0	USD
CY2012Q3	rmbs	Impairment Of Goodwill And Long Lived Assets ImpairmentOfGoodwillAndLongLivedAssets	35500000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Impairment Of Goodwill Intangible Assets And Property Plant And Equipment ImpairmentOfGoodwillIntangibleAssetsAndPropertyPlantAndEquipment	35471000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Impairment Of Goodwill Intangible Assets And Property Plant And Equipment ImpairmentOfGoodwillIntangibleAssetsAndPropertyPlantAndEquipment	0	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Impairment Of Goodwill Intangible Assets And Property Plant And Equipment ImpairmentOfGoodwillIntangibleAssetsAndPropertyPlantAndEquipment	0	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Increase In Retained Earning Accumulated Deficit IncreaseInRetainedEarningAccumulatedDeficit	163600000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Interest Expense And Other Expense Net InterestExpenseAndOtherExpenseNet	-18838000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Interest Expense And Other Expense Net InterestExpenseAndOtherExpenseNet	-24265000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Interest Expense And Other Expense Net InterestExpenseAndOtherExpenseNet	-27451000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Interest Income And Other Income Expense Net InterestIncomeAndOtherIncomeExpenseNet	59000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Interest Income And Other Income Expense Net InterestIncomeAndOtherIncomeExpenseNet	563000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Interest Income And Other Income Expense Net InterestIncomeAndOtherIncomeExpenseNet	1390000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	License Agreement Adjusted Payment Amount Maximum LicenseAgreementAdjustedPaymentAmountMaximum	40000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	License Agreement Adjusted Payment Amount Minimum LicenseAgreementAdjustedPaymentAmountMinimum	10000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	License Agreement Amount Agreed To Be Paid Per Quarter LicenseAgreementAmountAgreedToBePaidPerQuarter	25000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	License Agreement Amount To Be Received Quarterly Adjusted Up Or Down LicenseAgreementAmountToBeReceivedQuarterlyAdjustedUpOrDown	25000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	License Agreement Fixed Amount To Be Received Quarterly LicenseAgreementFixedAmountToBeReceivedQuarterly	25000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	License Agreement Period Over Which Amount To Be Received From Samsung LicenseAgreementPeriodOverWhichAmountToBeReceivedFromSamsung	P5Y
CY2012Q4	rmbs	License Agreement Periodic Payment Based On Estimate At Balance Sheet Date LicenseAgreementPeriodicPaymentBasedOnEstimateAtBalanceSheetDate	25000000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Long Term Imputed Financing Obligation LongTermImputedFinancingObligation	43793000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Long Term Imputed Financing Obligation LongTermImputedFinancingObligation	45919000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Maximum Number Of Shares Elected To Be Put Back MaximumNumberOfSharesElectedToBePutBack	4800000	shares
CY2012	rmbs	Maximum Original Maturity Period To Be Classified As Cash And Cash Equivalents MaximumOriginalMaturityPeriodToBeClassifiedAsCashAndCashEquivalents	P3M
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Minimum Percentage Of Shares For Termination Of Settlement Agreement MinimumPercentageOfSharesForTerminationOfSettlementAgreement	0.03
CY2010	rmbs	Non Cash Acquistion Of Patents NonCashAcquistionOfPatents	0	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Non Cash Acquistion Of Patents NonCashAcquistionOfPatents	3000000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Non Cash Acquistion Of Patents NonCashAcquistionOfPatents	0	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Noncash Obligation For Property Plant And Equipment NoncashObligationForPropertyPlantAndEquipment	7409000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Noncash Obligation For Property Plant And Equipment NoncashObligationForPropertyPlantAndEquipment	2260000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Noncash Obligation For Property Plant And Equipment NoncashObligationForPropertyPlantAndEquipment	2512000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Noncash Financial Or Equity Instrument Consideration Value Of Shares Issued NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNoncashFinancialOrEquityInstrumentConsiderationValueOfSharesIssued	0	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Noncash Financial Or Equity Instrument Consideration Value Of Shares Issued NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNoncashFinancialOrEquityInstrumentConsiderationValueOfSharesIssued	0	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Noncash Or Part Noncash Acquisition Noncash Financial Or Equity Instrument Consideration Value Of Shares Issued NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNoncashFinancialOrEquityInstrumentConsiderationValueOfSharesIssued	86143000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Number Of Pricing Sources NumberOfPricingSources	2	source
CY2012	rmbs	Operating Expenses Segment OperatingExpensesSegment	-98400000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Operating Expenses Segment OperatingExpensesSegment	-68565000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Operating Expenses Segment OperatingExpensesSegment	-84072000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Other Non Revenue Patent Royalties Received OtherNonRevenuePatentRoyaltiesReceived	12665000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Other Non Revenue Patent Royalties Received OtherNonRevenuePatentRoyaltiesReceived	0	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Other Non Revenue Patent Royalties Received OtherNonRevenuePatentRoyaltiesReceived	-750000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Payment Redeem To Contingently Redeemable Common Stock And Common Stock Pursuant To Settlement Agreement PaymentRedeemToContingentlyRedeemableCommonStockAndCommonStockPursuantToSettlementAgreement	0	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Payment Redeem To Contingently Redeemable Common Stock And Common Stock Pursuant To Settlement Agreement PaymentRedeemToContingentlyRedeemableCommonStockAndCommonStockPursuantToSettlementAgreement	0	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Payment Redeem To Contingently Redeemable Common Stock And Common Stock Pursuant To Settlement Agreement PaymentRedeemToContingentlyRedeemableCommonStockAndCommonStockPursuantToSettlementAgreement	100000000	USD
CY2011Q3	rmbs	Payment To Redeem Contingently Redeemable Common Stock PaymentToRedeemContingentlyRedeemableCommonStock	100000000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Payments Under Installment PaymentsUnderInstallment	1923000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Payments Under Installment PaymentsUnderInstallment	4274000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Payments Under Installment PaymentsUnderInstallment	2531000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Period For Payment Of License Agreement PeriodForPaymentOfLicenseAgreement	P5Y
CY2010	rmbs	Principal Payments Against Lease Financing Obligation PrincipalPaymentsAgainstLeaseFinancingObligation	0	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Principal Payments Against Lease Financing Obligation PrincipalPaymentsAgainstLeaseFinancingObligation	456000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Principal Payments Against Lease Financing Obligation PrincipalPaymentsAgainstLeaseFinancingObligation	522000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Proceeds Received From Issuance Of Contingently Redeemable Common Stock And Common Stock Pursuant To Settlement Agreement ProceedsReceivedFromIssuanceOfContingentlyRedeemableCommonStockAndCommonStockPursuantToSettlementAgreement	0	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Proceeds Received From Issuance Of Contingently Redeemable Common Stock And Common Stock Pursuant To Settlement Agreement ProceedsReceivedFromIssuanceOfContingentlyRedeemableCommonStockAndCommonStockPursuantToSettlementAgreement	192000000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Proceeds Received From Issuance Of Contingently Redeemable Common Stock And Common Stock Pursuant To Settlement Agreement ProceedsReceivedFromIssuanceOfContingentlyRedeemableCommonStockAndCommonStockPursuantToSettlementAgreement	0	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Prohibited Period To Acquire Additional Shares ProhibitedPeriodToAcquireAdditionalShares	P18M
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Prohibited Period To Transfer Shares ProhibitedPeriodToTransferShares	P18M
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Property Plant And Equipment Cost Capitalization Amount PropertyPlantAndEquipmentCostCapitalizationAmount	48800000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Property Plant And Equipment Cost Capitalization Amount PropertyPlantAndEquipmentCostCapitalizationAmount	49200000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Recognition Estimate Related To Stock Purchase Agreement As Of Balance Sheet Date RecognitionEstimateRelatedToStockPurchaseAgreementAsOfBalanceSheetDate	192000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Recognition Related To Stock Purchase Agreement RecognitionRelatedToStockPurchaseAgreement	192000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Restricted Common Stock Issued RestrictedCommonStockIssued	78500000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Revenue Recognition Estimate Of Settlement Agreement As Of Balance Sheet Date RevenueRecognitionEstimateOfSettlementAgreementAsOfBalanceSheetDate	562200000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Revenue Recognition Maximum Period After End Of Quarter During Which Fixed Royalty Is Due RevenueRecognitionMaximumPeriodAfterEndOfQuarterDuringWhichFixedRoyaltyIsDue	P45D
CY2012	rmbs	Revenue Recognition Number Of Types Of Royalty Revenue RevenueRecognitionNumberOfTypesOfRoyaltyRevenue	2
CY2010	rmbs	Revenue Recognition Of Settlement Agreement RevenueRecognitionOfSettlementAgreement	181200000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Revenue Recognition Of Settlement Agreement RevenueRecognitionOfSettlementAgreement	93200000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Revenue Recognition Of Settlement Agreement RevenueRecognitionOfSettlementAgreement	87800000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Revenue Recognition Of Settlement Agreement Estimated Fair Value RevenueRecognitionOfSettlementAgreementEstimatedFairValue	575000000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Revenue Recognition Required Notice Maximum Period After End Of Quarter During Which Sales Occur RevenueRecognitionRequiredNoticeMaximumPeriodAfterEndOfQuarterDuringWhichSalesOccur	P60D
CY2012	rmbs	Revenue Recognition Required Payment Maximum Period After End Of Quarter During Which Sales Occur RevenueRecognitionRequiredPaymentMaximumPeriodAfterEndOfQuarterDuringWhichSalesOccur	P60D
CY2012	rmbs	Segment Operating Income Loss SegmentOperatingIncomeLoss	148316000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Segment Operating Income Loss SegmentOperatingIncomeLoss	381625000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Segment Operating Income Loss SegmentOperatingIncomeLoss	233741000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Amount Allocated To Contingently Redeemable Common Stock SettlementAgreementAmountAllocatedToContingentlyRedeemableCommonStock	113500000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Amount Allocated To Stockholders Equity SettlementAgreementAmountAllocatedToStockholdersEquity	78500000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Estimated Fair Value Antitrust Litigation Settlement SettlementAgreementEstimatedFairValueAntitrustLitigationSettlement	85000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Estimated Fair Value License Agreement SettlementAgreementEstimatedFairValueLicenseAgreement	385000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Estimated Fair Value Memorandum Of Understanding SettlementAgreementEstimatedFairValueMemorandumOfUnderstanding	0	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Estimated Fair Value Residual Value SettlementAgreementEstimatedFairValueResidualValue	48000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Estimated Fair Value Settlement Of Past Infringement SettlementAgreementEstimatedFairValueSettlementOfPastInfringement	190000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Estimated Fair Value Stock Purchase Agreement SettlementAgreementEstimatedFairValueStockPurchaseAgreement	192000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Estimated Fair Value Total SettlementAgreementEstimatedFairValueTotal	900000000	USD
CY2011Q1	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Number Of Installment For Litigation Settlements Proceeds SettlementAgreementNumberOfInstallmentForLitigationSettlementsProceeds	2	installment
CY2010	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Remaining Cash Consideration Yet To Be Allocated SettlementAgreementRemainingCashConsiderationYetToBeAllocated	308000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Shares As Percentage Of Total Shares SettlementAgreementSharesAsPercentageOfTotalShares	0.083
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Settlement Agreement Value To Be Received SettlementAgreementValueToBeReceived	200000000	USD
CY2009Q2	rmbs	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Additional Number Of Shares Authorized ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAdditionalNumberOfSharesAuthorized	6500000	shares
CY2012	rmbs	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Discount From Market Price Specific Date ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPriceSpecificDate	0.15
CY2012	rmbs	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Expiration Period ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod	P10Y
CY2012	rmbs	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options To Derive Shares Available For Grant Denominator ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsToDeriveSharesAvailableForGrantDenominator	1	denominator
CY2012	rmbs	Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options To Derive Shares Available For Grant Numerator ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsToDeriveSharesAvailableForGrantNumerator	1.5	numerator
CY2010	rmbs	Share Repurchase Agreement Prepayment ShareRepurchaseAgreementPrepayment	90000000	USD
CY2010Q3	rmbs	Share Repurchase Agreement Value Of Stock To Be Repurchased ShareRepurchaseAgreementValueOfStockToBeRepurchased	90000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Stock Issued During Period Average Price Per Share StockIssuedDuringPeriodAveragePricePerShare	20.885
CY2010Q4	rmbs	Stock Repurchase Agreement Average Price Of Shares Delivered StockRepurchaseAgreementAveragePriceOfSharesDelivered	18.88
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Stock Repurchase Program Additional Number Of Shares Authorized To Be Repurchased StockRepurchaseProgramAdditionalNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased	12500000	shares
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Stock Repurchase Program Commencement To Date Repurchased Number Of Shares StockRepurchaseProgramCommencementToDateRepurchasedNumberOfShares	26300000	shares
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Stock Repurchase Program Commencement To Date Repurchased Value StockRepurchaseProgramCommencementToDateRepurchasedValue	428900000	USD
CY2010Q4	rmbs	Stock Repurchase Program Number Of Shares Delivered StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesDelivered	4800000	shares
CY2012	rmbs	Temporary Equity And Equity Impact Of Settlement Agreement TemporaryEquityAndEquityImpactOfSettlementAgreement	0	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Temporary Equity And Equity Impact Of Settlement Agreement TemporaryEquityAndEquityImpactOfSettlementAgreement	192000000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Temporary Equity And Equity Impact Of Settlement Agreement TemporaryEquityAndEquityImpactOfSettlementAgreement	0	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Terms Of Noncancellable License Agreement Minimum TermsOfNoncancellableLicenseAgreementMinimum	P1Y
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Total Cash Receipt Estimate From Settlement Agreement As Of Balance Sheet Date TotalCashReceiptEstimateFromSettlementAgreementAsOfBalanceSheetDate	887200000	USD
CY2012	rmbs	Total Recognition TotalRecognition	87800000	USD
CY2010	rmbs	Total Recognition TotalRecognition	500000000	USD
CY2011	rmbs	Total Recognition TotalRecognition	99400000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsAccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	6200000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Accrued Income Taxes Noncurrent UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsAccruedIncomeTaxesNoncurrent	9600000	USD
CY2012Q4	rmbs	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Deferred Tax Assets Noncurrent Gross UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDeferredTaxAssetsNoncurrentGross	10600000	USD
CY2011Q4	rmbs	Unrecognized Tax Benefits Deferred Tax Assets Noncurrent Gross UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDeferredTaxAssetsNoncurrentGross	7000000	USD
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Validity Of Put Back Right End Period ValidityOfPutBackRightEndPeriod	P19M
CY2010Q1	rmbs	Validity Of Put Back Right Start Period ValidityOfPutBackRightStartPeriod	P18M
CY2012	dei	Amendment Flag AmendmentFlag	false
CY2012	dei	Current Fiscal Year End Date CurrentFiscalYearEndDate	--12-31
CY2012	dei	Document Fiscal Period Focus DocumentFiscalPeriodFocus	FY
CY2012	dei	Document Fiscal Year Focus DocumentFiscalYearFocus	2012
CY2012	dei	Document Period End Date DocumentPeriodEndDate	2012-12-31
CY2012	dei	Document Type DocumentType	10-K
CY2012	dei	Entity Central Index Key EntityCentralIndexKey	0000917273
CY2013Q1	dei	Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding EntityCommonStockSharesOutstanding	111525021	shares
CY2012	dei	Entity Current Reporting Status EntityCurrentReportingStatus	Yes
CY2012	dei	Entity Filer Category EntityFilerCategory	Accelerated Filer
CY2012Q2	dei	Entity Public Float EntityPublicFloat	531100000	USD
CY2012	dei	Entity Registrant Name EntityRegistrantName	RAMBUS INC
CY2012	dei	Entity Voluntary Filers EntityVoluntaryFilers	No
CY2012	dei	Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer EntityWellKnownSeasonedIssuer	Yes

Files In Submission

Name	View Source	Status
0000917273-13-000009-index-headers.html	Edgar Link	pending
0000917273-13-000009-index.html	Edgar Link	pending
0000917273-13-000009.txt	Edgar Link	pending
0000917273-13-000009-xbrl.zip	Edgar Link	pending
FilingSummary.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
Financial_Report.xls	Edgar Link	pending
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rambusitem5-1.jpg	Edgar Link	pending
report.css	Edgar Link	pending
rmbs-20121231.xml	Edgar Link	completed
rmbs-20121231.xsd	Edgar Link	pending
rmbs-20121231x10xk.htm	Edgar Link	pending
rmbs-20121231_cal.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
rmbs-20121231_def.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
rmbs-20121231_lab.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
rmbs-20121231_pre.xml	Edgar Link	unprocessable
rmbs-ex211_20121231xq4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
rmbs-ex231_20121231xq4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
rmbs-ex311_20121231xq4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
rmbs-ex312_20121231xq4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
rmbs-ex321_20121231xq4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
rmbs-ex322_20121231xq4.htm	Edgar Link	pending
Show.js	Edgar Link	pending

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$RMBS
RAMBUS INC Stock $rmbs

2012 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000091727313000009 Filed on February 22, 2013

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$RMBS RAMBUS INC Stock $rmbs

2012 Form 10-K Financial Statement

#000091727313000009 Filed on February 22, 2013

Income Statement

Balance Sheet

Cashflow Statement

Facts In Submission

Files In Submission

$RMBS
RAMBUS INC Stock $rmbs