ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Payables and Accruals [Abstract]
Accounts payable	$ 10,832us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent	$ 9,571us-gaap_AccountsPayableCurrent
Accrued compensation and related liabilities	27,655	20,701
Accrued interest	111	0
Accrued taxes	5,725us-gaap_TaxesPayableCurrent	4,793us-gaap_TaxesPayableCurrent
Accrued legal	490affx_AccruedLegalExpensesCurrent	447affx_AccruedLegalExpensesCurrent
Accrued audit	343us-gaap_AccruedProfessionalFeesCurrent	383us-gaap_AccruedProfessionalFeesCurrent
Accrued warranties	913	1,697
Accrued royalties	2,600us-gaap_AccruedRoyaltiesCurrent	2,475us-gaap_AccruedRoyaltiesCurrent
Other	4,394us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent	5,467us-gaap_OtherAccruedLiabilitiesCurrent
Total	$ 53,063	$ 45,534

Legal expenses accrued as of balance sheet date.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and due within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), including liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received, taxes, interest, rent and utilities, accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19,20)

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-Publisher SEC

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-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-Article 5

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of liabilities incurred (and for which invoices have typically been received) and payable to vendors for goods and services received that are used in an entity's business. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19

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-Publisher FASB

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-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(a))

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable, pertaining to costs that are statutory in nature, are incurred on contractual obligations, or accumulate over time and for which invoices have not yet been received or will not be rendered. Examples include taxes, interest, rent and utilities.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5))

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.15(a))

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-Publisher SEC

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-Section 03

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for professional fees, such as for legal and accounting services received. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Current Liabilities

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for royalties. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

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- Definition

Total of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for obligations related to services received from employees, such as accrued salaries and bonuses, payroll taxes and fringe benefits. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable arising from transactions not otherwise specified in the taxonomy. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for estimated claims under standard and extended warranty protection rights granted to customers. For classified balance sheets, represents the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred and payable for statutory income, sales, use, payroll, excise, real, property and other taxes. Used to reflect the current portion of the liabilities (due within one year or within the normal operating cycle if longer).

+ References

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