Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Balance Sheet Details - Intangible Assets (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Balance Sheet Details - Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Intangibles assets, Gross $ 3,086us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross $ 749us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Less accumulated amortization (2,435)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization (2,072)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Total 10,386us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet 749us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsNet
Licensed Technology [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Weighted average amortization period in years 3 years  
Intangibles assets, Gross 2,821us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= mxl_LicensedTechnologyMember
2,821us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= mxl_LicensedTechnologyMember
Developed Technology Rights [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Weighted average amortization period in years 7 years  
Intangibles assets, Gross 2,700us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_DevelopedTechnologyRightsMember
In Process Research and Development [Member]    
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]    
Intangibles assets, Gross $ 7,300us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember
$ 0us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_InProcessResearchAndDevelopmentMember