XML 29 R54.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) $ in Millions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Oct. 22, 2019 USD ($) | Oct. 04, 2019 USD ($) | Nov. 15, 2018 USD ($) | Nov. 09, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 27, 2016 patent | Nov. 01, 2016 patent | Aug. 11, 2016 patent | Apr. 01, 2016 patent | Oct. 21, 2015 patents | May 01, 2012 USD ($) patents | Feb. 03, 2011 USD ($) | May 05, 2010 patents | Dec. 18, 2009 patents | Nov. 04, 2009 patent patents | Dec. 22, 2008 | Dec. 12, 2008 USD ($) | Nov. 07, 2008 patents | May 23, 2008 patents | Oct. 10, 2006 USD ($) | Oct. 20, 2004 patents | Jul. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Feb. 28, 2019 USD ($) | Nov. 30, 2017 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2015 patent | Feb. 28, 2014 USD ($) patent patents | Apr. 30, 2012 patents | May 31, 2010 patents | Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim One |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Period for petition for further stay of permanent injunction |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90 days |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Two |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed upon, Number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Two Counterclaim [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of patents withdrawn from infringement claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded from Other Party | $ |  |  |  | $ 24.3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 7.1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of patents remaining in infringement claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Potential impact on revenue by patent litigation, less than (as a percentage) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0.50%
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Three Counterclaim [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of patents withdrawn from infringement claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Five |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of patents withdrawn from infringement claims |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded from Other Party | $ |  |  | $ 0.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed upon, Number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 2.4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Six |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain Contingency, Patents Found Infringed upon, Number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Seven |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number | patent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6.7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1.2
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Eight [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number | patent |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Nine [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed upon, Number | patent |  |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Ten [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number | patent |  |  |  |  | 6 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Eleven [Domain] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Damages sought after the Company | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Judicial Ruling [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Two |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain Contingency, Patents Found Infringed upon, Number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |
Judicial Ruling [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Two Counterclaim [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of Patents Not Infringed |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |
Judicial Ruling [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Five |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain Contingency, Patents Found Infringed upon, Number | patent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |
Positive Outcome of Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim One |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain Contingency, Patents Found Infringed upon, Number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded from Other Party | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 12.9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Damages Awarded, Value | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 6.1 |  |  | $ 34.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Positive Outcome of Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Three [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded from Other Party | $ |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 146.5 | $ 139.8 |  | $ 105.0 |  |  |
Number of patents in infringement case deemed unenforceable by Fairchild | patent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1 |  |  |
Gain Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed upon, Number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loss Contingency, Patents Allegedly Infringed, Number |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 |  |  |
Subsequent Event [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded from Other Party | $ |  | $ 175.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from Legal Settlements | $ | $ 175.0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | powi_GainAndLossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | powi_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Loss Contingency, Percent of Revenue Impacted by Patents Involved in Litigation + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | powi_LossContingencyPercentOfRevenueImpactedByPatentsInvolvedInLitigation
Namespace Prefix: | powi_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of Patents Remaining in Infringement Claims + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | powi_NumberOfPatentsRemainingInInfringementClaims
Namespace Prefix: | powi_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of Patents Withdrawn from Infringement Claims + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | powi_NumberOfPatentsWithdrawnFromInfringementClaims
Namespace Prefix: | powi_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of Patents in Infringement Case, Unenforceable + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | powi_NumberofPatentsinInfringementCaseUnenforceable
Namespace Prefix: | powi_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Period for Petition for Further Stay of Permanent Injunction + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | powi_PeriodforPetitionforFurtherStayofPermanentInjunction
Namespace Prefix: | powi_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of entity's patents that another entity has allegedly infringed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainContingencyPatentsAllegedlyInfringedUponNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of entity's patents that another entity was found to have infringed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainContingencyPatentsFoundInfringedUponNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount awarded from other party in judgment or settlement of litigation. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedFromOtherParty
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of damages awarded to the plaintiff in the legal matter. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14557-108349 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesAwardedValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14557-108349 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14435-108349 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 450 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118942415&loc=d3e14326-108349 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of another entity's patents that the entity has allegedly infringed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyPatentsAllegedlyInfringedNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of another entity's patents that the entity was found not to have infringed. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LossContingencyPatentsFoundNotInfringedNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Cash received for the settlement of litigation during the current period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromLegalSettlements
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringementClaimOneMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoCounterclaimMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeCounterclaimMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringmentClaimFiveMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringmentClaimSixMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringementClaimSevenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringementClaimEightMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringementClaimNineMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringementClaimTenMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringementClaimElevenDomain
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis=us-gaap_JudicialRulingMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis=us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_LitigationCaseAxis=powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |