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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
0 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
May 01, 2012
patent
Feb. 28, 2011
Dec. 31, 2008
Oct. 31, 2006
Oct. 31, 2004
patent
May 31, 2008
patent
Feb. 28, 2014
Nov. 30, 2009
patent
Dec. 31, 2009
patent
Nov. 30, 2008
patent
Mar. 31, 2015
May 31, 2010
patent
Dec. 31, 2012
patents
Feb. 28, 2010
patent
Patent Infringment Claim Five [Member] | Counterclaims [Member]                            
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                            
Number of patents in filed infringement claims 5powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringmentClaimFiveMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis
= powi_CounterclaimsMember
                         
Positive Outcome of Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim One [Member]                            
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                            
Number of patents in filed infringement claims         4powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimOneMember
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
                 
Damages awarded to the Company   $ 12.9us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimOneMember
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
$ 6.1us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimOneMember
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
$ 34.0us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimOneMember
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
                   
Positive Outcome of Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Two [Member]                            
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                            
Number of patents in filed infringement claims           3powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
               
Positive Outcome of Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Three [Member]                            
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                            
Number of patents in filed infringement claims               2powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
           
Damages awarded to the Company             105.0us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmount
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
             
Number of patents in infringment case deemed unenforceable by Fairchild               1powi_NumberOfPatentsInInfringmentCaseUnenforceable
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
/ us-gaap_GainContingenciesByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PositiveOutcomeOfLitigationMember
           
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim One [Member]                            
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                            
Period for petition for further stay of permanent injunction     90                      
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Two [Member]                            
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                            
Number of patents in filed infringement claims                   3powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
       
Number of patents withdrawn from infringement claims                 1powi_NumberOfPatentsWithdrawnFromInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
         
Number of patents remaining in infringement claims                 2powi_NumberOfPatentsRemainingInInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
         
Potential impact on revenue by patent litigation (as a percentage)                     0.30%powi_LossContingencyPercentOfRevenueImpactedByPatentsInvolvedInLitigation
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimTwoMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
     
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Three [Member]                            
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                            
Number of patents in filed infringement claims                       2powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
   
Number of patents withdrawn from infringement claims                       1powi_NumberOfPatentsWithdrawnFromInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
   
Number of Patents Added to Infringement Claims                         1powi_NumberOfPatentsAddedToInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimThreeMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
 
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringement Claim Four [Member]                            
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                            
Number of patents in filed infringement claims                           4powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimFourMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Damages sought after the Company                           $ 19.0us-gaap_LossContingencyDamagesSoughtValue
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringementClaimFourMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
Pending Litigation [Member] | Patent Infringment Claim Five [Member]                            
Gain and Loss Contingencies [Line Items]                            
Number of patents in filed infringement claims 4powi_NumberOfPatentsInFiledInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringmentClaimFiveMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember
                         
Number of patents withdrawn from infringement claims 1powi_NumberOfPatentsWithdrawnFromInfringementClaims
/ powi_ClaimsbyTypesAxis
= powi_PatentInfringmentClaimFiveMember
/ us-gaap_LitigationStatusAxis
= us-gaap_PendingLitigationMember