Light load mode entry or exit for power converter

A method comprising:

• during a first mode of operation for a power converter, generating a current at a switch node, the switch node being between a control switch and a synchronous switch in the power converter;
• detecting a light load condition for the power converter;
• entering a light load mode of operation for the power converter in response to the detecting of the light load condition;
• generating a compensator voltage based on a feedback voltage and a reference voltage, the feedback voltage being indicative of an output voltage of the power converter, the reference voltage being indicative of a desired voltage level of the output voltage;
• comparing the compensator voltage to a threshold voltage, the threshold voltage representing a limit for the compensator voltage during the light load mode of operation determined over a range of the output voltage;
• and
• exiting from the light load mode of operation to the first mode of operation for the power converter in response to the compensator voltage being beyond the threshold voltage.

A power converter comprising:

• a control switch and a synchronous switch electrically connected in series between an input voltage and a ground, a switch node being between the control switch and the synchronous switch, the control switch and the synchronous switch generating a current at the switch node in accordance with drive signals that are controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal during a first mode of operation for the power converter;
• a zero current detect (ZCD) comparator that asserts a ZCD signal in response to a zero current condition at the switch node;
• and
• a light load detector that causes the power converter to enter a light load mode of operation in response to detecting that the ZCD signal is asserted between a beginning point and a trigger point of a period of the PWM signal.