Multi-mode controlled power converter

A switched power converter comprising a switchable power stage for generating an output voltage according to a switching signal and an input voltage via a switching element, the switching signal being generated by a multi-mode controller, said multi-mode controller controlling a digital control path for generating a pulse width modulation switching signal and a constant-on-time control path for generating a constant-on-time switching signal, wherein the switching signal for controlling the switching element is generated in the digital control path when the multi-mode controller is run in a high load mode and wherein the switching signal is generated in the constant-on-time control path when the multi-mode controller is run in a light load mode, and wherein the digital control path is disconnected from power supply when the multi-mode controller is run in light load mode, wherein the constant-on-time control path further comprises a minimum-off-time circuit configured to compute a sum of constant-on-time and a minimum-off-time, and wherein the multimode controller is configured to activate the digital control path when the sum of the constant-on-time and the minimum-off-time is not greater than a normal period of the pulse width modulation switching signal.