Partial zero voltage switching (ZVS) for flyback power converter and method therefor

A controller is for use in a power converter having a flyback transformer having a primary winding switched by a primary side transistor and a secondary winding switched by a secondary side transistor. The controller includes a line voltage detection circuit that activates a high line detect signal in response to detecting that an input line voltage is greater than a first threshold, a discontinuous conduction mode detection circuit activates a discontinuous conduction mode signal in response to detecting that the controller is operating in discontinuous conduction mode, and a switching controller coupled to the line voltage detection circuit and to the discontinuous conduction mode detection circuit that controls the primary side transistor and the secondary side transistor using partial zero voltage switching in response to an activation of the high line detect signal and the discontinuous conduction mode signal, and without using partial zero voltage switching otherwise.