Driving circuit with dimming controller for driving light sources

A dimming controller for a light source, said dimming controller comprising:

• a monitoring terminal operable for receiving a switch monitoring signal indicative of an on/off state of a power switch, wherein said power switch transfers power from an AC power source to a rectifier and wherein a power converter receives input power from said rectifier and provides output power to said light source if said power switch is on, and wherein an average current flowing through said light source has a first value when said power switch is on;
• a control terminal operable for providing a control signal to adjust said average current based on said switch monitoring signal and control dimming of said light source;
• a power terminal operable for receiving power from said AC power source through said power switch when said power switch is on, and operable for receiving power from said AC power source through an illuminated indicator when said power switch is off;
• a trigger monitoring unit operable for receiving said switch monitoring signal and for generating a driving signal in response to operation of said power switch;
• a timer, coupled to said trigger monitoring unit and controlled by said driving signal, operable for measuring the period of time between when said power switch is turned off and when said power switch is next turned on;
• and
• a reference signal generator coupled to said timer and operable for generating a reference signal based on an output of said timer.