An integrated circuit (202, 402) adapted to control a light emitting diode (218, 418), hereafter referred to as an LED, comprising: a dimmer drive circuit (204, 404) configured to receive a driver control signal and configured to output a driving signal (205, 405), the driving signal for driving a passive dimmer (206, 406) having an adjustable control position, wherein the passive dimmer is configured to receive the driving signal and to output a dimmer signal (207, 407), the dimmer signal representing the control position of the passive dimmer; a dimmer read circuit (208, 408) configured to receive a reader control signal and the dimmer signal from the passive dimmer and generate a brightness signal (210, 410) representing a desired brightness level of the LED based on the dimmer signal; and a power controller (212, 412) configured to receive the brightness signal and generate one or more power control signals (214, 414), the power control signals capable of causing the LED to emit light at the desired brightness level, the integrated circuit characterized by further comprising: a unified timing controller configured to receive one or more input signals generated by an LED power circuit coupled to the integrated circuit, the LED power circuit adapted to receive at least one of the power control signals generated by the power controller and to provide power to the LED, and the unified timing controller being further configured to generate, based on the input signals, the driver control signal to control operation of the dimmer drive circuit and the reader control signal to control operation of the dimmer read circuit. a dimmer drive circuit (204, 404) configured to receive a driver control signal and configured to output a driving signal (205, 405), the driving signal for driving a passive dimmer (206, 406) having an adjustable control position, wherein the passive dimmer is configured to receive the driving signal and to output a dimmer signal (207, 407), the dimmer signal representing the control position of the passive dimmer; a dimmer read circuit (208, 408) configured to receive a reader control signal and the dimmer signal from the passive dimmer and generate a brightness signal (210, 410) representing a desired brightness level of the LED based on the dimmer signal; and a power controller (212, 412) configured to receive the brightness signal and generate one or more power control signals (214, 414), the power control signals capable of causing the LED to emit light at the desired brightness level, the integrated circuit characterized by further comprising: a unified timing controller configured to receive one or more input signals generated by an LED power circuit coupled to the integrated circuit, the LED power circuit adapted to receive at least one of the power control signals generated by the power controller and to provide power to the LED, and the unified timing controller being further configured to generate, based on the input signals, the driver control signal to control operation of the dimmer drive circuit and the reader control signal to control operation of the dimmer read circuit. a unified timing controller configured to receive one or more input signals generated by an LED power circuit coupled to the integrated circuit, the LED power circuit adapted to receive at least one of the power control signals generated by the power controller and to provide power to the LED, and the unified timing controller being further configured to generate, based on the input signals, the driver control signal to control operation of the dimmer drive circuit and the reader control signal to control operation of the dimmer read circuit.