Automating the keyboard backlight

Framework Laptop 13
1

Currently the backlight always stays on, even when idle. I would like to automate the way it works. My wishlist is the following:

  • Schedule backlight during nighttime hours.
  • Set a lower timeout when on battery.
  • Customize which keys are lighted, depending on the current application.
  • Add cool lighting effects (like Razor keyboards)
  • Disable backlight when connected to a dock
7 Likes
2

Sounds like a great suggestion for a feature request. It may require some sort of special software that is customized to work with the laptop board. But yeah, a breathing effect lighted keyboard on a Framework Laptop is interesting.

3 Likes
4

I think the best way to implement this is by exposing the keyboard backlight over HID (Which we have an interface already for the airplane mode and display backlight keys.)

https://usb.org/sites/default/files/hut1_22.pdf Section 15.22

I think this would allow backlight control from the OS.
This can also be used to expose Fn key state, and lock state to the OS as well.

5 Likes
5

I think it could be (more or less) easily implemented in software, either in the firmware and/or by exposing the backlight functionality over HID to the OS. Of course this will need a new firmware update, and since the EC is now open-source maybe it will be implemented pretty quickly

6

Here is my Framework with the breathing keyboard effect.
https://www.reddit.com/r/framework/comments/z8h9oi/i_matched_my_framework_keyboard_light_to_my/

3 Likes
7

Now THIS, I have been working on! Linux doesn’t handle it properly (System Controller collection devices fail out if they don’t have axes like a game controller,) but it can easily be made to. Anyway, I added another descriptor to the hx20 HID block and am publishing the Fn state. I’ll push my branch. :slight_smile:

4 Likes