T530 backlit keyboard flaw?

Finally got my T530 after it got delayed a week... tested out the backlit keyboard and to my disappointment I saw this: http://i.imgur.com/xg17g.jpg

The top row appears to be poorly/unevenly lit except for the F6 + F7 keys -- I'm assuming this is just from a bad batch?

 

Not normal. Hopefully someone can chime in about this. I've seen posts where people weren't happy about their keyboards and Lenovo sent them a new keyboard and allowed them to replace it without having to send it in for repair. Does anyone know if this is still the case with these backlit keyboards?

 

It should be evenly lit, see attached photo of mine.

 

I didn't realize it until this thread made me examine a bit more carefully. My lighting seems perfectly fine, but the f6 button looks just like yours(OP), slightly but noticeably popped up. The left side is higher than the right. It is very likely a bad batch, one mine's part of but my lighting is fine. You should call em up.
x1 brightness

x2 brightness

x2 brightness, close up on f6 button


edit: upon reviewing my own pictures, it kinda looks like I have bad lighting as well. though it might be because of viewing it straight down, which I won't be doing when using the computer.

 

Looks like the LED isn't seated properly in the light guide (not sure if it's really implemented that way though)? There must be people who have taken that whole thing apart already and should be able to help diagnose what's going on.

 

having same issue with the original poster...only F6 and F7 are lit for the top rows

 

damn, mine is completely off compared to yours... my delete key's virtually dark!
I've had backlit keyboards on laptops in the past and this is just downright disappointing for a premium business pc that's supposed to one of the best in the market.
Looks like this is going back

 

I got my T530 on 9/14/12 and my backlit keyboard looks exactly like h3r0's...is there anyways to get it fixed?

 

Yes. Get them to replace the keyboard. Call them up, describe the issue, and ask for a CRU replacement of the keyboard. They'll ship you a keyboard, you unscrew the old one, replace it with the new one, put the old one in the box, and send it off. If uncertain how to do the replacement, check the HMM for step-by-step instructions.

 

I took my keyboard apart and reseated the LED row, helped a lot actually. F6/F7 are still brighter than the rest but at least light reaches the Delete key now

 

Yup I got the same problem on my W530. Shrugged it off as "just the way it is" but clearly it is not looking at hmmwv's keyboard. May have to ask for a replacement.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

Keyboard replacement is very easy... it takes about 90 seconds with the screwdriver

 

I got my replacement T530 today. Luckily, I don't have the uneven keyboard backlight issue.

 

Exactly the same problem on my new T430s backlit kbd as posted by OP (h3r0). Will call Lenovo for replacement. Also curious how long these leds will even last before start burning out. Either way, I guess that's why I got ext warranty...

 

I know it's apples vs. oranges, but we have under-counter LED lights that run 24x7. They have been on for at least 2 years and work fine.

LEDs should theoretically last forever. Certainly longer than the life of the computer.

 

For Lenovo its a "new" technology lol!!! so, I will give them until v2 to get it right

 

Glad to hear there are ones w/ even lighting finally...I've been waiting for that before complaining to Lenovo...happens on the W530 as well

If anyone gets a replacement, please post back about how well or not it works...

 

I called Lenovo yesterday; no questions asked - they sent a replacement overnight. Heard it got delivered already today. Once I get home and install it, will let you know right away.

 

Hmm, the replacement keyboard on T430s wasn't better F6/F7 a lot brighter and dims out to the right/left. All the way toward the right end, Home/End/Insert/Delete keys are barely lit. The rest of the keys are good, only upper Function row is like that...

 

Well if the replacement wasn't any better I'm reluctant to try to get a new one. If I can fix the LEDs on the current one I'm willing to try. I wonder if it'll be worth taking it apart...

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

My original kbd and the replacement one were both FRU 04W3063. When I called Lenovo back, they said another kbd will be sent to me with a different FRU. I'm not holding my breath, but will see... I should have it on Monday, and will post another update.

 

I guess I'm using this thread as my personal blog spot for updates lol!!! Got the replacement kbd, different FRU number labeled on the box, but when I opened the box - they sent me a regular non-backlit kbd. I called them back, spoke with supervisor, the guy on the phone actually had X1C next to him with backlit kbd and it was lit up the same way as my keyboard. Their solution: since original and replacement keyboards perform the same, I have to wait until new T430s mobo becomes available so they can replace it. Really? Because a row of function keys are not lit up evenly you going to replace motherboard?!? And their reasoning is something could be wrong with keyboard connector to mobo. Common, you don't control leds individually, just bias all of them from the same voltage source through one of the pins on the connector. If anything, I do agree that led light pipe is not seated correctly or something like that. Considering so many people are having this "problem", sounds like a design flaw or a manufacturing assembly flaw. Personally, I can live with it, but still would have been good if everything works as expected.

 

I don't see how is it possible for a bad connector to affect the light distribution on the keyboard, it's either on or off, a bad connector may result in flickering or non responsive on/off, but not uneven lighting.

 

I have a T530 with the uneven key lighting problem. The F6 was lit up extra bright and the Home, End, Insert and Delete keys are much too dim. I just got my replacement keyboard from Lenovo today and it also has this problem. I think that it is less uneven on the replacement and the F6 is less extra bright, but will have to re-swap to check that again.

Anyway, this problem is far from solved.

 

I've got it figured out!!

Took apart the keyboard today. I got a replacement from Lenovo, so I wasn't concerned about breaking anything. Here's how it works. The keyboard itself has only 4 or 5 individual LEDs in the whole package. If you look at the backside of the keyboard with the laptop powered up, you'll see them glowing. They are all roughly arrayed generally down the middle of the keyboard - but not exactly down the middle, from front to back.

The light is distributed from these points to the rest of the keyboard via a clear plastic film with a reflective backing. The clear film has integral reflective points positioned to be under the individual keys. So the light comes from the few LEDs and bounces around in the plastic film, and hits the reflective points which appear to glow.

Now, as for why we see uneven illumination in the FN row. The FN row is on a separate reflector strip that is only 1 row high. The rest of the keyboard is on a single much larger reflector. Some noticed that the FN row is higher. It is higher in the back as well, so that explains why it is on a separate reflector strip. The FN row has its one and only LED - wait for it - under the FN6 key. So that's why the FN6 appears so much brighter. It's the closest to the light source. Some of the light from the LED is probably leaking directly out as well. If you look at it, the FN6 key is much closer to the left side of the keyboard. So as the light falls off with distance, there is less light for the last few keys on the right. The fact that the FN row is only 1 key high probably exacerbates the problem.

So there is no fix for this. Rather, it is a major design flaw in the keyboard.

In light of this, I challenge anyone to show me a T530/W530 keyboard that doesn't have this problem. I suspect that anyone who thinks they don't have the problem is not seeing it correctly or doesn't know what to look for.

Sadly, this is just confirmation that we are dealing with a cheap Chinese laptop brand. I've been a loyal Lenovo buyer for many years, but this is going to have to be the last one. Of course, if you call a Lenovo rep, you can get a pretty good price on the thing. So I guess we are getting what we pay for.

 

Yes, the LED backlighting on IBM's keyboards was vastly superior.

 

Actually, your keyboard has the problem as well. Your Delete key is not nearly as bright as the Backspace under it, and is much less bright than your F6 key. This is exactly what the problem is.

 

Good investigative work, dimsdale! I can confirm having T430s and going through 2 keyboards with the same problem, and also talking to other T430s users on this forum all with a same problem, and even tech supervisor at Lenovo looking it up on X1C with a same problem. Don't have any other explanation except for a design flaw!!!

I just hope Lenovo reps are reading these forums and taking notes. Maybe they will get around fixing it, one day...

 

Well there is no denial that not all keys are lit up evenly, but I don't have any problem with mine, its brightness level is perfectly fine in the dark, and I certainly don't have the problem OP had where you can't even see the right side of his function keys. Unless there are many more LEDs deployed across the keyboard the problem will never be solved completely, even with much more reflection material. The fact is just as you said, we are paying a fraction of what we used to pay to get these Thinkpads so there has to be compromises. It used to be a good deal if you can get one for under $2000, now I paid less than $700 for mine, and for the price I think the build quality and engineering is superb.

 

with this new info. idk where to turn for a new PC... I'm still arguing with Lenovo to process my return (their 'backend team' denied the flaw) and their sales team's CSR has been absolute garbage with helping me get a replacement (upgrade to a W series). I'm not going back to HP after facing consistent problems with their 'premium PCs' and the dell that I got recently apparently has poor components (screen fade issue)... it seems that there's not much choice left to choose!

 

Have you looked at Samsung?

 

What type of problems did you have with your Elitebooks?

Also , Dell Precisions shouldn't have any screen fade issues.