cf-28 with built in camera?

Well I bought a cf-28 which I really like it is perfect for my work,Here is my question.Have these laptops ever been built with a net cam. Mine has a hole in the left front top face of the screen just inward of the wireless antenna in that hole looks like a very small curciut of some short. Nothing shows up in the device manager that is not identifyed and I have not been able to find any information on what this might be. Any help identifying what this is, Would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks John

 

No, no web cam. This is a light sensor (Rick can you she more info on this?). They aren't really used anymore, but when they were I think they were to adjust the screen brightness depending apon the ambient light around the laptop.

They've never had web cams built in (none of the Toughbooks have for that madder) - although some people on the forums here have modded theirs to have one ...

Also that antenna that you are referring to (the one that extends out of the screen) is NOT a wireless antenna. It is used for the WWAN (wireless wide area network)... Sprint, Verizon, ATT, etc... if the laptop has it built in. Some do, some don't, it all depends on your model.

What is your model number (CF-28XXXXXXX)? - You can plug it into config.toughbook.com (using IE, NOT firefox) to get the specifics.

Also - Welcome newb!!

 

I saw a pretty cool webcam mod for a cf-29 a few weeks back. Don't know if you could fit a webcam in the photosenor hole or if there is even room behind the bezel for the equipment. the guy that did it put the cam on the hinge cover.

Found the thread... check it out I thought it was quite ingenius
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=329572

Dan

 

Dan, that is the thread I was referring to in my post but was to lazy to find it

Thanks!

 

What you see in the hole above the F4 key is the light sensor for the keyboard, either emissive or rubber.

You can easily mod in a webcam... You could use the internal bay for a small USB card and with a little modification, make it work. This was not a factory option and the only way to do it is if you make the mod! But it is very doable. Someone already has on the 29 I think...

 

Rick, did you read the post that Dan posted? -

 

Yes... I was also PMing with him yesterday afternoon about the tscreen issues... We both fixed one using the same method but still have others that are crapped out.

 

Thanks everyone for your input ,The sensor must not be working does not seem to have any effect when you cover the sensor with your thumb or shine a light into it the screen does not change oh well I will live with it.

 

Okay... You need to go back and read my first post carefully... The sensor is not for the screen... It is for the keyboard. It may be working and most likely is... It is a better bet that your keyboard has either been swapped out with a non-working or non-illuminated type than the sensor has gone bad... Either that or the keyboard inverter has gone bad.

Do you have a rubber or emissive keyboard installed? If you don't know the difference... You have A LOT of reading to do.

 

He wasn't asking about the keyboard, he was referring to the sensor on the screen. This is on all 12.1" transflective models and is there to turn off the backlight when working in direct sunlight. It takes a very bright light to activate it.

 

tough-2-go you are correct - Rick I know what you are talking about and you're thinking of the other sensor do-hicky...

 

Okay... I need to go back and read HIS post!

Duh!

BTW... You need a pretty bright light to test that.. And I'd still bet the sensor isn't bad.

 

For a minute their Rick, I thought I mis-read his post LOL - Thanks!

HA!

 

Yup - I was about to answer this one when I spotted TTG's post here - the intent is to turn off the backlight & enable the high contrast gamma profile for use in transflective mode on the 12.1" screen. It should ONLY turn on when the screen is in DIRECT SUNLIGHT. It was one of the more ingenious things I found on the ToughBooks, in fact when I first figured it out I was like "Well, I'll be double-dipped & sold on a waffle cone"...

mnem
Of course now we have 1500+ nit LCDs that are as bright as DIRECT SUNLIGHT... I wonder if one of those would trigger that sensor...?

 

Thanks to all for posting. It is a sensor for the screen, tested in bright sun and it works.