Daily Shaarli

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August 15, 2020

Note: macOS ALS/Keyboard Backlight protocol

MacBookPro12,X and older:

  • ALS and Keyboard Backlight is controlled by SMC
  • ALS keys: AL, ALI0, ALI1, ALRV, ALV0, ALV1
  • Keyboard Backlight keys: LKSB, LKSS, MSLD
  • See AsusSMC

Newer MacBook:

  • On Macbook without Touchbar, ALS sensor is called ALS0. IOService is AppleLMUController.
  • On Macbook with Touchbar, ALS sensor is connected via USB. IOService is AppleUSBALSService (com.apple.driver.AppleHIDALSService)
  • Keyboard Backlight seems to be controlled by the keyboard itself. IOService is AppleHIDKeyboardEventDriverV2. It has a property named KeyboardBacklightBrightness
  • There's a boolean property KeyboardBacklight in IOResources.
  • AppleHIDKeyboardEventDriverV2 location: /S/L/E/AppleTopCase.kext/Contents/PlugIns/AppleTopCaseDriverV2.kext
  • AppleUSBALSService location: /S/L/E/AppleHIDALSService.kext