Keyboard backlight abnormally dim when set on max setting

Hi all,
I have been scanning through the forum looking for a solution, but have yet to find one that works:
Here is the situation:
Macbook pro early 2011, lastest update of lion, My keyboard backlight is abnormally dim when set on the max setting. When comparing my current illumination to a properly working keyboard, which i had just a few days ago, the current brightness would be about a level two - three on the illumination scale.
The associated SMC functions appear to be working properly, besides the keyboard illumination.
Oddly: The light momentarily starting working yesterday and went back to full brightness for about an hour, then regressed backed to the problem of being abnormally dim.
What I have done to troubleshoot:
Resetted SMC several times
several trials of going to a dark room
clicking and unclicking of the "automatic illumination"
ticklight does not work
Is this a problem with Lion? as there are several characteristically similar senarios involving the keyboard backlight and lion?
Or is this a hardware issue?
Does anyone have any solutions?
Has anyone talked to Apple support about this issue?
Thanks,

I now have this problem too - early 2011 Macbook Pro and latest Lion update (10.7.4).
Even with the brightness turned up full, I can hardly see the keys in low light.
I've also noticed that the battery LEDs at the side are abnormally dim too - but go to full brightness when the lid is closed.
It looks like a software thing to me.
Did you ever get an answer to this (other than take it back to the Apple Store)?

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This question was solved.
View Solution.

There isn't a setting. On the keyboard of a notebook that has this feature it is on the F5 key. It is the lit key in the following image from the keyboard of my current HP Product loan. It is the enable\disable backlight key.
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Keyboard backlight abnormally dim when set on max setting

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