Index: firmware/export/config-e200.h
===================================================================
--- firmware/export/config-e200.h	(revision 13956)
+++ firmware/export/config-e200.h	(working copy)
@@ -54,6 +54,9 @@
 #define MAX_BRIGHTNESS_SETTING           12
 #define DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS_SETTING       6
 
+/* define this if the backlight can be set to a brightness */
+#define HAVE_BACKLIGHT_SET_FADING
+
 /* define this if you have a light associated with the buttons */
 #define HAVE_BUTTON_LIGHT
 
Index: firmware/target/arm/sandisk/sansa-e200/backlight-e200.c
===================================================================
--- firmware/target/arm/sandisk/sansa-e200/backlight-e200.c	(revision 13956)
+++ firmware/target/arm/sandisk/sansa-e200/backlight-e200.c	(working copy)
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "i2c-pp.h"
 
 static unsigned short backlight_brightness = DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS_SETTING;
+static short current_brightness = DEFAULT_BRIGHTNESS_SETTING;
 
 void __backlight_set_brightness(int brightness)
 {
@@ -38,11 +39,13 @@
 {
     lcd_enable(true); /* power on lcd */
     pp_i2c_send( 0x46, 0x23, backlight_brightness);
+    current_brightness = backlight_brightness;
 }
 
 void __backlight_off(void)
 {
     pp_i2c_send( 0x46, 0x23, 0x0);
+    current_brightness = 0;
     lcd_enable(false); /* power off lcd */
 }
 
@@ -56,3 +59,45 @@
 {
     GPIOG_OUTPUT_VAL &=~ 0x80;
 }
+static bool turning_off = false;
+static bool task_running = false;
+static void backlight_dimmer_ticktask(void)
+{
+    bool end = false;
+    if (turning_off)
+    {
+        if (current_brightness <= 0)
+        {
+            end = true;
+        }
+        else current_brightness--;
+        if (current_brightness < 0)
+            current_brightness = 0;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        lcd_enable(true);
+        if (current_brightness >= backlight_brightness)
+            end = true;
+        else current_brightness++;
+    }
+    if (end)
+    {
+        // if (turning_off)
+        //    lcd_enable(false);
+        tick_remove_task(backlight_dimmer_ticktask);
+        task_running = false;
+    }
+    else
+        pp_i2c_send( 0x46, 0x23, current_brightness);
+}
+
+void __backlight_dim(bool dim_now)
+{
+    turning_off = dim_now;
+    if (!task_running)
+    {
+        task_running = true;
+        tick_add_task(backlight_dimmer_ticktask);
+    }
+}