diff --git a/drivers/video/atmel_lcdfb.c b/drivers/video/atmel_lcdfb.c
index bac16345..4b4e8da 100644
--- a/drivers/video/atmel_lcdfb.c
+++ b/drivers/video/atmel_lcdfb.c
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@
 		return;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = 0xff;
 	bl = backlight_device_register("backlight", &sinfo->pdev->dev, sinfo,
 				       &atmel_lcdc_bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/aty/aty128fb.c b/drivers/video/aty/aty128fb.c
index 4cb6a57..b0b2ac3 100644
--- a/drivers/video/aty/aty128fb.c
+++ b/drivers/video/aty/aty128fb.c
@@ -1818,6 +1818,7 @@
 	snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "aty128bl%d", info->node);
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = FB_BACKLIGHT_LEVELS - 1;
 	bd = backlight_device_register(name, info->dev, par, &aty128_bl_data,
 				       &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/aty/atyfb_base.c b/drivers/video/aty/atyfb_base.c
index 94e293f..d437b3d 100644
--- a/drivers/video/aty/atyfb_base.c
+++ b/drivers/video/aty/atyfb_base.c
@@ -2241,6 +2241,7 @@
 	snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "atybl%d", info->node);
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = FB_BACKLIGHT_LEVELS - 1;
 	bd = backlight_device_register(name, info->dev, par, &aty_bl_data,
 				       &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/aty/radeon_backlight.c b/drivers/video/aty/radeon_backlight.c
index 9b811dd..db572df 100644
--- a/drivers/video/aty/radeon_backlight.c
+++ b/drivers/video/aty/radeon_backlight.c
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@
 	snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "radeonbl%d", rinfo->info->node);
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = FB_BACKLIGHT_LEVELS - 1;
 	bd = backlight_device_register(name, rinfo->info->dev, pdata,
 				       &radeon_bl_data, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/88pm860x_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/88pm860x_bl.c
index b224396..e59623a 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/88pm860x_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/88pm860x_bl.c
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@
 	}
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = MAX_BRIGHTNESS;
 	bl = backlight_device_register(name, &pdev->dev, data,
 					&pm860x_backlight_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/adp5520_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/adp5520_bl.c
index 9f436e0..af31197 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/adp5520_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/adp5520_bl.c
@@ -303,6 +303,7 @@
 	mutex_init(&data->lock);
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = ADP5020_MAX_BRIGHTNESS;
 	bl = backlight_device_register(pdev->name, data->master, data,
 				       &adp5520_bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/adp8860_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/adp8860_bl.c
index 734c650..d2a96a4 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/adp8860_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/adp8860_bl.c
@@ -709,6 +709,7 @@
 	i2c_set_clientdata(client, data);
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(props));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = ADP8860_MAX_BRIGHTNESS;
 
 	mutex_init(&data->lock);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/adx_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/adx_bl.c
index fe9af12..c861c41 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/adx_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/adx_bl.c
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@
 	}
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = 0xff;
 	bldev = backlight_device_register(dev_name(&pdev->dev), &pdev->dev,
 					  bl, &adx_backlight_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/atmel-pwm-bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/atmel-pwm-bl.c
index e6a66da..0443a4f 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/atmel-pwm-bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/atmel-pwm-bl.c
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@
 	}
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = pdata->pwm_duty_max - pdata->pwm_duty_min;
 	bldev = backlight_device_register("atmel-pwm-bl", &pdev->dev, pwmbl,
 					  &atmel_pwm_bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/backlight.c b/drivers/video/backlight/backlight.c
index 0870329..80d292f 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/backlight.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/backlight.c
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@
 #include <asm/backlight.h>
 #endif
 
+static const char const *backlight_types[] = {
+	[BACKLIGHT_RAW] = "raw",
+	[BACKLIGHT_PLATFORM] = "platform",
+	[BACKLIGHT_FIRMWARE] = "firmware",
+};
+
 #if defined(CONFIG_FB) || (defined(CONFIG_FB_MODULE) && \
 			   defined(CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_CLASS_DEVICE_MODULE))
 /* This callback gets called when something important happens inside a
@@ -169,6 +175,14 @@
 	return rc;
 }
 
+static ssize_t backlight_show_type(struct device *dev,
+		struct device_attribute *attr, char *buf)
+{
+	struct backlight_device *bd = to_backlight_device(dev);
+
+	return sprintf(buf, "%s\n", backlight_types[bd->props.type]);
+}
+
 static ssize_t backlight_show_max_brightness(struct device *dev,
 		struct device_attribute *attr, char *buf)
 {
@@ -234,6 +248,7 @@
 	__ATTR(actual_brightness, 0444, backlight_show_actual_brightness,
 		     NULL),
 	__ATTR(max_brightness, 0444, backlight_show_max_brightness, NULL),
+	__ATTR(type, 0444, backlight_show_type, NULL),
 	__ATTR_NULL,
 };
 
@@ -292,9 +307,16 @@
 	dev_set_drvdata(&new_bd->dev, devdata);
 
 	/* Set default properties */
-	if (props)
+	if (props) {
 		memcpy(&new_bd->props, props,
 		       sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+		if (props->type <= 0 || props->type >= BACKLIGHT_TYPE_MAX) {
+			WARN(1, "%s: invalid backlight type", name);
+			new_bd->props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
+		}
+	} else {
+		new_bd->props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
+	}
 
 	rc = device_register(&new_bd->dev);
 	if (rc) {
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/corgi_lcd.c b/drivers/video/backlight/corgi_lcd.c
index 1e71c35..af60983 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/corgi_lcd.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/corgi_lcd.c
@@ -562,6 +562,7 @@
 	lcd->mode = (pdata) ? pdata->init_mode : CORGI_LCD_MODE_VGA;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = pdata->max_intensity;
 	lcd->bl_dev = backlight_device_register("corgi_bl", &spi->dev, lcd,
 						&corgi_bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/cr_bllcd.c b/drivers/video/backlight/cr_bllcd.c
index 397d15e..6c8c540 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/cr_bllcd.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/cr_bllcd.c
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@
 	}
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	bdp = backlight_device_register("cr-backlight", &pdev->dev, NULL,
 					&cr_backlight_ops, &props);
 	if (IS_ERR(bdp)) {
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/da903x_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/da903x_bl.c
index 87659ed..62043f1 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/da903x_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/da903x_bl.c
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@
 		da903x_write(data->da903x_dev, DA9034_WLED_CONTROL2,
 				DA9034_WLED_ISET(pdata->output_current));
 
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = max_brightness;
 	bl = backlight_device_register(pdev->name, data->da903x_dev, data,
 				       &da903x_backlight_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/ep93xx_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/ep93xx_bl.c
index b0cc491..9f1e389 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/ep93xx_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/ep93xx_bl.c
@@ -87,6 +87,7 @@
 	ep93xxbl->mmio = EP93XX_RASTER_BRIGHTNESS;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = EP93XX_MAX_BRIGHT;
 	bl = backlight_device_register(dev->name, &dev->dev, ep93xxbl,
 				       &ep93xxbl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/generic_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/generic_bl.c
index 312ca61..8c6befd 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/generic_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/generic_bl.c
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@
 		name = machinfo->name;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = machinfo->max_intensity;
 	bd = backlight_device_register(name, &pdev->dev, NULL, &genericbl_ops,
 				       &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/hp680_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/hp680_bl.c
index 267d23f..38aa002 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/hp680_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/hp680_bl.c
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@
 	struct backlight_device *bd;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = HP680_MAX_INTENSITY;
 	bd = backlight_device_register("hp680-bl", &pdev->dev, NULL,
 				       &hp680bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/jornada720_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/jornada720_bl.c
index 2f177b3..40e4fa8 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/jornada720_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/jornada720_bl.c
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@
 	struct backlight_device *bd;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = BL_MAX_BRIGHT;
 	bd = backlight_device_register(S1D_DEVICENAME, &pdev->dev, NULL,
 				       &jornada_bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/kb3886_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/kb3886_bl.c
index f439a86..72dd555 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/kb3886_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/kb3886_bl.c
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@
 		machinfo->limit_mask = -1;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = machinfo->max_intensity;
 	kb3886_backlight_device = backlight_device_register("kb3886-bl",
 							    &pdev->dev, NULL,
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/locomolcd.c b/drivers/video/backlight/locomolcd.c
index d2f5901..bbca312 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/locomolcd.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/locomolcd.c
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@
 	local_irq_restore(flags);
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = 4;
 	locomolcd_bl_device = backlight_device_register("locomo-bl",
 							&ldev->dev, NULL,
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/max8925_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/max8925_bl.c
index 209acc1..07e8e27 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/max8925_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/max8925_bl.c
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@
 	data->current_brightness = 0;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = MAX_BRIGHTNESS;
 	bl = backlight_device_register(name, &pdev->dev, data,
 					&max8925_backlight_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/mbp_nvidia_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/mbp_nvidia_bl.c
index 1485f73..74c3394 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/mbp_nvidia_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/mbp_nvidia_bl.c
@@ -367,6 +367,7 @@
 		return -ENXIO;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_PLATFORM;
 	props.max_brightness = 15;
 	mbp_backlight_device = backlight_device_register("mbp_backlight", NULL,
 							 NULL,
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/omap1_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/omap1_bl.c
index d3bc562..08d26a7 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/omap1_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/omap1_bl.c
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = OMAPBL_MAX_INTENSITY;
 	dev = backlight_device_register("omap-bl", &pdev->dev, bl, &omapbl_ops,
 					&props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/pcf50633-backlight.c b/drivers/video/backlight/pcf50633-backlight.c
index 3c424f7..ef5628d 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/pcf50633-backlight.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/pcf50633-backlight.c
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@
 	if (!pcf_bl)
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
+	bl_props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	bl_props.max_brightness = 0x3f;
 	bl_props.power = FB_BLANK_UNBLANK;
 
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/progear_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/progear_bl.c
index 809278c..6af183d 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/progear_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/progear_bl.c
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@
 	pci_write_config_byte(sb_dev, SB_MPS1, temp | 0x20);
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = HW_LEVEL_MAX - HW_LEVEL_MIN;
 	progear_backlight_device = backlight_device_register("progear-bl",
 							     &pdev->dev, NULL,
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/pwm_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/pwm_bl.c
index 21866ec..2c2a2c7 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/pwm_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/pwm_bl.c
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@
 		dev_dbg(&pdev->dev, "got pwm for backlight\n");
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = data->max_brightness;
 	bl = backlight_device_register(dev_name(&pdev->dev), &pdev->dev, pb,
 				       &pwm_backlight_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/s6e63m0.c b/drivers/video/backlight/s6e63m0.c
index 5927db0d..322040f 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/s6e63m0.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/s6e63m0.c
@@ -778,6 +778,7 @@
 
 	bd->props.max_brightness = MAX_BRIGHTNESS;
 	bd->props.brightness = MAX_BRIGHTNESS;
+	bd->props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	lcd->bd = bd;
 
 	/*
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/tosa_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/tosa_bl.c
index 2a04b38..425a736 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/tosa_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/tosa_bl.c
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@
 	data->i2c = client;
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = 512 - 1;
 	data->bl = backlight_device_register("tosa-bl", &client->dev, data,
 					     &bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/backlight/wm831x_bl.c b/drivers/video/backlight/wm831x_bl.c
index 08fd87f..d4c6eb2 100644
--- a/drivers/video/backlight/wm831x_bl.c
+++ b/drivers/video/backlight/wm831x_bl.c
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@
 	data->current_brightness = 0;
 	data->isink_reg = isink_reg;
 
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = max_isel;
 	bl = backlight_device_register("wm831x", &pdev->dev, data,
 				       &wm831x_backlight_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/bf54x-lq043fb.c b/drivers/video/bf54x-lq043fb.c
index e7d0f52..2464b91 100644
--- a/drivers/video/bf54x-lq043fb.c
+++ b/drivers/video/bf54x-lq043fb.c
@@ -649,6 +649,7 @@
 	}
 #ifndef NO_BL_SUPPORT
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = 255;
 	bl_dev = backlight_device_register("bf54x-bl", NULL, NULL,
 					   &bfin_lq043fb_bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/bfin-t350mcqb-fb.c b/drivers/video/bfin-t350mcqb-fb.c
index 3cf7767..d8de29f 100644
--- a/drivers/video/bfin-t350mcqb-fb.c
+++ b/drivers/video/bfin-t350mcqb-fb.c
@@ -545,6 +545,7 @@
 	}
 #ifndef NO_BL_SUPPORT
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = 255;
 	bl_dev = backlight_device_register("bf52x-bl", NULL, NULL,
 					   &bfin_lq043fb_bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/imxfb.c b/drivers/video/imxfb.c
index 69bd4a5..ef72cb4 100644
--- a/drivers/video/imxfb.c
+++ b/drivers/video/imxfb.c
@@ -499,6 +499,7 @@
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
 	props.max_brightness = 0xff;
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	writel(fbi->pwmr, fbi->regs + LCDC_PWMR);
 
 	bl = backlight_device_register("imxfb-bl", &fbi->pdev->dev, fbi,
diff --git a/drivers/video/nvidia/nv_backlight.c b/drivers/video/nvidia/nv_backlight.c
index 6aac6d1..8471008 100644
--- a/drivers/video/nvidia/nv_backlight.c
+++ b/drivers/video/nvidia/nv_backlight.c
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@
 	snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "nvidiabl%d", info->node);
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = FB_BACKLIGHT_LEVELS - 1;
 	bd = backlight_device_register(name, info->dev, par, &nvidia_bl_ops,
 				       &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-acx565akm.c b/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-acx565akm.c
index e773106..7e04c92 100644
--- a/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-acx565akm.c
+++ b/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-acx565akm.c
@@ -534,6 +534,7 @@
 
 	props.fb_blank = FB_BLANK_UNBLANK;
 	props.power = FB_BLANK_UNBLANK;
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 
 	bldev = backlight_device_register("acx565akm", &md->spi->dev,
 			md, &acx565akm_bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-sharp-ls037v7dw01.c b/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-sharp-ls037v7dw01.c
index 9a138f6..d2b35d2 100644
--- a/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-sharp-ls037v7dw01.c
+++ b/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-sharp-ls037v7dw01.c
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
 	props.max_brightness = dssdev->max_backlight_level;
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 
 	bl = backlight_device_register("sharp-ls", &dssdev->dev, dssdev,
 			&sharp_ls_bl_ops, &props);
diff --git a/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-taal.c b/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-taal.c
index 61026f9..c74e8b7 100644
--- a/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-taal.c
+++ b/drivers/video/omap2/displays/panel-taal.c
@@ -729,6 +729,8 @@
 		props.max_brightness = 255;
 	else
 		props.max_brightness = 127;
+
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	bldev = backlight_device_register("taal", &dssdev->dev, dssdev,
 					  &taal_bl_ops, &props);
 	if (IS_ERR(bldev)) {
diff --git a/drivers/video/riva/fbdev.c b/drivers/video/riva/fbdev.c
index da38818..d8ab7be 100644
--- a/drivers/video/riva/fbdev.c
+++ b/drivers/video/riva/fbdev.c
@@ -355,6 +355,7 @@
 	snprintf(name, sizeof(name), "rivabl%d", info->node);
 
 	memset(&props, 0, sizeof(struct backlight_properties));
+	props.type = BACKLIGHT_RAW;
 	props.max_brightness = FB_BACKLIGHT_LEVELS - 1;
 	bd = backlight_device_register(name, info->dev, par, &riva_bl_ops,
 				       &props);