diff --git a/nametag8_CH592/user/hw/aw20xxx.c b/nametag8_CH592/user/hw/aw20xxx.c
index 3e17440..d11b041 100644
--- a/nametag8_CH592/user/hw/aw20xxx.c
+++ b/nametag8_CH592/user/hw/aw20xxx.c
@@ -69,27 +69,28 @@ void aw20x_init(struct AW20x *aw, uint8_t addr, uint8_t cols, uint8_t rows, uint
     aw->config = imax & AW20X_CONF_IMAX_MASK;
 
     // wake up (and set page to config page)
-    aw20x_sleep(aw, 0);
+    aw20x_set_sleep(aw, 0);
 
     // enabled columns
     aw_buf[0] = cols - 1;
+    while (AW20X_I2C_busy());
     AW20X_I2C_writereg(aw->addr, AW20X_REG_SIZE, aw_buf, 1);
 
     // general config
     aw_buf[0] = imax & AW20X_CONF_IMAX_MASK;
-    AW20X_I2C_writereg(aw->addr, AW20X_REG_GCCR, aw_buf, 1);
     while (AW20X_I2C_busy());
+    AW20X_I2C_writereg(aw->addr, AW20X_REG_GCCR, aw_buf, 1);
 }
 
-void aw20x_sleep(struct AW20x *aw, uint8_t sleep)
+void aw20x_set_sleep(struct AW20x *aw, uint8_t sleep)
 {
     // make sure we're on the config page
     AW20X_SET_PAGE(AW20X_PAGE0_CONFIG);
-    // don't touch the buffer until we are allowed
-    while (AW20X_I2C_busy());
+
+    aw_buf[0] = sleep ? AW20X_SLPCR_SLEEP : 0;
 
     // send sleep bit
-    aw_buf[0] = sleep ? AW20X_SLPCR_SLEEP : 0;
+    while (AW20X_I2C_busy());
     AW20X_I2C_writereg(aw->addr, AW20X_REG_SLPCR, aw_buf, 1);
 
     // set state
@@ -102,9 +103,16 @@ void aw20x_sleep(struct AW20x *aw, uint8_t sleep)
 
 void aw20x_set_imax(struct AW20x *aw, uint8_t imax)
 {
+    // make sure we're on the config page
     AW20X_SET_PAGE(AW20X_PAGE0_CONFIG);
 
-    // todo: implement
+    aw_buf[0] = imax & AW20X_CONF_IMAX_MASK;
+
+    // send imax
+    while (AW20X_I2C_busy());
+    AW20X_I2C_writereg(aw->addr, AW20X_REG_GCCR, aw_buf, 1);
+
+    aw->config = imax & AW20X_CONF_IMAX_MASK;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/nametag8_CH592/user/hw/aw20xxx.h b/nametag8_CH592/user/hw/aw20xxx.h
index e180e71..e9b1468 100644
--- a/nametag8_CH592/user/hw/aw20xxx.h
+++ b/nametag8_CH592/user/hw/aw20xxx.h
@@ -181,7 +181,8 @@ typedef struct AW20x {
 
 void aw20x_init(struct AW20x *aw, uint8_t addr, uint8_t cols, uint8_t rows, uint8_t imax);
 
-void aw20x_sleep(struct AW20x *aw, uint8_t sleep);
+void aw20x_set_sleep(struct AW20x *aw, uint8_t sleep);
+void aw20x_set_imax(struct AW20x *aw, uint8_t imax);
 
 void aw20x_set_fade(struct AW20x *aw);
 void aw20x_set_dim_global(struct AW20x *aw, uint8_t dim);
diff --git a/nametag8_CH592/user/led/rgbled.c b/nametag8_CH592/user/led/rgbled.c
index 7c99220..bfff413 100644
--- a/nametag8_CH592/user/led/rgbled.c
+++ b/nametag8_CH592/user/led/rgbled.c
@@ -159,3 +159,13 @@ void rgbled_runprog(uint8_t tick_ctr)
         led_matrix_needs_update = 1;
     }
 }
+
+void rgbled_set_imax_normal()
+{
+    aw20x_set_imax(&awled, RGBLED_BRT_STANDARD);
+}
+
+void rgbled_set_imax_dim()
+{
+    aw20x_set_imax(&awled, RGBLED_BRT_DIMMED);
+}
diff --git a/nametag8_CH592/user/led/rgbled.h b/nametag8_CH592/user/led/rgbled.h
index 073ecb6..ecd8aa4 100644
--- a/nametag8_CH592/user/led/rgbled.h
+++ b/nametag8_CH592/user/led/rgbled.h
@@ -22,11 +22,8 @@
 
 #define RGBLED_COUNT            12
 
-#define RGB_STR_UNUSED          rgb_str_unused
-#define RGB_STR_RESERVED        rgb_str_reserved
-#define RGB_STR_INCREMENT       rgb_str_increment
-#define RGB_STR_DELAY           rgb_str_delay
-#define RGB_STR_BRIGHTNESS      rgb_str_brightness
+#define RGBLED_BRT_STANDARD     AW20X_IMAX_13_3MA
+#define RGBLED_BRT_DIMMED       AW20X_IMAX_3_3MA
 
 
 
@@ -38,12 +35,20 @@ typedef struct LedProgram {
 
 
 
+#define RGB_STR_UNUSED          rgb_str_unused
+#define RGB_STR_RESERVED        rgb_str_reserved
+#define RGB_STR_INCREMENT       rgb_str_increment
+#define RGB_STR_DELAY           rgb_str_delay
+#define RGB_STR_BRIGHTNESS      rgb_str_brightness
+
 extern const uint8_t rgb_str_unused[];
 extern const uint8_t rgb_str_reserved[];
 extern const uint8_t rgb_str_increment[];
 extern const uint8_t rgb_str_delay[];
 extern const uint8_t rgb_str_brightness[];
 
+
+
 extern const uint8_t rgb_map[RGBLED_COUNT];
 extern const LedProgram rgb_pgm[6];
 
@@ -56,6 +61,9 @@ void rgbled_init();
 void rgbled_send();
 void rgbled_runprog(uint8_t tick_ctr);
 
+void rgbled_set_imax_normal();
+void rgbled_set_imax_dim();
+
 
 
 #endif /* USER_LED_RGBLED_H_ */
diff --git a/nametag8_CH592/user/main.c b/nametag8_CH592/user/main.c
index 0d87106..464a623 100644
--- a/nametag8_CH592/user/main.c
+++ b/nametag8_CH592/user/main.c
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@
  * - implementing USB interface (once I get time)
  * - implementing BLE (maybe)
  *
+ * todo:
+ * - decouple oled render routine from interrupt off time. not an issue for now...
+ *
  */
 
 #include <hw/ch32sub.h>
@@ -55,6 +58,14 @@
 #define PROG_TICK_RATE          ((32768-8192-4096) / 256)   // not sure why this value can't be 32768/256
                                                             // this was checked with a stopwatch and is close enough
                                                             // this value IS FRAMERATE DEPENDENT for some reason... figure it out later
+#define IDLE_SLEEP_START        (1 << 0)
+#define IDLE_MENU_START         (1 << 1)
+#define IDLE_DIM_START          (1 << 2)
+#define IDLE_SLEEP_READY        (1 << 4)
+#define IDLE_MENU_READY         (1 << 5)
+#define IDLE_DIM_READY          (1 << 6)
+
+
 
 const uint8_t vers[] = "241026b";
 
@@ -68,9 +79,8 @@ uint16_t uptime_hour;
 uint8_t  uptime_min;
 uint8_t  uptime_sec;
 
-uint32_t idle_time_menu;
-uint32_t idle_time_still;
-uint8_t  idle_go_sleep;
+uint32_t idle_time = 0;
+uint8_t  idle_flags;
 
 
 static volatile uint8_t flags_lo = 0;
@@ -136,6 +146,25 @@ void systick_init(void)
     SysTick->CTLR = SysTick_CTLR_STCLK | SysTick_CTLR_STE;  // enable counter in /1 mode
 }
 
+
+static void idle_clear()
+{
+    if (idle_flags & IDLE_SLEEP_READY) {
+        // wake up things
+        ssd1306_set_display(1);
+
+        uconf.flags &= ~UCONF_FLAGS_LEDS_DISABLE;
+        rgbled_send();
+    }
+
+    if (idle_flags & IDLE_DIM_READY) {
+        rgbled_set_imax_normal();
+    }
+
+    idle_flags = 0;
+    idle_time = 0;
+}
+
 __HIGH_CODE
 void oled_update_done()
 {
@@ -180,15 +209,19 @@ void oled_update_done()
     // power saving
     // todo: don't hardcode the movement values
     if (accel_get_movement() > 3) {
-        idle_go_sleep = 0;
-
-        idle_time_still = 0;
-        idle_time_menu = 0;
+        idle_clear();
     }
 
     // start going to sleep if the option is enabled and if we've been still for enough time
-    if (uconf.sleep_timeout && (idle_time_still > uconf.sleep_timeout)) {
-        idle_go_sleep = 1;
+    if (uconf.sleep_timeout && (idle_time == uconf.sleep_timeout)) {
+        idle_flags |= IDLE_SLEEP_START;
+    }
+    if (uconf.menu_timeout && (idle_time == uconf.menu_timeout)) {
+        idle_flags |= IDLE_MENU_START;
+    }
+    if (uconf.dim_timeout && (idle_time == uconf.dim_timeout)) {
+        rgbled_set_imax_dim();
+        idle_flags |= IDLE_DIM_START | IDLE_DIM_READY;
     }
 
 
@@ -239,7 +272,25 @@ void lowprio_task() {
 
         // todo: implement proper sleep mode that saves power
         //       and wakes up on interrupt, instead of this
-        if (!idle_go_sleep) {
+        if (idle_flags & IDLE_SLEEP_START) {
+            if (!(idle_flags & IDLE_SLEEP_READY)) {
+                idle_flags |= IDLE_SLEEP_READY;
+
+                // just entered the mode? then turn things off
+                ssd1306_set_display(0);
+
+                uconf.flags |= UCONF_FLAGS_LEDS_DISABLE;
+                rgbled_send();
+            } else {
+                // check to see if we should wake
+                if (accel_get_movement() > 3) {
+                    idle_clear();
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        // run normal program
+        else {
             // temporary: re-send sub interrupts, sub button holds, enable rgb_hwen
             if (flags_lo & FLAG_CH32V_RESEND_CONF) {
                 flags_lo &= ~FLAG_CH32V_RESEND_CONF;
@@ -301,36 +352,6 @@ void lowprio_task() {
                 // now run a program
                 rgbled_runprog(st_tick >> 2);
             }
-        } else {
-            switch (idle_go_sleep) {
-                case 1: {
-                    idle_go_sleep++;
-
-                    // just entered the mode? then turn things off
-                    ssd1306_set_display(0);
-
-                    uconf.flags |= UCONF_FLAGS_LEDS_DISABLE;
-                    rgbled_send();
-
-                    break;
-                }
-                default: {
-                    // check to see if we should wake
-                    if (accel_get_movement() > 3) {
-                        idle_go_sleep = 0;
-
-                        idle_time_still = 0;
-                        idle_time_menu = 0;
-
-                        // wake up things
-                        ssd1306_set_display(1);
-
-                        uconf.flags &= ~UCONF_FLAGS_LEDS_DISABLE;
-                        rgbled_send();
-                    }
-                    break;
-                }
-            }
         }
 
         // re-enable IRQs
@@ -405,8 +426,7 @@ void RTC_IRQHandler(void)
             flags_lo |= FLAG_CH32V_RESEND_CONF;
         }
 
-        idle_time_still++;
-        idle_time_menu++;
+        idle_time++;
     }
 
     oled_tick++;