To my surprise, I really started to like this feature. It comes in very handy on a larger phone than I am used to. The first few days I owend the phone the feature worked flawlessly, but eventually it became much less responsive. Rarely it will work on the first try. If I take the phone away and then bring it back to my ear, or switch ears, it works about half the time. I usually end up swiping to answer so that I don't miss the call.
I'm not root and have only disabled or deleted a small number of apps such as Sprint Discovery.
EDIT: Just happened again. From a flat surface to my ear - nothing. Switch ears and it worked. Seems the more motion the phone makes on its way to the ear, the better it responds. Frustrating.
Don't smack yourself in the face with it with the extra motion . You could seriously mess up the beautiful display. And I'm with you. The gesture has gotten a bit more finicky on my VS980.
Possibly you may need to recalibrate the motion sensor (Settings -> General -> Gestures -> Motion Sensor Calibration). Also, is is the proximity sensor clear (no screen protector, etc.)?
Steamer86 said:
Don't smack yourself in the face with it with the extra motion . You could seriously mess up the beautiful display.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - and I have to be careful not to damage the phone screen as well.
Klotar said:
Possibly you may need to recalibrate the motion sensor (Settings -> General -> Gestures -> Motion Sensor Calibration). Also, is is the proximity sensor clear (no screen protector, etc.)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestions, but I already re calibrated and made sure the prox sensor stayed clean and clear.
Do bugs like this (and knock-on unresponsiveness) usually get addressed with future updates?
Related
I'm having trouble with the proximity sensor on my HD2. It works if the phone is pressed up directly on my ear, but if I move it away just the slightest, the screen comes back. Is there somewhere I can access the proximity sensor settings, and give myself a bit more room? Like, say, anything inside an inch shuts off the screen?
ROM info is in the sig, and I'm using the HTC phone dialer, if that makes any difference.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=624206
Aw balls, I hate it when there's a thread for this, and my impatience with searching failed to find it.
Thanks!
Doesn't sound like that app does anything for the sensitivity, unless i missed it. it just makes the screen stay off after the sensor is activated.
However the point of the proximity sensor is to shut off the screen so your ear isn't pressing buttons. If you've got the phone far enough away from your ear to reactivate the screen, then there's no longer a need to turn off the screen to prevent ear dialing.
If you're worried about power savings, the screen should shutoff in a minute or so, depending on your screen timeout options
d0ug said:
Doesn't sound like that app does anything for the sensitivity, unless i missed it. it just makes the screen stay off after the sensor is activated.
However the point of the proximity sensor is to shut off the screen so your ear isn't pressing buttons. If you've got the phone far enough away from your ear to reactivate the screen, then there's no longer a need to turn off the screen to prevent ear dialing.
If you're worried about power savings, the screen should shutoff in a minute or so, depending on your screen timeout options
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
correct, I haven't found a way to change the sensitivity for it, just turn it on or off. I believe the way the sensor works like a motion sensor in a store, either you are there or not... Hardware driven on sensitivity, not software.
Nibbley15 said:
correct, I haven't found a way to change the sensitivity for it, just turn it on or off. I believe the way the sensor works like a motion sensor in a store, either you are there or not... Hardware driven on sensitivity, not software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually posted about the sensor in another post. The sensor is just an IR LED and a photo diode. The photo diode looks for the reflected IR when the phone is near something like your ear.
The IR LED only turns on during a phone call. Try this get a digital camera with a live preview and aim it at the 2 dots where the proximity sensor is, you'll see the IR LED light up when you initiate a call
The same photo diode is used to alter the screen brightness depending on the ambient light that hits it
Hy all
I have a strange problem with my X10! The will not go off in a call! (or at least most of the times it won't) The sensors should turn the screen off while the phone is to to my ear but most of the time it will not!
There is a hidden menu that have tests for almost every hardware component but the test for the proximity sensor only shows that the sensor is OFF and won't do the test!
Ideas?
The sensor is the little black circle (sort of) above and to the left of the "n"
e.g. Sony Ericsso'n'
Have you tried putting your finger over it during the test?
same problem here i tried the finger-trick doesnt work
I tried it and the test shows ON while my finger is there! So the sensor works properly but why the dialer is not using it to control the screen?
As stated before, if you cover the 'hole', the screen would not react to any of your finger touches. The screen would still be on but would turn off according to your settings (like 30 seconds or 1 minute or whichever). Try it. Call someone, cover the hole and try to hit 'end call' or slide up the keypad and then cover the hole and try to hit numbers.
The purpose of the proximity sensor is to turn the screen off in a call while the phone is to your ear! if i cover the sensor it must turn the screen off! but it doesn't! There is some kind of timeout set to this! The screen will turn off but after some time! this makes the proximity sensor almost useless!
No, it is to disable touchscreen buttons. It will turn off when time you've selected is over and turn on again and enable touch buttons when you take the phone out from your face.
Though i think you're right, it should turn the screen off to save battery, it is silly to have the screen on when you are using it.
Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk
Zenghelis said:
No, it is to disable touchscreen buttons. It will turn off when time you've selected is over and turn on again and enable touch buttons when you take the phone out from your face.
Though i think you're right, it should turn the screen off to save battery, it is silly to have the screen on when you are using it.
Sent from my X10i using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite right!
I guess the expectations are again set by Apple's standards. Their proximity sensor functions as one would expect.
However the sensor on the X10 does what it was designed to do, and that's to deactivate the touchpad whilst the device is held up to your ear.
The screen timeout is a different setting all together (unfortunately).
Baggyb said:
Quite right!
I guess the expectations are again set by Apple's standards. Their proximity sensor functions as one would expect.
However the sensor on the X10 does what it was designed to do, and that's to deactivate the touchpad whilst the device is held up to your ear.
The screen timeout is a different setting all together (unfortunately).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not the expectation set by Apple. It's expectation for any right minded individual.
SE software is just well known as one of the worst top players in the industry.
FFS, they spent all the time on DRM, lock the phone, developing battery hungry useless software on 1.6 rather than push out 2.1 asap, that tells you something.
superprelude said:
Not the expectation set by Apple. It's expectation for any right minded individual.
SE software is just well known as one of the worst top players in the industry.
FFS, they spent all the time on DRM, lock the phone, developing battery hungry useless software on 1.6 rather than push out 2.1 asap, that tells you something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not go through the Manual once before abusing Company left - right.....
Let me copy and paste it for you guys........
Sensors
Your phone has two built-in sensors – a light sensor and a proximity sensor. The light sensor is used for automatic LCD backlight control. The proximity sensor turns the touch screen off when your face touches the screen. This prevents you from unintentionally activating phone functions when you are engaged in a call.
TechGuru_x10 said:
Why not go through the Manual once before abusing Company left - right.....
Let me copy and paste it for you guys........
Sensors
Your phone has two built-in sensors – a light sensor and a proximity sensor. The light sensor is used for automatic LCD backlight control. The proximity sensor turns the touch screen off when your face touches the screen. This prevents you from unintentionally activating phone functions when you are engaged in a call.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and this is plain stupid use of the sensor! Take the HD2 for instance! Its proximity sensor turns the screen off the second you take the phone to your ear! This is done with every HTC device having the sensor! It is just misused on the X10! I hope that somebody here would correct this with a little program some day!
OrionBG said:
Yes and this is plain stupid use of the sensor! Take the HD2 for instance! Its proximity sensor turns the screen off the second you take the phone to your ear! This is done with every HTC device having the sensor! It is just misused on the X10! I hope that somebody here would correct this with a little program some day!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the main problem with us ,,, we start to compare and complain rather than think why did SE will give two sensors instead of one.
Answer is not known to me but this much I know they know better than us.
If you think you know better, be my guest and throw some knowledge here. I am new to Android but not to SE.
So im new to the forums, but I was having a problem with the proximity sensor...
As stated in a lot of threads, the proximity sensor does work and will "lock" the screen so that once your face is near the screen it will not allow any clicking of the buttons.
Also the screen is supposed to turn off about 15sec into the call. Mine turned off, but then all of a sudden turned on again...this would happen repeatedly.
I found out the solution...it seems advance task killer was not allowing the screen to turn off.
I had auto kill enabled and set it to when the phone was locked to kill apps.
I turned off auto kill, and everything seems to be working fine with the screen and proximity sensor now..
hope this helps anyone having this issue!
thx, same problem here !!
so its pretty clear none of us know the answer to this, but yet we're still bashing each other. LOL! ppl let's get constructive, we dont have the answers so lets accept the fact and seek help some where else.
o2 Germany told me, that Sony Ericsson will bring us an update within the next 4 weeks to all devices.
It will be an update with alot of bug fixes (e.g. proximity sensor ) and speed improvements.
So, be cool. Sony Ericsson is working on that and with Eclair in autumn, our battery will perform very well.
I have two SGS4's. On one, when I place a call, the call screen stays on and it turns off when I raise it to my ear. It then turns on when I pull it away.
On the other, as soon as I place I call the screen goes dark. The only way to get it back is to push the power button and unlock the phone.
The "Turn screen off during a call" setting is set on both phones.
Anyone have any idea what is causing this? Next step is to do a wipe, but that just sucks.
I'm on stock and not rooted.
Thanks!
Sadly I have the same issue on mine but not my wifes.... hope somebody knows something or maybe the rumored update thats going to be coming out will have a fix?? I dunno...
jprocket45 said:
Sadly I have the same issue on mine but not my wifes.... hope somebody knows something or maybe the rumored update thats going to be coming out will have a fix?? I dunno...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried doing a reset yet? I'm hesitant since it's a pain to restore everything the way I like it. Definitely a weekend task.
Sirchuk said:
Have you tried doing a reset yet? I'm hesitant since it's a pain to restore everything the way I like it. Definitely a weekend task.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done a reset it solved it a little I guess but still having issues once in a great while all works well id blame it on the otterbox case but my wife has one so dunno if that could be the issue you have a case on urs never really played with the phone outside of the case lol
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
jprocket45 said:
I have done a reset it solved it a little I guess but still having issues once in a great while all works well id blame it on the otterbox case but my wife has one so dunno if that could be the issue you have a case on urs never really played with the phone outside of the case lol
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, mine is naked for now. I'll have to do a reset today/tomorrow and see if that solves my issue. If not, I'm taking back to the store for an exchange. It's only been a couple of weeks.
To late for me to take it back but suppose to be a update coming soon that does alot of fixes so we will see Good luck like I said reset I did notice fixed it a bit let me know how it goes I'm threw sprint just curious if you have them only reason I ask if it's just a carrier issue with software or something I doubt it but just figured to see who you had lol
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Dial *#7353# and make a test
sent from my Galaxy
samersh72 said:
Dial *#7353# and make a test
sent from my Galaxy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I was looking for!
Sure enough,the proximity sensor was always on and wouldn't go off.
I'm with T-Mobile and they have a 30 return/exchange policy if you buy it outright, which I had, so it only took about 10 minutes for them to exchange it!
Thanks for the testing code! XDA comes through once again!
Same problem when I'm making a call, the screen goes blank when I put it to my head and when I remove it nothing happens.
I tried *#7353# and the proximity sensor goes of but will not stop..
I'm currently rooted, could it solve the problem to go back to stock?
Possible Fix
jprocket45 said:
Sadly I have the same issue on mine but not my wifes.... hope somebody knows something or maybe the rumored update thats going to be coming out will have a fix?? I dunno...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had the same problem over the last 3 weeks and decided to take a gamble. I tightened up all the screws on the device and squeezed real hard on the area where the prox sensor is and poof... it works. I have no idea what was up but I feel like the sensor is loose and the pressure resolved the issue. Many other post have talked about cleaning the area over the prox real good and it works but I think its the pressure that is actually fixing the issue. Anyone else have any ideas? Sorry if this was posted incorrectly, I have never posted before but I felt this issue is a PITA.
I have i9500. Unrooted with latest OTA update installed (Build XXUBMG1).
I've been having the same problem with proximity sensor. When proximity sensor is enabled during phone calls (both regular calls and Viber calls), the screen is disabled. Also, my screen sometimes remains on during the call until I place it to my ear and sometimes it turns off immediately during the call. It wasn't always like this, but I can't remember when it started happening, but I suspect it was since the last OTA update.
I've searched around online and have noticed several comments.
Apparently this is an issue with several Galaxy models over the years (sorry, I lost the reference) and this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2208440&page=2 mentions Galaxy Note 2 and SGS3 having the issue where there is something wrong with the threshold setting in the calibration settings. Mine appears to have the same issue where it always reads 0cm (i.e. always covered). However this thread also suggests a fix to input some code to adjust the calibration if your phone is rooted.
One suggestion is there is a misalignment of the sensor and so it might be partially covered by the phone's front fascia, causing the sensor to always read as covered or "1" or 0cm. But looking carefully at mine, it looks centred dead-on.
This thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2417401 indicates that the sensor is always on as can be seen through a digital camera LCD (but not with your naked eye). I've tried this with my DSLR and confirmed this also happens with mine, even when the option is set to turn it off during calls, and also even when air gesture (which uses the prox sensor) is turned off. Not sure if this affects the problem or not though.
Can't remember where I read this, but someone mentioned that when shining a bright light over the phone, it works. So I downloaded two sensor apps from Google Play: Android Sensor Box, and Proximity Sensor Finder. And also used the inbuilt *#7353* feature. All three report that my proximity sensor is always reading that something is constantly covering it..... EXCEPT when a bright light (the sun works) is shining on the light sensor - not the proximity sensor. I tested this by using a torch on both sensors. When blocking light from the light sensor, the problem persists, but not when I allow the light to shine on the sensor. So it appears that they both act in unison.
Similar issue with air gestures, which used to work when my phone was new, even in relatively ambient light (but obviously not in a dark room), but now doesn't under similar conditions, and again... EXCEPT when a bright light is shining on the light sensor, or when I'm out in the sun.
Anyway, I'm not willing to root my phone at this point, just to try the fix suggested in http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2208440&page=2 (my phone was bought overseas and returning it wouldn't be convenient for me). And since this wasn't always a problem with my phone, I suspect it is a software problem related to one of the recent OTA updates.
Edit: After further testing, it seems that air gestures use the front camera as well as the light and proximity sensors.
My proximity sensor works - when I go into diagnostic, it goes green when I bring a hand near the sensor - my issue is that it doesn't seem to notice when I remove my hand and there no longer is anything proximal - until I hit the back button to exit the test. Other than blowing out the earphone jack, does anyone have a suggestion?
Thx.
divche said:
I have i9500. Unrooted with latest OTA update installed (Build XXUBMG1).
I've been having the same problem with proximity sensor. When proximity sensor is enabled during phone calls (both regular calls and Viber calls), the screen is disabled. Also, my screen sometimes remains on during the call until I place it to my ear and sometimes it turns off immediately during the call. It wasn't always like this, but I can't remember when it started happening, but I suspect it was since the last OTA update.
I've searched around online and have noticed several comments.
Apparently this is an issue with several Galaxy models over the years (sorry, I lost the reference) and this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2208440&page=2 mentions Galaxy Note 2 and SGS3 having the issue where there is something wrong with the threshold setting in the calibration settings. Mine appears to have the same issue where it always reads 0cm (i.e. always covered). However this thread also suggests a fix to input some code to adjust the calibration if your phone is rooted.
One suggestion is there is a misalignment of the sensor and so it might be partially covered by the phone's front fascia, causing the sensor to always read as covered or "1" or 0cm. But looking carefully at mine, it looks centred dead-on.
This thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2417401 indicates that the sensor is always on as can be seen through a digital camera LCD (but not with your naked eye). I've tried this with my DSLR and confirmed this also happens with mine, even when the option is set to turn it off during calls, and also even when air gesture (which uses the prox sensor) is turned off. Not sure if this affects the problem or not though.
Can't remember where I read this, but someone mentioned that when shining a bright light over the phone, it works. So I downloaded two sensor apps from Google Play: Android Sensor Box, and Proximity Sensor Finder. And also used the inbuilt *#7353* feature. All three report that my proximity sensor is always reading that something is constantly covering it..... EXCEPT when a bright light (the sun works) is shining on the light sensor - not the proximity sensor. I tested this by using a torch on both sensors. When blocking light from the light sensor, the problem persists, but not when I allow the light to shine on the sensor. So it appears that they both act in unison.
Similar issue with air gestures, which used to work when my phone was new, even in relatively ambient light (but obviously not in a dark room), but now doesn't under similar conditions, and again... EXCEPT when a bright light is shining on the light sensor, or when I'm out in the sun.
Anyway, I'm not willing to root my phone at this point, just to try the fix suggested in http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2208440&page=2 (my phone was bought overseas and returning it wouldn't be convenient for me). And since this wasn't always a problem with my phone, I suspect it is a software problem related to one of the recent OTA updates.
Edit: After further testing, it seems that air gestures use the front camera as well as the light and proximity sensors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Proximity sensor
I had problem with proximity sensor in my galaxy s3 mini but my rear camera had error and fc also.I tried everything and nothing work.Finaly I open device and disconect camera and connect it again and camera started to work.But for my suprise proximity sensor now works perfect and I did not touch it.I can't explain what happend but I am happy.
I guess what it comes down to is.....for some you can reset the sensor, for some they can blow it out with compressed air, but others actually have to take apart their phone to fix this issue.
marduj5 said:
I had problem with proximity sensor in my galaxy s3 mini but my rear camera had error and fc also.I tried everything and nothing work.Finaly I open device and disconect camera and connect it again and camera started to work.But for my suprise proximity sensor now works perfect and I did not touch it.I can't explain what happend but I am happy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi
i have the same problem. any solution guys ?
( BTW - im on NB3 INS firmware )
I think I summarized the available solutions just before your post. There is no single thing which always works, you'll need to go through and see which fixes yours. This happens primarily because of hardware, with the sensor getting dirty - so it comes down to how invasive the procedure to clean it.
Shohat said:
i have the same problem. any solution guys ?
( BTW - im on NB3 INS firmware )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hubris2 said:
I think I summarized the available solutions just before your post. There is no single thing which always works, you'll need to go through and see which fixes yours. This happens primarily because of hardware, with the sensor getting dirty - so it comes down to how invasive the procedure to clean it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm sorry. i already tried your first solution and it worked like charm ! thank you ! :good:
HOw to solve, none of this works. How cann i clean proximity?
Hi everyone,
Long story short, I got a used Nexus 4 off someone, everything works perfectly except the proximity sensor. During a call the screen blacks out and doesn't come back unless I hard reset the phone to hang up. I figured out it was a problem with the proximity sensor. Upon reading these forums and many other articles on Google about taking off the screen protector (which I don't have) and swapping the rubber "sensor" holder holes, I decided to open the phone up and take a look.
It appears that my phone is missing the rubber piece to hold the proximity and light sensors in place, making the sensor unusable and causing many issues with making calls. I've tried playing around with it using other peoples' suggestions and nothing has worked. I've decided to just find a way to disable the proximity sensor instead during a call, as I'll be quite satisfied with just a simple software fix.
Right now I am using Proximity Screen OFF to keep the screen on, but it drains my battery pretty hard. I was thinking to just flash my phone with a mod that allows me to turn the proximity sensor off during a call.
Any suggestions as to which mod contains this feature?
Thank you.
It is sad to see that gesture to wake up from theS9 was replaced in the S10 by Lift to wake, which is actually kinda useless, well we have double tap to wake, but gesture to wake was way more badass, you felt like a jedi waking up the screen of your phone.
I used to have it enabled too. I guess it's true there is no real proximity sensor anymore ?
latino147 said:
I used to have it enabled too. I guess it's true there is no real proximity sensor anymore ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Furthermore the option to just call a contact by putting the phone against your ear is now gone too.... I hate when Samsung remove features from their flagships.... How hard is it for them to just use a normal proximity sensor inside or next to the speaker? Major disappointment.