This information is for Version 3.0 of the application Proximity Sensor and Screen by Steven Stanley Bayes.
This application allows to really and virtually disable the proximity sensor while in calls, made and received and to re enable at will. This application does not require any third party software in general. However, only one menu selection, which really disallows the proximity sensor when in calls, made or received, requires XDA Framework and Xposed Installer and Xposed Jar. The application will work without these too.
There are no specific installation instructions. The application can be downloaded from GooglePlay : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=stevenstanleybayes.proximitysensor in a standard way.
The application can also be downloaded from the posted in this information link. Then, the application APK file will be downloaded to the device's Download or Downloads folder and the user must go and manually click the APK file in order for the application to be installed on the user's device.
There are many more web sites where the application is available for download.
This application allows the user to make and receive calls with proximity sensor disabled and or or directly with speakerphone powered thus the proximity sensor will not power the screen down. This application also allows the user to select the proximity sensor to control the screen. The screen can be selected to be always powered or not.
When the speaker when in call is chosen, all calls made and received will be made with a powered speakerphone and the proximity sensor will not power the screen down when a call is made or received. The volume of the speaker can be adjusted to preserve battery energy. The device can be put in a zip bag and run while in the zip bag without taken out. This is great for wet weather and in a dusty and unfriendly environment. This also is a great health and personal hygiene option as the device will not be contaminated by ear wax and other sources of contamination and bacteria.
When proximity sensor control is chosen, the screen of the phone powers down when there is an object close to the proximity sensor. Thus, the screen will automatically power down when the phone is put in the pocket or put screen down on the table. This works regardless whether the user has chosen to keep the screen to be always powered or whether the screen is normally controlled by the OS. When the phone is away from and object, the screen powers automatically unless the screen has previously been powered down not by the proximity sensor but by other means, such as the OS or a press on the Power Button.
When the screen has been chosen to be always powered, the user can use the phone as a flash light which can easily be turned on by, say, placing the phone close to the chest. This way, the user can shine light for a while to see around, then, quickly stop the light and then, whenever needed, to quickly turn the light on again with just a movement of one hand and not by the power button although the power button will also work as set up. This way, the user would save battery energy as compared to constantly flashing light which may not be needed. The power button still works but the proximity sensor, when used as a switch, is easier to use than the power button.
More information is available in the application.
XDA:DevDB Information
Proximity Sensor and Screen, Tool/Utility for all devices (see above for details)
Contributors
StevenStanleyBayes, Rovo89, StackOverflow and XDA as well as other forums
Source Code: http://www.steven-stanley-bayes.com/ProximitySensor.apk
Version Information
Status: Stable
Created 2015-08-16
Last Updated 2015-08-17
Proximity Sensor and Screen Version 3.0 APK
Attached is the APK file of Proximity Sensor and Screen Version 3.0 APK for one click downloads from this post.
Attached is Version 4.0 of the application which offers a new interface as well as a shaker control of the screen with the accelerometer.
Version 4.0 of this application allows to really or virtually disable the proximity sensor while in calls, made and received and to re enable at will with a click and without restarts. This application also implements a shaker control of the screen as well as a proximity sensor control of the screen. This application does not require any third party software in general. However, only one menu selection, which really disallows the proximity sensor when in calls, made or received, requires XDA Framework and Xposed Installer and Xposed Jar. The application will work without these too.
man, can u tell me if u can implement or do u have any idea how to enable check proximity sensor and disable power button while is in pocket ? thank you
op3n said:
man, can u tell me if u can implement or do u have any idea how to enable check proximity sensor and disable power button while is in pocket ? thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This application will allow you to use the proximity sensor as a switch : when you put your device in your pocket, the screen will be powered off.
The best place to download the newest version of the application is : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=stevenstanleybayes.proximitysensor&hl=en
StevenStanleyBayes said:
This application will allow you to use the proximity sensor as a switch : when you put your device in your pocket, the screen will be powered off.
The best place to download the newest version of the application is : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=stevenstanleybayes.proximitysensor&hl=en
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks Steven, but i already have xposed additions options; i observed that any app which will be installed even if is a module for xposed will drain battery bcs must stay all period waked. i have right? for that i search a script or somthing to implement without be an app. do u have any ideas?
In order to use the proximity sensor as a switch, of course, the proximity sensor must be on in order to detect any changes. Hopefully, the proximity sensor should not take too much power, however, the proximity sensor emits energy in order to evaluate the reflected energy, so, yes, there would be some energy consumption.
There is no physical way to use the proximity sensor as a switch and not to consume energy. Ideally, the programmer would be able to adjust the sample frequency and sensitivity but neither Android nor some device manufacturers are so smart.
Hopefully, the other sensors are off when not used. I do not recall to have used other sensors when not selected on the menu but I may have because the manufacturers and the Android have not made the proximity sensor control very reliable and I have experimented with many methods to trick the Android to ensure reliable way of the proximity sensor control.
Android may keep all sensors awake when only one is used but I do not have control over this.
A way to minimise the energy consumption is to use the accelerometer shakes as a switch. The application allows this. However, this is risky because any similar shake, such as bus ride, bicycle ride, etcetera, can be mistaken for such.
The only way I can think of to do what you ask without theoretical energy consumption is to use the light sensor ( photodiode ( s ) ). However, in case you use so, then, in the evening and night, the light sensor would think the phone is still in your pocket when not because there is not enough light. Also, light can penetrate through your clothes and very strongly through thin cotton, so, to even try to play with level adjustment may be unreliable. This is why I have not implemented the light sensor and I am not even happy with the not so high reliability of the accelerometer but I have decided to use the accelerometer with many levels of sensitivity.
I do, however, think Android would not use the proximity sensor constantly and would have a very low sample frequency of the proximity sensor data and thus there will not be very high energy consumption, definitely, the energy consumption of the proximity sensor would be negligible as compared to the huge consumption of the colour screen, so, you will add another few percent every 24 hours : not so much. Also, you do not need to run this continuously but only when you are mobile. When you are at home or work, you do not need to run the proximity sensor as your device usually stays away from you.
Another possible way to slightly lower the consumption is to programmatically switch the proximity sensor on for, say, 100ms and, then, to switch the proximity sensor off for, say, 100ms which the previous status of the screen is kept. This would reduce the energy consumption, but, I am not sure whether Android would switch the proximity sensor off immediately upon request.
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 dont know if this is an issue with other handsets.
I installed proximity screen off application . The purpose was to have the phone turn the screen off when i close my flip case.
However i found something strange.
When the flip case is very close to the screen the proximity sensor does not seem to detect that there is something covering it.
Is this an issue with every one ?
Any solution
Please see the videos
As you can see from the videos when i bring the shield very close the proximity sensor does not seem to detect the sheild.
Edit : However if u use ur finger this is not seen
I've noticed the same behavior, it's quite annoying because it kills one of NoLed's best features (screen off using prox. sensor).
[deleted]
Still really annoying that the original flip cover won't work with the proximity sensor. A workaround might be a third party flip case. A diy modification of to the original one won't work since if I close it AND hold whatever object that alone is enough for a positive result over the flip cover, the sensor will still not register positive [because a minimal distance between an object and the glass surface is required, see below].
mine works even with a finger...
I've done it a few times accidently when i was trying to access the notification bar while on the phone
ph00ny said:
mine works even with a finger...
I've done it a few times accidently when i was trying to access the notification bar while on the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats the thing i was saying.
With finger i works great even if u touching the screen
Dial *#0*# and press sensor. If it vibrates, the proximity sensor is registering an object.
Maybe it comes in handy with testing.
It's working for me, thanks for the tip about the app!
edit:
Okay, I tested and found that indeed when you set the app to:
"Cover an hold to lock the screen" to say 5 seconds.
Close the flipcover.
It does not register.
However. If I set:
"Disable Accidental Lock" to .25 seconds.
Close the flipcover.
It works quite well.
Coming back to the sensor. It indeed does not register the flipcover when it's closed and touching the screen.
Weird thing is it does not register your hand anymore either.
Recreating issue:
Remove flipcover and lay it completely flat over the sensor.
Dial *#0*#.
Press "Sensor".
No registration.
Now hover your hand over where the proximity sensor is, and... How about that, no registration.
This indeed messes up NoLed's battery saving feature.
This can also be a problem when:
You set screen timeout to 10 min.
In the app's settings set "Disable in landscape" to on.
Then use an app in landscape mode.
Close flipcover while in landscape mode.
Then rotate to portrait. At this point it should start registering again and turn off screen..
The sensor does not register and screen stays on.
Drains battery.
It is a really cool idea, but it does not function properly.
It's too flaky, also when just handling your phone. I find myself accidentally turning off the screen.
Maybe if you use a case or some other cover with a different or thicker material it would work better.
I ordered a Zenuscase, I'll give it a try with that one.
Don't know how long it'll take to arrive though
reflective color
heey i found the problem , the sensor is working fine ... but when so close with any black object the light is not reflected back to the proximity sensor.(black color absorbs light).
Repeat your video with any white object and you will notice the difference..
Now i am using Autostart and it works great with samsung original flip cover (white flipcover).
you can use any white sticker on the black one.
ahmedtaha7 said:
heey i found the problem , the sensor is working fine ... but when so close with any black object the light is not reflected back to the proximity sensor.(black color absorbs light).
Repeat your video with any white object and you will notice the difference..
Now i am using Autostart and it works great with samsung original flip cover (white flipcover).
you can use any white sticker on the black one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ya correct, just few day back i have asked this issue to developer
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22170417&postcount=5
But it will work perfact if you use proximity + light both sensor enabled.
Color has no influence, distance between an object and the proximity sensor is what matters. I've just tested this using pieces of paper, cloth, metal and wood in white and black colors. The sensor seems unable to correctly register anything that is less than approximately 1 mm away from the glass (it may report 0 cm or jump to 5 cm). Also it seems it only reports changes of a certain minimal distance between two readings, even if the reported value remains the same as the old one. Anything below the threshold of the 5 cm reading will always result in a reported value of 0 cm, but if the effective distance between reading A and reading B was below a certain threshold, the sensor will not report a new reading of 0 cm (thus an object hovering stable over the sensor will not produce a 2nd post). I'm not sure if the sensor has a state that can be read at any time. From my tests using AutomateIt Pro, it seems only new posts can be used by apps. And if the delta between two readings is to small to make the sensor post a "new" result, then this can be problematic under certain circumstances (like trying to turn the screen off after the flip cover got closed (prox. sensor = 0 for 0 sec) and stays closed (light sensor = 10 for 5 sec) while preventing the screen from going off after an accidental wipe over the prox. sensor e.g. with the hand).
@Dr. Ketan: I've tested Power Switch (again) and I'm quite certain that for the Note + Flip Cover it only works through the light sensor (which is unsatisfying since it then won't work correctly in the dark). Covering the proximity sensor only doesn't make the app reliably react.
Power switch works ok for me with the Samsung flip cover. I have the confirmation set to minimum Abe theactivation delay set to 0 seconds.
It doesn't always work from the lock screen but works fine from the home screen or apps
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
so is it a hardware issue of software?
might it be fixes in ICS? it's fu***ng annoying! just bought the flip cover(black) yesterday and also bought smart cover app, my note's screen keeps on turn off (when flip closed) then it turns back on (flip still closed)!
Any solution for gingerbread? like proximity calibrator perhaps? (while waiting for final version of ics to come out)
Power switch will work if you use proximity + light sensor both.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
dr.ketan said:
Power switch will work if you use proximity + light sensor both.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's so sensitive that the moment my finger move over the sensor, the shutdown menu pops up.
Any app that works with the flip cover?
I currently make an XDA application where I need to access the proximity sensor. I need help with information on which methods and data Android uses to access the sensor.
I know values in the SensorManager class show the proximity sensor readout but I am not sure whether this is what Android uses or there are other as well as I am not sure whether I can override these values to be visible to the whole system and to make sure there is no any app, such as the Phone app, which reads data from anywhere else, for example, directly from a hardware register.
Please, be kind to respond with what Android and the Phone app use to read the sensor.
Thanks.
Had this phone for about 5 days so far, and coming from an old HTC one X I'm amazed by the battery life! And generally really liking the phone, however..........
I cannot seem to find how to mute the phone's alerts by turning the phone over onto it's screen. i.e. in a meeting or restaurant, phone begins to ring... and I can just flip it quickly over to shut it up and know that it won't ring again whilst turned over.
I know I'm probably being stunningly dim, but any hints?
alex.mc said:
Had this phone for about 5 days so far, and coming from an old HTC one X I'm amazed by the battery life! And generally really liking the phone, however..........
I cannot seem to find how to mute the phone's alerts by turning the phone over onto it's screen. i.e. in a meeting or restaurant, phone begins to ring... and I can just flip it quickly over to shut it up and know that it won't ring again whilst turned over.
I know I'm probably being stunningly dim, but any hints?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess this isn't supported on x play.
alex.mc said:
Had this phone for about 5 days so far, and coming from an old HTC one X I'm amazed by the battery life! And generally really liking the phone, however..........
I cannot seem to find how to mute the phone's alerts by turning the phone over onto it's screen. i.e. in a meeting or restaurant, phone begins to ring... and I can just flip it quickly over to shut it up and know that it won't ring again whilst turned over.
I know I'm probably being stunningly dim, but any hints?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a handy feature to have... Someone should work on that.
abhish3k9 said:
That's a handy feature to have... Someone should work on that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's kernel related I think. You can tell the developers about it on kernel related thread.
K.khiladi said:
It's kernel related I think. You can tell the developers about it on kernel related thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so. I think, it's just using the proximity sensor to mute the device while receiving a call. An app for non-rooted phones will do. Though, it can be embedded in custom ROMs.
abhish3k9 said:
I don't think so. I think, it's just using the proximity sensor to mute the device while receiving a call. An app for non-rooted phones will do. Though, it can be embedded in custom ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope it isn't that easy that just an app would enable it. X play has notification led also but requires custom kernel to support it.
K.khiladi said:
Nope it isn't that easy that just an app would enable it. X play has notification led also but requires custom kernel to support it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might be wrong, but, enabling the notification LED i.e letting power into it or establishing a connection to it (hardware level) is different than using a (already working) sensor. The feature mentioned in this thread is just a cleaver use of sensors.
abhish3k9 said:
I might be wrong, but, enabling the notification LED i.e letting power into it or establishing a connection to it (hardware level) is different than using a (already working) sensor. The feature mentioned in this thread is just a cleaver use of sensors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The sensors are working correctly but for that particular trick to work there has to be support from software level and that comes from kernel support. I haven't heard of any app that initiates this flip to mute thing. I could also be wrong. I ain't a developer but just reading stuffs everywhere.
You don't need special kernel support for this.
Any app (if you grant the permission) can mute the phone by setting RINGER_MODE_SILENT via Android Audiomanager.
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/media/AudioManager.html
And any app can choose to be notified on sensor data changes of a specific sensor (e.g. proximity semsor) if it registers a listener for this sensor.
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/SensorManager.html
If you combine both and put it as background service you have an app that mutes the phone based on sensor input. E.g. if proximity sensor if covered. Quite easy.
Though for flip to mute proximity sensor alone probably doesn't help as the sensor is a also covered if the phone is in your pocket. I guess gyroscope would be best, which X Play doesn't have...
But maybe you can detect the flip motion also via clever combination of magnetometer and accelerometer data?
But I would be very surprised if there were no apps in Google Play which offer flip to mute functionality
u42671 said:
You don't need special kernel support for this.
Any app (if you grant the permission) can mute the phone by setting RINGER_MODE_SILENT via Android Audiomanager.
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/media/AudioManager.html
And any app can choose to be notified on sensor data changes of a specific sensor (e.g. proximity semsor) if it registers a listener for this sensor.
http://developer.android.com/reference/android/hardware/SensorManager.html
If you combine both and put it as background service you have an app that mutes the phone based on sensor input. E.g. if proximity sensor if covered. Quite easy.
Though for flip to mute proximity sensor alone probably doesn't help as the sensor is a also covered if the phone is in your pocket. I guess gyroscope would be best, which X Play doesn't have...
But maybe you can detect the flip motion also via clever combination of magnetometer and accelerometer data?
But I would be very surprised if there were no apps in Google Play which offer flip to mute functionality
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for correction and I haven't heard of any app with that feature.
I haven't seen a standalone app for this (but then I haven't really looked too hard) but if you have xposed installed you can use GravityBox which has "Flip action while ringing" under the "Phone Tweaks" section. Options are:
Do nothing (default)
Mute ringer
Dismiss call
The flip action is defined as "device is flipped face down while ringing".