Database Users

Screen Protector and Proximity sensor

Has anyone installed the HC SP300 screen protector - if so does your proximity sensor work.
I noticed today that when i make a call, the device blanks the screen after pressing the send key. Putting it to the face and away does not make the screen come on. I'm guessing its the screen protector as i just did a hard reset and still not working (although it did when i got the phone.

I install the HC Sp300 on my device and the proximity sensor still works fine.

OK thanks.
Guess im going have to remove it to find out if it is the screen protector. If that doesnt work, i guess i have a dead sensor?

I have the same problems. It seems to be working, but with the more light.

I had the problem of the black screen when a call connected.
To solve it, i cut a small section near the 2 small holes in the top left corner.
Now it works as per usual. I think its a case of 'if you dont align the holes on the screen protector precisely', you will get this problem.

Proximity sensor while talking on the phone

i tried to search the forum with no results btw
have two cases while receiving/calling with hd2
1. via bluetooth headset - even when the phone is in the pocket some apps starts randomly, even call is disconnected - isn't proximity should cause phone scrren to be blank all time?
2. via the phone - sometimes while talking screen is still dark and pressing eg. home key puts display on. sometimes moving phone away from ear turns screen on.
do you have some or its something with my phone?

I have the same problem, the proximity sensor does not work, I think it works only outside when you have strong light, try it and let me know.
make a call the screen will go off now move it from your face loking up at the sun outside you will see that the screen will turn on.
it works only when I makes a call. when I am getting a call it atays on.
kochav

kochavy said:
I have the same problem, the proximity sensor does not work, I think it works only outside when you have strong light, try it and let me know.
make a call the screen will go off now move it from your face loking up at the sun outside you will see that the screen will turn on.
it works only when I makes a call. when I am getting a call it atays on.
kochav
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you would be wrong then.
It's a proximity sensor, not a light sensor. I just made a call in my darkened room and the proximity sensor functioned flawlessly.

thake the screen protector out or cut it and the proximity sensor will work perfect.
kochavy

kochavy said:
thake the screen protector out or cut it and the proximity sensor will work perfect.
kochavy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow who would've thought that covering up a sensor designed to sense when objects are close to it would impede its functionality.
Your revelation hepled me fix the microphone on my phone. It wasn't working, and then I realized I had my hand over it!

Yes I have had issues even with the original HTC screen protector which has two small holes directly over the sensors. I finally had to remove it.
Cutting the protector I have not been very successful so far. This creates sharp edges and the protector tends to peel off from that point. For the time being I am relying on the fact that the screen on the HD2 is scratch resistant enough that with normal care it would not get scratched. With over 2 months of use without a protector my screen is still scratchless.

IF it is anything to do with the screen protector, then there are plenty out there that don't have this effect.
I've got a protector on my HD2 and have had it there since just after I got it, so just over 2 months now. The screen protector has worked perfectly, even, kochavy, in the dark, because it detects proximity not light.
I suggest removing any screen protectors and seeing if you still have the problem. If you do, send the phone back as faulty. If you don't, get a better screen protector.

johncmolyneux said:
IF it is anything to do with the screen protector, then there are plenty out there that don't have this effect.
I've got a protector on my HD2 and have had it there since just after I got it, so just over 2 months now. The screen protector has worked perfectly, even, kochavy, in the dark, because it detects proximity not light.
I suggest removing any screen protectors and seeing if you still have the problem. If you do, send the phone back as faulty. If you don't, get a better screen protector.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you have the original HTC screen protector with the two holes? there are some protector that does not cover the top of the phone and leave the two sensors out from protection.

kochavy said:
do you have the original HTC screen protector with the two holes? there are some protector that does not cover the top of the phone and leave the two sensors out from protection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I don't. The one that came with it never please me much, so I bought some better ones.
The protectors I have don't have any holes for the sensors at the top, but like I said, it just works perfectly. There's a lot more to this issue that just the screen protector, as some people have reported that it works perfectly when they ring certain number, but not when they ring others. From what I've read on other threads, this is commonplace for people who are having this problem, so it's obviously not an issue with their screen protectors. It sounds like a software issue to me, but since it can't be identified as such, they should just return their phones as faulty and hope the replacement doesn't have the same issue.
It would be interesting to know if the people with the described issue have upgraded the ROM to 1.66, as this seems to have fixed a whole slew of issues.

Sensor works by reflecting infrared light. There is small IR lamp with IR detector nearby. You can check that by looking at the sensor through some digital camera or camcorder, whose are usually sensitive to this light. Don't forget the phone must be in call, otherwise the sensor is turned off.
I think the sensor itself is OK. But there seems to be some relationship with guess what .. G-sensor ! Once I found the screen just won't go off during call, and it was when I was lying during the call, and I was holding the phone upside down portrait style.
But as I turned the phone to normal position (normal portrait) and back, it started to work with no problem.
I only had problem with proximity sensor once since then .. but rotating the phone up and down helped again.
I think this needs more investigation .. if you encounter the problem try this.

Proximity Sensor Malfunctioning... Screen Protector?

Ahoy!
So ever since I put on my skinomi screen cover, my phone's proximity sensor has been acting funny. It refuses to function properly, often at night while talking on the phone in the car, I must turn the overhead lights on and point my screen at them to get the screen to come back.
Now, if I'm correct, the proximity sensor is not a light sensor but a distance sensor so how would this even make sense? Is anyone else having this problem?
I've looked at the cover thats over the part of the sensor and there are no scratches, etc. that would cause this malfunction. Any ideas?
-pixlgeek

I had the same problem with PhantomSkinz on my phone. As soon as I pulled the screen protector off, it worked perfectly again. Anyway, there is a light sensor AND a proximity (distance) sensor. I believe the both sensors are responsible for turning off the screen when you put it up to your face. For whatever reason, when I had the PS on... the screen would dim fine, but when I pulled it away from my face while in a dark/dimly lit room, the screen wouldn't brighten back up.

yes, the above is true. i just bought a screen protector off a seller. if you look on the seller's page, it says that the slit is cut to make the sensor working again. how dumb of google? my iphone proximity works just fine with a screen protector on.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150410911015&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/Clear-Screen-Pr...wItemQQptZPDA_Accessories?hash=item230528e305

It's neither Google nor HTC's fault. They design the phone to work properly without a screen protector... so you're the one modding it. It's strictly due to the material of the screen protector. Some of the thicker rubberized protectors, like Clear Protector, PhantomSkinz, and invisibleSHIELD, refract the light differently and it dissipates before hitting the light and proximity sensors.
Seidio, Martin Fields, and dcmugen88 (ebay seller) products are the only ones that I can pretty much guarantee will not cause issues. For the other products, it's hit or miss and depends on your phone. For some it works fine, for others it doesn't.

Question for you people who know about this, could there be something to do with my complete phone scratch protector to cause a small section of the top of my screen to not be responsive to touch? I took off the screen part of it and it made no difference. It's a Zagg scratch protector by the way. Any help with my issue would be GREATLY apreciated but so far it's looking like I will have to send it in for repair

Problem with proximity sensor

The problem is that the screen will stay off during calls. That means I can't hang up...
The only way to get the screen on is bright light against the sensor.
Is there any way to calibrate the sensor?

I don't think so. But as you say, it's a proximity sensor, so it should measure a distance and not need light to wake the screen. And as far as I know, the light sensor isn't used in calls.
But you could use the key under the screen to hang up

Yes, that's pretty weird actually, but that's how it is...
But no, I can't hang up since there are no hard buttons. Only the touch-sensetive ones, and they don't work when the phone thinks it's at someones ear.

Screen protector and proximity sensor
I have installed on my HD Mini a very good quality screen protector. During phone call my screen became black like my ear is on the phone, but my phone is on the desk ! If I remove the screen protector the proximity sensor come back to work correctly. Any idea how to set-up or adjust proximity sensor sensitivity ?

Me too!
I have this problem too!

Your phones have a screen which is made of really good strong glass. Using a screen protector is useless. I have had a Hero (also a capacitive touchscreen phone) for 6 months and, while I do keep it in a holster, I have rubbed it on my shirt, dropped it and used my finger on it all day long. It still is spotless. Stop wasting money on protectors and just use the phone. And having a protector is bound to screw up the proximity sensor.
As far as it not recognizing that the phone is not against your ear.... that is a matter for the service department to solve since it seems like a hardware fault.

Really strange! I've a screen protector but don't have this problem... the sensor works fine!!!

bellor
It's made out of plastic, really easy to make scratch. And it's very fingerprint attractive. So glossy filter is really good solution.
BeemerZ1
Same problem, proximity sensor work really weird.

Hi guys, I have the same problem on my HTC HD Mini, when you make a call the screen goes black and will not allow to end call. I have to take battery out to make it work again. I was looking at the registry tweaks for HTC HD2 (leo) and am wondering if those tweaks will work on my mini.
Please, if anyone has a solution, put it on here, have even tried replacing the glass to resolve but not working still.

Same problem. I tried an experiment... when i'm in a light room, works. when i'm in a dark room doesn't work. Really stupid... without light doesn't work!!
If you would, try to put the mini under light when is in calling...

In fact, that's quite normal. If you're calling in a dark room, how do you expect that your phone can "see" the difference between the darkness of your ears and the darkness of the room?

Are you using a screen protector?
I used to have the same issue. But once I remove the screen protector the screen turns back on straight after a phone call.
I believe that the proximity sensor is confused and is affected by having an object pasted over it.
so if someone could experiment with just removing he corner of the screen protector to avoid the sensor, you will not have a issue.
I am using the mini with a screen protector and it has been fine in my pocket...but I am not saying you should try!
My 2 cents!

S-ed said:
bellor
It's made out of plastic, really easy to make scratch. And it's very fingerprint attractive. So glossy filter is really good solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its made of carbonized whatever mixture just like any other capacitive screen and no theres no way to scratch that thing, iam wearing it in a pocket together with my keys since i bought it and theres no single scratch there, yet the fingerprint thing is very annoying indeed but thats because the material of the screen is very very close to glass.

fongyiktze said:
I used to have the same issue. But once I remove the screen protector the screen turns back on straight after a phone call.
I believe that the proximity sensor is confused and is affected by having an object pasted over it.
so if someone could experiment with just removing he corner of the screen protector to avoid the sensor, you will not have a issue.
I am using the mini with a screen protector and it has been fine in my pocket...but I am not saying you should try!
My 2 cents!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The lcd and digitiser have been replaced and there is no screen protector on the device. I purchased the lcd and digitiser as a complete unit so as not to have any issues.
The seller reassures me that the product was brand new and had been fully tested. I no longer have the old pieces to test against but this problem seems quite common from the threads on here and gsm forum.
Any solutions or ideas for resolution greatly appreciated, near to pulling all my hair out!!!!!!!!

I have screen protector and I do not have any problem with sensor. Everything works great..

i have the same problem as you.. when i am in a call i cant end it because my screen is black all the time.the only solution i found is when i call i turn the speaker on.please help us
p.s where on the screen is the proximity sensor??

spithash said:
i have the same problem as you.. when i am in a call i cant end it because my screen is black all the time.the only solution i found is when i call i turn the speaker on.please help us
p.s where on the screen is the proximity sensor??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
up on right side

_Madmatt said:
In fact, that's quite normal. If you're calling in a dark room, how do you expect that your phone can "see" the difference between the darkness of your ears and the darkness of the room?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I know... I meant that only works in bright light conditions, such as directly under a lamp or sunlight. in a room or just the shade does not work. So it's "only"a matter of adjusting the sensitivity of the light sensor. I do not even understand how it can be made this "proximity sensor", all I know is that it works with light. Rather, there is a program like the shake'n wake can use?

I have this annoying problem, too.
But I have to say: I have NO screen protectror, and: the divece was repaired by arvato-Services after a broken display. And I didn't have this problem before!
Sometimes i seems to help to puff serveral times into the loudspeeker, so that the screen returns and I'm able tu hang up the call. But sometimes it doesn't works, and if I had spoken to a mailbox (and the other end didn't hang up, so that i MUST hang up) the last solution was to remove the battery.
If there is a way to disable the sensor (i.e. in the registry)?
kind regards

Ye same thing, Mine will only bring the screen back during a call if it is under a very bright light.
Any ideas yet?

Possibly broken Proximity Sensor? Screen always goes off when calling

Hey guys,
just yesterday I got my phone back from repair (I cracked my screen, nothing was working then).
Here is a photo of my old screen, which had a hole right below the upper loud speaker:
I think it might be that the drop broke the sensor, and not the repair itself?!?
Using an app like this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tigermonster.proxfinder shows that my sensor is constantly detecting something.
I'm not using any screen protectors or anything
For now I rooted my device and disabled the sensor by installing the xposed framework and then using http://repo.xposed.info/module/com.mrchandler.disableprox
Strangely enough, yesterday, like 3h after I got my phone back I called someone and everything, including the sensor was working perfectly!
Can anyone show me a picture of such a proximity sensor? Do you guys think a fix like in this video shown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPHsianYnqo, putting a piece of paper behind the proximity sensor could work?

You never ended up showing any images of the phone before/after the repair but if you have a screen protector fitted to the screen and it doesn't have a little cutout on the right just below the top speaker then the protector is constantly tripping the proximity sensor.

Thanks for your answer. Like I said, I am not using any screen protectors.
Here's an image of my old screen:
http://imgur.com/ufNSseD
I don't think it has anything to do with that damage now tbh, because it was working well yesterday. I guess maybe the connector loosened itself?
Which one here in the pictures to step 6 is the proximity sensor? https://de.ifixit.com/Teardown/Nexus+6P+Teardown/51660

CryNickSystems said:
Thanks for your answer. Like I said, I am not using any screen protectors.
Here's an image of my old screen:
I don't think it has anything to do with that damage now tbh, because it was working well yesterday. I guess maybe the connector loosened itself?
Which one here in the pictures to step 6 is the proximity sensor? [/QUOTE]
It's directly above the t...i3be.cloudfront.net/igi/eDldW3bJmHSbQEYF.huge
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Thanks for the info about the position of the sensor - I'll definitely do that when I'm going to disassemble my phone (which is gonna take a while since I'm waiting to receive a new rear housing from a seller in the US).
I'm planning to disassemble as little as possible, so I'm hoping it's easy to access the proximity sensor (but guessing by the pictures it should be).

CryNickSystems said:
Thanks for the info about the position of the sensor - I'll definitely do that when I'm going to disassemble my phone (which is gonna take a while since I'm waiting to receive a new rear housing from a seller in the US).
I'm planning to disassemble as little as possible, so I'm hoping it's easy to access the proximity sensor (but guessing by the pictures it should be).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck. Hope you can fix it by cleaning it. Make sure to have some thermal compound on hand to replace the old stuff when you disassemble.

Hey one more quick question:
Do you think it's possible to remove the motherboard without removing the battery?
I guess that the problem is that the proximity sensor is either too close to the screen, or too far away (like there's some small gap between the proximity sensor and the screen). I will probably have to remove the motherboard if it's the former (if it's the latter I can just put something like a pice of paper at the back of the rubber).

CryNickSystems said:
Hey one more quick question:
Do you think it's possible to remove the motherboard without removing the battery?
I guess that the problem is that the proximity sensor is either too close to the screen, or too far away (like there's some small gap between the proximity sensor and the screen). I will probably have to remove the motherboard if it's the former (if it's the latter I can just put something like a pice of paper at the back of the rubber).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't need to remove the battery to remove the main board. You'll just have to unplug it.

Alright, thanks. I am wondering about another thing: Why are there two holes for the light and proximity sensor on the backside of the phone? I was planning to try and first stick some piece of paper on top of that rubber plastic to get the sensor closer to the screen. Why the holes?
Ty.

CryNickSystems said:
Alright, thanks. I am wondering about another thing: Why are there two holes for the light and proximity sensor on the backside of the phone? I was planning to try and first stick some piece of paper on top of that rubber plastic to get the sensor closer to the screen. Why the holes?
Ty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know which type of proximity sensor this is, IR, led, electromagnetic etc. But all proximity sensors I know of have two "eyes" One eye emits ir, led, or electromagnetic field, the other eye looks for a change in the return field. I think you'll find a scratched, smashed return eye. Or debris lodged in the sensor housing. Use a magnifying glass and excellent lighting.
If you shine a bright flashlight at the sensor through the screen can you see anything blocking the eyes? Doesn't matter I guess, you'd have to disassemble to get it out of the way anyways.
---------- Post added at 09:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 PM ----------
CryNickSystems said:
Alright, thanks. I am wondering about another thing: Why are there two holes for the light and proximity sensor on the backside of the phone? I was planning to try and first stick some piece of paper on top of that rubber plastic to get the sensor closer to the screen. Why the holes?
Ty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks like the prox sensor comes covered in a rubber cover. In this pic the rubber is there:
https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/SQfQ23vhRFsvbJJT.huge
In this pic they removed the rubber to expose the prox sensor:
https://d3nevzfk7ii3be.cloudfront.net/igi/eDldW3bJmHSbQEYF.huge
I suspect the rubber could be missing, lost during repair. Or perhaps installed wrong.

hawkswind1 said:
If you shine a bright flashlight at the sensor through the screen can you see anything blocking the eyes? Doesn't matter I guess, you'd have to disassemble to get it out of the way anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did what you asked: There is no light coming out on the back of the phone if that's what you meant.
Anyway, I'll have to wait until I receive my replacement back housing and then I'll try my best to repair the sensor. I hope the rubber is just misaligned.

Alright - so I did have time today to disassemble my phone (got the replacement housing last week).
I noticed that there was no rubber part on top of the light and proximity sensor, as well as on the device above the two (i don't know what that is).
What I did is that I had a small tube like this one: https://sc01.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1hBgwKVXXXXcvXpXXq6xXFXXXY/8mm-small-clear-plastic-PC-pipe-TUBE.jpg which I painted black and put it on top of the approximity sensor.
Everything is working well again (there were some lints on the display right below where the proximity sensor is located, that's probably why it stopped working from one day to another).
I guess the main function of the rubber is to protect the sensor against dust and lints.
I also am very mad at myself for having forgotten to take out the NFC antenna from the old housing before replacing it, so I had to open my phone again after I did already close it (and now there are slight traces of an opening - again )
But apart from that everything's fine now and I hope it'll stay this way.

CryNickSystems said:
Alright - so I did have time today to disassemble my phone (got the replacement housing last week).
I noticed that there was no rubber part on top of the light and proximity sensor, as well as on the device above the two (i don't know what that is).
What I did is that I had a small tube like this one: which I painted black and put it on top of the approximity sensor.
Everything is working well again (there were some lints on the display right below where the proximity sensor is located, that's probably why it stopped working from one day to another).
I guess the main function of the rubber is to protect the sensor against dust and lints.
I also am very mad at myself for having forgotten to take out the NFC antenna from the old housing before replacing it, so I had to open my phone again after I did already close it (and now there are slight traces of an opening - again )
But apart from that everything's fine now and I hope it'll stay this way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you got it fixed! And yeah, unfortunately it's nearly impossible to remove the back cover without leaving dings at the injection site. When I put on my new top and bottom rear covers I removed most of the glue. So next time I can remove them without much trouble.

I am having similar problems. I just traded for a nexus 6P and everything works great except for the proximity sensor. The 6p was just OTAed to 7.0 and I only unlocked it and installed TWRP. No other changes and no root (yet).
There is no screen protector on the device.
When I make a call, the screen stays on. The screen turns off as soon as I cover the proximity sensor. The screen then does not come back on until the call is completed. I downloaded a bunch of proximity apps, including Proximity Sensor Finder. Proximity Sensor Finder (and others) report that sensor detects Far (5cm or more) and Near (value of 0 cm when the sensor is covered). The sensor doesn't seem to identify intermiate values. The odd thing is that the sensor doesn't seem to reset. If I cover the sensor (value of 0 cm) and remove my hand, the sensor continues to read 0 cm.
Does this sound like a hardware or software issue? The device appears to detect both the near and far states, but doesn't return to far after the sensor is uncovered. Thanks for any help.

Solved the problem. I downgraded to MM and the proximity sensor problem persisted, so I figured it was a hardware issue.
I took apart the 6P and the there were signs that repair had been performed. The screen was probably replaced previously. The little rubber gasket covering the proximity sensor was missing, just as the OP described. I cut a blue-colored straw and placed it over the proximity/light sensor. Works perfect!

I need to bump this thread cause a few days ago I started having the same problem that nickfuzz describes.
Now I've got my opened phone in front of me and tried putting a pice of a black straw around the two sensors, but that does not help. It reports 5.0 cm and if I cover the sensor it stays at 0.0 cm
Can anyone give me an advice about what to do now?
Update:
The light sensor is also not working properly: It is reporting way too less lightness, and tends to report 0 lux when I'm not directly holding the phone under a lamp (for instance).

After 5 hours of trying I somehow managed to at least get the sensor to always report 5.0 cm. That's better than constantly reporting 0.0 cm.
I put a piece of a wide straw (there are different sizes, you know) around the hole board on which the two sensors (light & proximity) sit on. I guess this is a bad idea.
I am now trying to get this rubber gasket from somewhere, but I guess I'll have bad luck since I'd have to buy a defective nexus 6p from which I could take it from
UPDATE:
Can anyone tell me why the screen is painted black on the inside, right where the proximity sensor is located? I scraped off the paint and painted it over with a black pen. That must be the reason why the proximity sensor is always reporting 5.0 cm (which doesn't make much sense, because at some point it would have to detect something if it's not broken).

nickfuzz said:
Solved the problem. I downgraded to MM and the proximity sensor problem persisted, so I figured it was a hardware issue.
I took apart the 6P and the there were signs that repair had been performed. The screen was probably replaced previously. The little rubber gasket covering the proximity sensor was missing, just as the OP described. I cut a blue-colored straw and placed it over the proximity/light sensor. Works perfect!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell me if you put the straw around both sensors and their "chassis" (that black thing they sit on), or did you put the straw only around the sensors (i.e. on top of the chassis)?
I still need to find a way to fix my sensors

I tried to use some electric tape and put it on top of the sensors with two small circles cut in, but eventually I figured that the problem actually lies in the black paint on the inside of the screen.
I removed that paint a few weeks ago and I couldn't paint a new black paint on it that is not too thick, so I am stuck with a sensor consequently reporting 5cm.
I did try to use an Edding.

I had the same issue with the proximity sensory and a new 6P, but fixed it with this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobiledirection.proximitysensorreset&hl=en
Everything was still good after uninstalling that app too.