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hi,
I somehow noticed how when I took the phone away from my ear near my face during a call the screen was still locked, so i ran the lightsensor test and it kept going from 0 to 3.xxxxxxx on and off reporting Dark, it is late night here but the lights are on, i then put it near my monitor, still "dark"
I then finally shone a torch on the sensor and it reported normal after a few seconds!!?
Is there a way to re calibrate it, i'm guessing it does sense light but not correctly?
Thanks so much
oops!
I ran a test again today morning, but i exposed the thing to the sun near at my Window and it shows bright. however, i still think the light sensor is a tad bit un sensitive, or is it acutally being super smart and sensing ambience around my room??
My GF and I are very annoyed at this problem. When you tilt the phone on it's side, lik eholding it with your shoulder the phone will turn on. It just so happens that your phone's mute button will be on your cheek and we mute each other.
Is there anyway to stop this? Thank you guys in advance.
Are u sure u are not "uncovering" the light proximity sensor when u tilt it. Its very sensitive, and I have noticed it get turned on when the phone gets an inch or more away from ear exposing the light sensor to any form of light.
While on the phone with my girlfriend at night this happens a lot. Because it is so dark, any movement I do will cause the screen to turn on and I have to hit the button to turn it off.
Just try vto keep it glued to your face :/
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App
Yeah I'm sure. The feature is suppose to be for when you set the phone on your desktop the screen will turn on so you can hit speaker or end the call.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Umm simple work around, get something opaque and stick it over the light sensor with something that won't leave a residue so you can take it off when your call is over?
obviously some people fail to understand how this works. there is a light sensor for screen brightness and a proximity sensor. it is the proximity sensor that detects your face and turns off the screen. the light sensor is not involved in this process. what is happening is that the i9000 roms have default android 2.2 settings that force the proximity sensor to be ignored in certain orientations, i dont know about the new att updates but the 2.1 roms had the overrided from samsung. i tried to fix it in tasker but tasker lacks the option to power off the screen, it can go to lock screen instead which may be acceptable for some. there may be a different way to do this in tasker but i need to experiment more.
there is no external workaround for this as it is not the proximity sensor being uncovered that causes most problems but the phones orientation. any workaround or fix must be done with software or a change in a file somewhere.
I am sorry, and have been humbled •_•
Dani897 said:
obviously some people fail to understand how this works. there is a light sensor for screen brightness and a proximity sensor. it is the proximity sensor that detects your face and turns off the screen. the light sensor is not involved in this process. what is happening is that the i9000 roms have default android 2.2 settings that force the proximity sensor to be ignored in certain orientations, i dont know about the new att updates but the 2.1 roms had the overrided from samsung. i tried to fix it in tasker but tasker lacks the option to power off the screen, it can go to lock screen instead which may be acceptable for some. there may be a different way to do this in tasker but i need to experiment more.
there is no external workaround for this as it is not the proximity sensor being uncovered that causes most problems but the phones orientation. any workaround or fix must be done with software or a change in a file somewhere.
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This is correct. In simple terms the orientation sensor takes presidence over the proximity sensor. So if you turn the phone on its back while on the phone, the screen will turn on.
There are no fixes for it that I'm aware of.
How abt keeping auto-rotation off all the time, and turning it on only when needed, as a work around?
diablo009 said:
How abt keeping auto-rotation off all the time, and turning it on only when needed, as a work around?
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Click to collapse
It's not linked to auto-rotation unfortunately, Its just something that we have to live with.
Man... wish there could be one but sounds like there can't be.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
My cousin is having troubles with his Xperia Z. Specifically the proximity sensor. It is always turned on, meaning each time he's on a call the screen turns black and never comes back.
First I tried getting into service menu, only to find the proximity test "ON" all the time. I think the light sensor and proximity sensor are the same, right? The light sensor shows a read when exposed to different light conditions.
Then I factory reset the phone. No luck.
Then I flashed with flashtool. No luck. Still the same.
It is on the latest firmware revision.
Fixed it. I applied pressure with my fingers on the top right corner and got it to work.
I applied pressure to my own device and now it detects the proximity from farther away.
I just got the phone last week and it’s always had a screen protector on it. I know many have issues with the proximity sensor covered but I don’t get how the phone should work. All my other phones turn off the display as you put the phone to your ear and on again if you move it away to look at something or end the call. The Nexus 6 just stays on until the screen time out and then I have to tap the power button to get the screen back.
I installed a proximity sensor app (Proximity Sensor Finder) and it seems to work fine though I don’t know what the readings would be without the screen protector covering it. It shows 5.000305cm until my hand gets within two inches or so and it jumps to 0. The app says some sensors are discrete so seems ok and the readings are very consistent and fast. So why is the screen not turning off?
Also, the Ambient display setting says it will turn on the display when you pick up the phone or get notifications. Never worked. ???
Bad phone, software or setting?
Thanks.
P.S. Why in God’s name are the volume buttons and to a lesser extent, the power button, dead center of the phone? I hit them every flipping time I pick it up. Is there a way to disable the volume buttons when the screen is off?
Tanquen said:
I just got the phone last week and it’s always had a screen protector on it. I know many have issues with it covered but I don’t get how the phone should work. All my other phones turn off the display as you put the phone to your ear and on again if you move it away to look at something or end the call. The Nexus 6 just stays on until the screen time out and then I have to tap the power button to get the screen back.
I installed a proximity sensor app (Proximity Sensor Finder) and it seems to work fine though I don’t know what the readings would be without the screen protector covering it. It shows 5.000305cm until my hand gets within inches or so and jumps to 0. The app says some sensors are discrete so seems ok and the readings are very consistent and fast. So why is the screen not turning off?
Also, the Ambient display setting says it will turn on the display when you pick up the phone or get notifications. Never worked. ???
Bad phone, software or setting?
Thanks.
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Click to collapse
my suggestion would be to take your screen protector off. when you pull away from thd phone, the screen should pop on, but it not doung that for you. over the past 8 months or so, ive been reading about this same issue. and its always fixed by raking off the screen protector. im fuessing that your screen protector is covering one of your sensors.
Understood but:
"I installed a proximity sensor app (Proximity Sensor Finder) and it seems to work fine though I don’t know what the readings would be without the screen protector covering it. It shows 5.000305cm until my hand gets within two inches or so and it jumps to 0. The app says some sensors are discrete so seems ok and the readings are very consistent and fast. So why is the screen not turning off?"
Can someone without a screen protector on chime in with naked sensor readings?
Tanquen said:
Understood but:
"I installed a proximity sensor app (Proximity Sensor Finder) and it seems to work fine though I don’t know what the readings would be without the screen protector covering it. It shows 5.000305cm until my hand gets within two inches or so and it jumps to 0. The app says some sensors are discrete so seems ok and the readings are very consistent and fast. So why is the screen not turning off?"
Can someone without a screen protector on chime in with naked sensor readings?
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Click to collapse
Readings the same.
Tanquen said:
Understood but:
"I installed a proximity sensor app (Proximity Sensor Finder) and it seems to work fine though I don’t know what the readings would be without the screen protector covering it. It shows 5.000305cm until my hand gets within two inches or so and it jumps to 0. The app says some sensors are discrete so seems ok and the readings are very consistent and fast. So why is the screen not turning off?"
Can someone without a screen protector on chime in with naked sensor readings?
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Click to collapse
your phone has its own proximity sensor thats being blocked by your screen protector, probably. im telling you that of the very many that have been reporting thus issue, have no more issue when they remove the screen protector. its worth a try, isnt it?
simms22 said:
your phone has its own proximity sensor thats being blocked by your screen protector, probably. im telling you that of the very many that have been reporting thus issue, have no more issue when they remove the screen protector. its worth a try, isnt it?
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Click to collapse
His screen is staying on tho. Usually with screen protector it stays off.
prdog1 said:
His screen is staying on tho. Usually with screen protector it stays off.
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for most ppl it stays off, a few that ive read stay on non stop.
for example.. if it doesnt "see" your face get close, it wont turn off the screen.
simms22 said:
for most ppl it stays off, a few that ive read stay on non stop.
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Kewl. He needs to make sure ambient display is on in display settings. Also the buttons are in middle of phone so you can reach them holding phone normally.
simms22 said:
... its worth a try, isnt it?
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Yea, but the protector would not be usable afterwards and it was really hard to get it on clean and lined up and the sensor readings are the same. I thought the folks that had problems had stuck or sporadic readings.
simms22 said:
for most ppl it stays off, a few that ive read stay on non stop.
for example.. if it doesnt "see" your face get close, it wont turn off the screen.
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Click to collapse
Mine can be toggled on and off with the power button, never gets stuck. It just acts like the proximity sensor mode during a call never activates. It only powers off after the normal screen timeout if you are still on the phone. The sensor does see me and sets the value the zero.
prdog1 said:
Kewl. He needs to make sure ambient display is on in display settings. Also the buttons are in middle of phone so you can reach them holding phone normally.
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It’s on, even tried toggling it.
The buttons should be higher. I understand you can’t reach the power button on larger phones if on top of the phone but putting the volume at the center of gravity is crazy. It’s actually noticeably difficult to hold the phone without it dipping when grabbing it lower and that’s after training myself to grab it lower. I still forget and grab it in the middle like any brick sized object. I'm old, hands weak.
I have read here, somewhere, that the proximity sensor does not have a variable output. It's either off or on, so to speak.
Larzzzz82 said:
I have read here, somewhere, that the proximity sensor does not have a variable output. It's either off or on, so to speak.
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Probably yes but everyone who had a screen protector without a sensor cut out had to change it for one with a sensor cut out.
This is step 1. Even if this isn't the cause, it will cause problems later.
You say not variable. Sure on or off. That said, a protector can limit how close the "close" reference can be identified at.
Step 2 is a factory reset.
Unfortunately, can't troubleshooting without doing these steps.
Larzzzz82 said:
I have read here, somewhere, that the proximity sensor does not have a variable output. It's either off or on, so to speak.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is my understanding also and someone posted above that they have the same readings from the sensor without a screen protector. They did not say but I’m assuming their phone works as it should when on a call. Again: "I installed a proximity sensor app (Proximity Sensor Finder) and it seems to work fine though I don’t know what the readings would be without the screen protector covering it. It shows 5.000305cm until my hand gets within two inches or so and it jumps to 0. The app says some sensors are discrete so seems ok and the readings are very consistent and fast. So why is the screen not turning off?"
danarama said:
Probably yes but everyone who had a screen protector without a sensor cut out had to change it for one with a sensor cut out.
This is step 1. Even if this isn't the cause, it will cause problems later.
You say not variable. Sure on or off. That said, a protector can limit how close the "close" reference can be identified at.
Step 2 is a factory reset.
Unfortunately, can't troubleshooting without doing these steps.
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Click to collapse
I know, I know. I’ve read that many have had issues with screen protectors but I thought the folks that checked saw that the proximity sensor readings were also bad. Mine seem to be just what the phone would want to see.
I will take it off at some point and I guess I’ll be the first to verify that even if you use an app to monitor the proximity sensor readings and they look normal the protector can still cause an issue or it is something else.
I did find that the Ambient display will not work without screen lock turned on.
Tanquen said:
I did find that the Ambient display will not work without screen lock turned on.
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Click to collapse
True, because it needs a lock screen to display it.
The screen worked as it should randomly the other day. Only on the one call. I pulled the phone away to look at something and it turned the screen on. Put it to my ear and what do you know, it turned the screen off. Not worked again so far and I ran the sensor app right after the call and it showed just what it always has, zero. Anything close to the phone you get a zero every time, right away. The phone app just ignores the zero reading.
I am having an issue where always on display is staying ON while in pocket/faced down on the table. Feels like the proximity sensor is not working while on the AOD.
Plus, the proximity sensor doesn't seem to work while in the pocket either. The setting 'prevent accidental touches' has been enabled, however it is still responding to 'double tap to wake' while in the pocket for whatever reason...
Is there any fix to this?
I noticed the AOD stays on in my pocket as well. I thought maybe it was by design that way, even though it makes no sense.
Have not had a single pocket wakeup though.
It does seem that the proximity sensor (which is really the camera) doesn't work especially well though, from reports of people noticing it on phone calls. Hopefully something that can be fixed in software.
jdock said:
I noticed the AOD stays on in my pocket as well. I thought maybe it was by design that way, even though it makes no sense.
Have not had a single pocket wakeup though.
It does seem that the proximity sensor (which is really the camera) doesn't work especially well though, from reports of people noticing it on phone calls. Hopefully something that can be fixed in software.
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Thanks mate, appreciate your feedback. Proximity sensor works fine on my phone during calls. Can't think of any reason why Samsung would intend it this way...
Proximity sensor issue here as well
I have the same problem. I put phone into test mode and it was bad compared to my wife's s9 search proximity sensor s20fe on YouTube and see others with issue
There is no fix. This is apparently the way AOD works now. I can't remember if it started with the S10s or S20s.
uggies said:
I am having an issue where always on display is staying ON while in pocket/faced down on the table. Feels like the proximity sensor is not working while on the AOD.
Plus, the proximity sensor doesn't seem to work while in the pocket either. The setting 'prevent accidental touches' has been enabled, however it is still responding to 'double tap to wake' while in the pocket for whatever reason...
Is there any fix to this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did some research on s20fe proximity sensor, because I desperately wanted flip case to open and close the screen.
Here is what I have noticed: there are two "proximity sensors" both sides of the front camera. These sensors close the screen during call if you touch them (I'm not sure if it's enough to touch just 1 or do you have to touch both of them). You need to touch these with your cheek or finger cause they need a electric field.
Phone also utilizes front camera light sensor during call: if there is no light, it turns off the screen but for this to happen phone needs to be on up right position. Screen won't close if the phone is on desk and you cover the camera.
So anyways, my point is that the proximity sensor is not able to detect if your phone is in the pocket or not. Only way for the phone to detect this is with the front camera light sensor, and I guess this would increase the battery consumption so much, there is no point.
You can test your "proximity sensors" by typing *#0*# in dialer numpad, select sensors and touch from the side of the front camera. If the screen turns green sensors are working.
No problems with Verizon S20 FE 5G UW
Huberttus said:
I did some research on s20fe proximity sensor, because I desperately wanted flip case to open and close the screen.
Here is what I have noticed: there are two "proximity sensors" both sides of the front camera. These sensors close the screen during call if you touch them (I'm not sure if it's enough to touch just 1 or do you have to touch both of them). You need to touch these with your cheek or finger cause they need a electric field.
Phone also utilizes front camera light sensor during call: if there is no light, it turns off the screen but for this to happen phone needs to be on up right position. Screen won't close if the phone is on desk and you cover the camera.
So anyways, my point is that the proximity sensor is not able to detect if your phone is in the pocket or not. Only way for the phone to detect this is with the front camera light sensor, and I guess this would increase the battery consumption so much, there is no point.
You can test your "proximity sensors" by typing *#0*# in dialer numpad, select sensors and touch from the side of the front camera. If the screen turns green sensors are working.
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I just purchased the Samsung S20 FE 5G UW (how about we shorten this to FE UW?) with all updates AND a glass screen protector and have no touch/proximity issues.
FYI I bought it at the Costco kiosk for a few dollars less per month, no activation charges and a 90 day return policy.
the Galaxy S20 FE (5G) has no physiscal proximity sensor.
Insted it uses a combination of the front camera, touch screen and gyroscope.
I have tested the proximity issues, luckily for me there were ok...turn green. The only thing that drive me crazy is the touch screen issues which never been fixed even after updates. Oh well at least its better than before.
Huberttus said:
I did some research on s20fe proximity sensor, because I desperately wanted flip case to open and close the screen.
Here is what I have noticed: there are two "proximity sensors" both sides of the front camera. These sensors close the screen during call if you touch them (I'm not sure if it's enough to touch just 1 or do you have to touch both of them). You need to touch these with your cheek or finger cause they need a electric field.
Phone also utilizes front camera light sensor during call: if there is no light, it turns off the screen but for this to happen phone needs to be on up right position. Screen won't close if the phone is on desk and you cover the camera.
So anyways, my point is that the proximity sensor is not able to detect if your phone is in the pocket or not. Only way for the phone to detect this is with the front camera light sensor, and I guess this would increase the battery consumption so much, there is no point.
You can test your "proximity sensors" by typing *#0*# in dialer numpad, select sensors and touch from the side of the front camera. If the screen turns green sensors are working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mate great information here, really appreciate this.
Tested the Proximity sensor using *#0*#, I agree with your analysis. The proximity must be using electric reaction to detect if my ears are touching it or not. Covering it with a book does not trigger a proximity sensor... This explain why my screen keeps waking up in the pocket.
As much as this is annoying, there appears to be no way out Just have to let the phone face outside rather than my legs.
I also have the same issue, while on a phone call, the phone's screen goes on and off constantly and I can see the notification bar moving. Very annoying.
This is a terrible design by Samsung. The punch hole usually goes in the "Empty" part of the ear, so the screen stays mostly on.
I might just return the phone because of this issue, I don't see it getting fixed by a software update.
I have the exact opposite issue with the proximity sensor on my Samsung S20 plus running Android 10 - i.e. it works well by turning the screen off when my ear/cheek/face is very close to the proximity sensor during phone calls; whereas, when the phone's screen is locked and turned off, the proximity sensor is turned off as well. Control by hardware? Software/firmware? Don't know?! To turn the screen on without using the Power hardware button, I had to enable the "Double Tap" feature in Settings.
On earlier/other Android mobile devices - Samsung included - the proximity sensor is always on - whether the screen is on, off, or currently locked. When it's always on, you can be innovative and build a widget, for instance, to turn the screen on by "waving" your hand above the proximity sensor to interrupt the laser. I suspect new(er) Samsung mobile devices like S20 and Note20 variants might be using a "virtual" proximity sensor setup/combo for controlling the device's screen - and that really sucks!
To test if the proximity sensor is always activated on Samsung S20 and Note20 variants, I type *#77692# - which displayed a hardware screen to test proximity and light sensors. Note: if you type *#0*#, the proximity and light sensor options are absent from the hardware test screen.
Has anyone found any method - via codes even - to permanently turn on the proximity sensor, even when the screen is locked and turned off?
I searched through AOSP framework vanilla codes and couldn't see anything out of the ordinary regarding control of the proximity sensor. Samsung might be doing something dubious with their firmwares/hardwares though - well, at least, the S20 and Note20 variants are having issues with the proximity sensor setup.
P.S: Not sure if you guys are aware, but Samsung mobile devices with odd designation tends to be more problematic than their even-designated counterparts, like screen's burn-ins/shadows on Samsung S3 devices, light sensor fluctuation (which affects screen brightness control) on Samsung S5s, and now proximity problems with the S20s and Note20. Samsung S20 variants are in fact "S11" variants renamed. So the trend continues with Samsung always stuffing up their odd-designated device releases.