iPhone 4 PROXIMITY SENSOR GLOWING RED when on call!!!

Question

iPhone 4 PROXIMITY SENSOR GLOWING RED when on call!!!

I just posted a topic a few minutes ago about the proximity sensor and make some more test's.
I dimmed the light in my room in my last test, and I see the infrared emitter of the sensor glowing red (is very low, but is there!).
If I remember some electronics, when an infrared emitter emits visible red light is because it's receiving a too high current.

This can be a mayor problem, because the emitter don't would survive too much time this overcharge.
A this point, I believe that Apple solution to the issue may be allow more current pass to the emitter, maybe too much.

Anyone can confirm this? (also if you don't updated yet).
Many thanks to everyone.

Posted on Sep 8, 2010 4:03 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 8, 2010 4:10 PM in response to diego.caraballo

diego.caraballo wrote:
I just posted a topic a few minutes ago about the proximity sensor and make some more test's.
I dimmed the light in my room in my last test, and I see the infrared emitter of the sensor glowing red (is very low, but is there!).
If I remember some electronics, when an infrared emitter emits visible red light is because it's receiving a too high current.

This can be a mayor problem, because the emitter don't would survive too much time this overcharge.
A this point, I believe that Apple solution to the issue may be allow more current pass to the emitter, maybe too much.

Anyone can confirm this? (also if you don't updated yet).
Many thanks to everyone.

THAT MEANS IT'S READY TO BLOW!!! RUN!!! 🙂

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Answer 2

tonefox

Level 6

9,362 points

Sep 8, 2010 4:14 PM in response to diego.caraballo

diego.caraballo wrote:

If I remember some electronics, when an infrared emitter emits visible red light is because it's receiving a too high current.

I very strongly suspect that Apple employs people who work on a better level of knowledge than "If I remember some electronics".

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Answer 3

Sep 8, 2010 4:19 PM in response to diego.caraballo

OMG it just came across my mind but think about it... It glows red now becausee they had to make it more sensitive and make it work more. It disappoints me that this phone has so many flaws, and its the ONLY explanation for it glowing red is because it uses more power now, just so it could work as well as the 3Gs. Someone should see how long the talk time is now...

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Answer 4

Sep 8, 2010 4:21 PM in response to matteo1234

No red glow here, before, during, or after the 4.1 update.

Maybe you have super-vision.

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Answer 5

Sep 8, 2010 4:31 PM in response to tonefox

tonefox wrote:

diego.caraballo wrote:

If I remember some electronics, when an infrared emitter emits visible red light is because it's receiving a too high current.

I very strongly suspect that Apple employs people who work on a better level of knowledge than "If I remember some electronics".

Yes, sure! Like the ones that designed a revolutionary antenna system...that need a case to works properly.
I hope that you (and the other unconditional Apple fanatics) have A LOT of Apple shares,
because is the only way that you could be so short minded when "defending" every product they made.
I'm sorry to say this but: Apple made mistakes too. Sorry again.

Message was edited by: diego.caraballo

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Answer 6

Injector

Level 1

77 points

Sep 8, 2010 4:32 PM in response to diego.caraballo

I would be worried too if my IR was glowing red after the update, when previously it wasn't. I don't have the PS issues so I haven't updated yet...just waiting to see if there are any nasties!

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Answer 7

Garydp

Level 1

15 points

Sep 8, 2010 4:44 PM in response to diego.caraballo

Mine glows red too, I noticed when making a call in a dark room. I'm not worried as my 3G did this too plus I no longer have any issue when making a call.

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Answer 8

SteveDC

Level 1

139 points

Sep 8, 2010 5:24 PM in response to Garydp

I can see the LED glowing red dimly in a dark room when on a call on my iPhone 4. This is after the upgrade to iOS 4.1. I didn't notice what it was doing before the upgrade -- didn't have a reason to inspect it, it was working fine before.

Makes sense. Goose the LED power to get more infrared energy to the detector. Better proximity detection but increased power consumption.

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Answer 9

Paulcg

Level 1

0 points

Sep 8, 2010 5:36 PM in response to diego.caraballo

I upgraded and mine also glowed red!
My beautiful burnt a hole in my eardrum, and made my ear bleed!!!!
Update is crap, I'm suing.

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Answer 10

Sep 8, 2010 6:35 PM in response to diego.caraballo

Uhmmm...if Apple's iOS 4 update made it possible for you to see light in the infared spectrum, then something did go terribly wrong during your iPhone update.

Did you mistakenly plug the cable into your head instead of your iPhone?

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Answer 11

Sep 8, 2010 6:43 PM in response to Paulcg

I'm disappointed, mine isn't glowing red-more of a crimson or vermilion with fuchsia undertones. 😉

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Answer 12

Sep 8, 2010 7:01 PM in response to diego.caraballo

Yea lol I'm kinda disappointed mine doesn't glow either. I noticed on a friends that it has a very slight glow and his actually works now. Mine doesn't. Maybe the ones that do glow are the ones that work?!?

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Answer 13

eM_NL

Level 1

5 points

Sep 9, 2010 1:07 AM in response to matteo1234

Same "problem" here on 3G (running 4.1). When the iPhone was rebooting the sensor glowing red.

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Answer 14

dbk9999

Level 1

70 points

Sep 9, 2010 2:14 AM in response to diego.caraballo

I see you got a lot of silly responses.

Fact is, a LOT of people have reported this and it has been on some other sites with pictures.

Now, whether boosting the signal like this will cause the thing to wear out too soon, I don't know, but you have good reason to at least bring it up.

No one who belittled you has shown any special electronic knowledge and, frankly, the "Apple knows better" attitude isn't all that convincing.

By bringing it up, perhaps someone who does have expertise in this area can clarify this matter. So thanks for bringing it up.

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Answer 15

Sep 9, 2010 2:56 AM in response to dbk9999

dbk9999 wrote:
I see you got a lot of silly responses.

Fact is, a LOT of people have reported this and it has been on some other sites with pictures.

Now, whether boosting the signal like this will cause the thing to wear out too soon, I don't know, but you have good reason to at least bring it up.

No one who belittled you has shown any special electronic knowledge and, frankly, the "Apple knows better" attitude isn't all that convincing.

By bringing it up, perhaps someone who does have expertise in this area can clarify this matter. So thanks for bringing it up.

One of the reasons for Apple success is that they have a very loyalty customers that support the company no matter what mistakes Apple could made.
Some of this people are posting here (and also in every post), only to make fun of users who post they problems and concerns. They also have a very little respect for the other people, as we can read in some reply's: "maybe you have supervision" or "the sky is falling".

I live in Spain, and here the Apple support is very bad, there's no toll free number, actually is a pay number, you have to wait a lot to get an answer, and a iPhone exchange could took 3 weeks.
Also we have to pay 300 dollars + 2 years contract to get a 16Gb iPhone.

So, I have my reasons to be concerned. I know that Apple would want to sell the iPhone 5 in a few months, but I don't want my iPhone damaged. IR LED's have a long life span (50000~100000 hours), but this is in normal conditions, between they current limits.

I want to thanks dbk9999, for they respectfully reply. I really wish more user like you posting in this thread.

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