Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls - Continued.

iphone4_925 wrote:
Question: Do you think they can really fix this with a software update is it possible to adjust the sensitivity on these sensor with a software update ?

Yes, there are many approaches to preventing this kind of error in sensor, including better DSP, or just slowing down the response time. The only thing that may prevent it is if the proximity sensor circuitry just doesn't have much resolution in it's design. It may not be as responsive as the older sensors but it should be fixable.

I also wonder if they could start using the front facing camera input to augment the prox sensor.

Ok guys. Analysis complete. STILL NOT WORKING. I will admit that it appears to be working better than the last phone, but I think we might just have to come to grip with the fact that it's never going to work like the 3GS. Michael Empire can be obnoxious with his tear downs of our software dream : ), but he is also probably right.

I just spent the last 20 minutes doing tests. I have my brothers 3GS and my iphone 4 side by side. I propped up the iPhone 4 with paper until the sensors where level. For the first 30 seconds the sensors seemed to be identical!!! BUT THEN....back to terrible iPhone 4 sensor problems. (sigh)

Side by side, the iphone 4 just can't make up its mind. Just like trent said, there is some sort of problem with the memory. Sometimes it will turn on at .25" and sometimes 1.75" : ( I wish I could figure this out. I guess we will wait and see tomorrow?

iPhonefanSince2G, the production date on my phone was week 27, so what that's july 7th?

I just wanted to update my experience:

Replaced phone via genius bar (because of "coma" issue), new phone exhibits the same proximity sensor issue.

Updated my phone to 4.1b, still has the proximity sensor issue.

Planning to return both my phone and my wife's iPhone 4 unless they extend the return period at tomorrows press conference.

Edmund Pirali wrote:

Yes, there are many approaches to preventing this kind of error in sensor, including better DSP, or just slowing down the response time. The only thing that may prevent it is if the proximity sensor circuitry just doesn't have much resolution in it's design. It may not be as responsive as the older sensors but it should be fixable.

I also wonder if they could start using the front facing camera input to augment the prox sensor.

Well let's see then how they can fix this I really like the phone but I just hope tomorrow at press conference they have a solution for this issue I hope they don't give us a Apple brand dutch tape to put over proximity sensor while we are on a phone call and remove it once we are done with the call lol

RyeDarrow wrote:
Ok guys. Analysis complete. STILL NOT WORKING. I will admit that it appears to be working better than the last phone, but I think we might just have to come to grip with the fact that it's never going to work like the 3GS. Michael Empire can be obnoxious with his tear downs of our software dream : ), but he is also probably right.

I just spent the last 20 minutes doing tests. I have my brothers 3GS and my iphone 4 side by side. I propped up the iPhone 4 with paper until the sensors where level. For the first 30 seconds the sensors seemed to be identical!!! BUT THEN....back to terrible iPhone 4 sensor problems. (sigh)

Side by side, the iphone 4 just can't make up its mind. Just like trent said, there is some sort of problem with the memory. Sometimes it will turn on at .25" and sometimes 1.75" : ( I wish I could figure this out. I guess we will wait and see tomorrow?

iPhonefanSince2G, the production date on my phone was week 27, so what that's july 7th?

Wow i wonder why it sometimes changes to 0.25 and sometimes 1.75 as Edmund Pirali said earlier it could be to do something with the MEMORY Well All I hope is tomorrow they do address this problem 😟 and they should come up with a solution

My phone still has the proximity sensor issue. I don't believe it is any better.

Apple please at least give us some information on what you are going to do and when to resolve this issue!!!!! If you can't fix it just yet, then at least let us know the truth and what you are doing about it.

If I do not hear any news about the proximity sensor issue, then I will be returning my phone before my 30 days are up!!! I really do not want to return it, but I don't want to get stuck with it the way it is.

I really think a bunch of people are having this issue but just don't know why - or have no clue that what is going on has something to do with something called a proximity sensor. I can tell you I personally thought I was doing something wrong the first few times it happened. It wasn't until I saw a post on Engadget about the proximity sensor bug reports that I figured out it wasn't just me (or the antenna). My bet is that a large number of folks are just assuming its the antenna when its just their face causing their calls to drop off.

I think acknowledging the proximity sensor issue tomorrow would help mitigate the antenna issue backlash. Apple can legitimately say that the antenna design isn't causing at least a good portion of the iPhone 4 dropped calls - rather its just the proximity sensor. A simple way to put everyone's mind at ease.

Of course, this assumes that the proximity sensor bug is easier to fix than the actual antenna issue....

Ok, I have pretty much heard and seen enough. No more false hope. If they don't say anything about this specifically tomorrow in the press conference, I am convinced that this is in hardware and is just the make up of the phone. I will be returning mine and NOT recommending the phone to anybody else. I am counting on you Apple. I hope you do the right thing.

Dear RyeDarrow

It is defenetely not a software issue as I metioned. It is too sensetive when you aproach the area. It turns LCD on. If by software they could lower the snsitivity it would not allow LCD comes on ( the oposite effect ) and then we would not be able to type or put on mute when we want.
Thanks you finally admited I am right.
I suggest both redesign and aslo possibly change the sensor curcut. This is the only way. But at least Redesign. The position of the sensor is MORE important than sensitivity since it must work both ways : Turn LCD on and Off.
Explaining again : If the sensor has the same sensitivity and the sensor would be at the Home Button area , when we try to put the finger on the glass the LCD goes off and we would not be then be able to put the call on hold , mute and etc.( oposite effect to what we have now ) . The diagram and algorithm of sensitivity ( not simple sensitivity ) and the position of the sensor MUST be changed to fix the problem.
The rest is Sales speaches and baseless Hopes.

4.0.1 still the same. Getting ****** now.

I downloaded 4.01 today and it solved my problem!! After 15 plus calls still no problem.

Dear Michael:

With respect. The first distance that the proximity sensor appears to detect a face is around 1.75" away from the display. At that point the sensor is less sensitive. For some reason it becomes more sensitive as the face gets near the display. Why does it gain sensitivity all of a sudden? Why does the sensitivity change (increase)? Why does the sensitivity change (memory effect) as the face moves near and away from the display? It is possible that Apple actually has two circuits. One circuit to detect the face (proximity sensor circuit) and another circuit that controlls the voltage to the display (turns it on and off). The software obtains the voltage from the proximity detection circuit (it would be a # value) and then decides at what voltage level (distance) to turn the display on or off. Therefore, they could be controlling the process with a combination of hardware and software. This method would allow Apple to turn off the display at other times as may be needed.

For example, the display brightness is controlled by a combination of hardware and software. Users set the brightness level via the "Settings" option and it controls the voltage to the display backlight or etc. So the software in the IPhone controls the brightness level (electronic display) based upon the user setting.

This type of design makes sense.

I guess the bottom line is that Apple is in control. They already know ir can determine what the real cause is. All of us can create theory after theory and not fix it. Apple needs to step it up and let us know what is going on.

Message was edited by: TrentP

I said the same thing when I downloaded the update. An hour later I started face dialing and hanging up again.

Apple could easily solve this question for us. They could just tell us if this update contains any modifications for the proximity sensor issues or not. We could then at least decide on an individual basis if that change is working or not.

It appears that they have not made any changes in the software update. The million dollar question is can they improve this via software or not.



So far Apple has allowed our thoughts and anger to run wild. The answer is that Apple can resolve it, can't resolve it, doesn't feel it is a problem or just does not care. We deserve an answer quickly. Maybe in a few hours we will have it. If they can resolve it, then we deserve to know when.

Well at least our efforts are not totally being ignored

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/iphone-4-users-wage-proximity-sen sor-issue-campaign/