Issue with Proximity Sensor during calls - Continued.

Just got back from exchange #3 and it was rather interesting.
First, the genius (real nice guy) knew the issue right away. He then went and got an iP4 from a co worker in the back and proceeded to use a micro flashlight and shined it onto the co worker's and my iP4 side by side. The glass on the co workers was lighter in color. He then pulled out an exchange for me and examined them both again, then another. Both replacements were as dark as mine. Then, a manager chimed in that said a software update was coming to fix it. Genius said "my hands are tied". I tested the new one. I could not get it to misbehave by calling 611. Took it home, set up as new phone, updated to 4.0.1 and made a lengthy call. The issue is still there when I use my left side/ ear but I would honestly say it's better than the first two. Certainly when holding it "normally" on mr right side. The call was at least 15 minutes and I could only get the screen to act up on ly left side and when perched in my left shoulder (same as always).
So, in summary, I'd have to conclude that NEW iP4s are shipping with lighter front glass. And that hopefully, a firmware update will fix both "darker" and "lighter" glass models.
If not, I swap it out again until I get a lighter one.
I guess they guy sort of "showed their cards" re: a hardware fix, as I haven't read anyone else chime in about this.... and so it goes.

This is a hardware problem. How do I know? Well, the genius at the apple store told me it was when he handed me my second, but still not working iPhone.

Now is there a workaround for this problem? Let me see, how about 2 seconds after a call is connected the screen shuts off and doesn't turn on again until we hit the home button (2 taps on the home button takes you to home screen.). After turning screen on, it stays on until I hit home button again. If screen is off when call ends, screen turns on again. Does this fix the broken hardware problem? No , but it works around it, kinda like a bumper case. By the way, someone make an app that allows me to do this and I'll pay $50 for it.

As for new phones, im taking mine back on Monday, and I'm taking a led flashlight with me to check the new one i get. I am also going to make sure I am not getting a refurbished phone. I mean, i bought a phone from apple, not the apple outlet store.

Please just give me a phone that I can talk to other people on. I mean, my 1991 motorola brick did that.

What city/state are you in?

chotty1 wrote:
Just got back from exchange #3 and it was rather interesting.
First, the genius (real nice guy) knew the issue right away. He then went and got an iP4 from a co worker in the back and proceeded to use a micro flashlight and shined it onto the co worker's and my iP4 side by side. The glass on the co workers was lighter in color. He then pulled out an exchange for me and examined them both again, then another. Both replacements were as dark as mine. Then, a manager chimed in that said a software update was coming to fix it. Genius said "my hands are tied". I tested the new one. I could not get it to misbehave by calling 611. Took it home, set up as new phone, updated to 4.0.1 and made a lengthy call. The issue is still there when I use my left side/ ear but I would honestly say it's better than the first two. Certainly when holding it "normally" on mr right side. The call was at least 15 minutes and I could only get the screen to act up on ly left side and when perched in my left shoulder (same as always).
So, in summary, I'd have to conclude that NEW iP4s are shipping with lighter front glass. And that hopefully, a firmware update will fix both "darker" and "lighter" glass models.
If not, I swap it out again until I get a lighter one.
I guess they guy sort of "showed their cards" re: a hardware fix, as I haven't read anyone else chime in about this.... and so it goes.

B'ham, Alabama.

I hope a software should be able to fix this and THANK GOD at least apple acknowledged it as a problem and let's see when they are coming up with a fix I wonder how come media didn't ask for a release date I guess they were just so much more interested in the Antenna issue they really didn't even care about the proximity stuff that's why they didn't ask Apple about the Release date for the OS for proximity sensor issue

Once again, Apple can't begin to diagnose and solve the problem unless people call them and bring their phones in. It's clear something is wrong, but the engineers have to get a defective phone in their hands before they can figure out what's going on. It's ridiculous how many people come here and whine, but then do nothing productive. Call Apple Care and ask for a new phone. I did. My new phone is better, but still has the problem from time to time. In another week or so, if Apple hasn't come up with anything new, I'll call and ask them to take this one back too. I've got the extended warranty, so I can keep this up as long as they can. 🙂

Steve Jobs wasn't blowing smoke this morning -Apple <does> make it right. Give them a chance, and help them by taking defective phones back.

I have apt. on Saturday to return my phone. I hate to, but the proximity sensor issue is bad. Tonight I could hardly use it for the proximity issue.

Please everyone who is having problems with the proximity sensor start calling APPLE CARE so they can find out how serious the problem is I have already called them about 10 times and spoke to Senior adviser Please keep on calling them until this problem does get resolved

Apple-- I'm happy with the phone, but I am having an issue with cheek dialing, due to the proximity sensor not working properly. In the next iOS update could you add a function where if I press the top button twice, the screen turns off until it's double pressed again... Basically a proximity sensor override?

I may have figured something out. Maybe someone would like to try it.
All of a sudden my phone started acting up with the proximity problem worse than normal. I played around a bit and here is what I think I figured out.

- If I place the phone on my ear so that the speaker and prox sensor are over my ear canal.

- If I then move slide the phone (never taking it away from my ear) so that the speaker and prox sensor are on the upper part of my ear.

- If I then slide the phone (never taking it away from my ear) back so that the speaker and prox sensor are now over my ear canal.

After doing the steps above simply wiggling the phone and etc drives the display on and off like crazy. I never actually remove the phone from my ear. I just slide it between the positions above. The display goes crazy each time.

Now to make the phone work correctly I do the following:

- If I place the phone so that the speaker and prox sensor are over my ear canal.

- I can wiggle the phone around and the display never activates. It works just fine every time.

If you pull the phone away from tour face, then it will reset the prox sensor again. So for the tests above keep it placed on your face.

I am going to think about a little more, but I think I am going to return the phone Saturday.

TrentP, do you agree that what you describe sounds a lot like the findings I posted a couple pages back ( http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=11922918#11922918 )? I'm talking about the "experiment" that seems to upset so many people for no good reason.

Once you get the sensor "stuck" on zero activation distance, it will not respond to a slight gap properly until you "reset" it by completely removing all obstruction from in front of the sensor.

There's no way that's not a software issue.

Well, I just received my replacement phone from applecare, and on the first call I have already experienced the same issues with the proximity sensor. I called applecare again tonight, and they stated they've not heard of the problem before. It's a little frustrating to watch even Steve acknowledge the issue at the press conference today, then have tech support tell me they haven't heard of the issue.

So, the bottom line...I have found the iphone 4 to be a much better computer/media device (faster wifi, etc), but a worse phone due to the proximity sensor. I think I will be taking mine back tommorow, and wait a few months to see if there is a change in the manufactur process. maybe the white phones will be better?

Dear Aerodave:

I think that it is at least similar to what you posted. The only thing is the floating point you reference. I have found (I posted in the original thread Apple locked) about the memory effect and the average like method it uses. First place your hand/face at point X (lowest point) and move up to some higher point Y. The prox circuit will set the trigger point in the middle of X and Y. So it appears that the trigger point is changing, but the phone is actually applying some logic to it. The logic is just crazy.

So, if a person first places the phone at point X on their face and then adjusts the phone during the call slightly to point Y a new trigger point is set. This trigger point is a lesser distance (closer to the screen). Even if you move it back so that it is in the original position (like the ear canal) it turns the display back on, because the new trigger point is less. Your ear canal may be to large of a distance to trip the prox to turn of the display. Basically, it appears to act crazy.

I do not know why they set it up this way. I have always said that I think it is software related and not hardware.

TrentP wrote:
Dear Aerodave:

I think that it is at least similar to what you posted. The only thing is the floating point you reference. I have found (I posted in the original thread Apple locked) about the memory effect and the average like method it uses. First place your hand/face at point X (lowest point) and move up to some higher point Y. The prox circuit will set the trigger point in the middle of X and Y. So it appears that the trigger point is changing, but the phone is actually applying some logic to it. The logic is just crazy.

So, if a person first places the phone at point X on their face and then adjusts the phone during the call slightly to point Y a new trigger point is set. This trigger point is a lesser distance (closer to the screen). Even if you move it back so that it is in the original position (like the ear canal) it turns the display back on, because the new trigger point is less. Your ear canal may be to large of a distance to trip the prox to turn of the display. Basically, it appears to act crazy.

I do not know why they set it up this way. I have always said that I think it is software related and not hardware.

Hey there Trentp So do you think now apple would be able to Resolve this issue with a software ? Since they said they will try to on the next update which should be coming soon

So if Apple already knew about this problem at around the same time as the antenna issue, why was the fix not done in 4.0.1? I was hoping that once I'd done the upgrade that all known problems would have been 'fixed' or at the very least improved. How long do we now have to wait for 4.0.2?