Proximity Sensor

[cmajpwc]

Sometimes when I remove the phone from my ear, it doesn't turn the screen back on. So I put it up to my face, then remove it, and it only turns on the backlight at a VERY low level. Almost as if it was the minimal backlight available to the screen (it could be, but I have auto backlight on, and it's ALWAYS brighter that that). The only way to get it to light up normally again is if I hit the End key and lock the phone and turn it back on. Anyone else having this problem? 2.1 OTA.

 

[Podivin]

Try pressing the volume button. I know that works on my phone to un-blank the screen when the proximity sensor has done it's thing. Maybe it will also work to fully wake your screen.

 

[doogald]

I think that you can press the trackball to turn the display back on as well while you are in a call.

 

[pminter]

I have the same problem and searched to see if this question had been asked before. I do not see any reply as to whether the solutions worked or not?? I guess I will try the them the next time my screen is not visible when I remove it from my face. It is does work, I will come back and post on here so others with the problem will know.

 

[teddyballgame]

I too have the phantom phone which doesn't light up occasionally when you pull it away from the ear. The trackball and volume buttons don't turn the lights on either I've noticed. I called VZW to complain and the example I gave them was I couldn't take their survey after the phone call b/c I wouldn't be able to type in the codes as the phone does not light up. I'm on my 3rd Eris as well... I never did get anywhere with VZW on this one, but I did notice on my refurbished unit there is one dead pixel in the top left of the screen when viewing facebook photos. Have a good one!

 

[cmajpwc]

The volume button worked for me. If it doesn't light up during a phone call that always works. If not, I put it back up to my face and remove it again after a short period of time, maybe 10 to 15 seconds.

 

[Slugdoc]

When that happens to me, I tap the sensor briefly with my finger. Works.


Sucks that the phone doesn't just work as designed, though.

 

[Frisco]

The sensor area needs to be kept free of dirt, grease, sweat, etc in order to function properly.

Wipe it off regularly to eliminate the most common cause of issues with it.

 

[thenestor]

My issue with the proximity sensor is that I don't like its substitute: the END button. I'm always afraid to hit the END button to try waking up the screen because I suspect the screen will wake up right before I hit it, and as a result I'll accidentally disconnect the call.

Others have suggested hitting the trackball to wake up the screen while on a call, but on my phone that's never worked. If the proximity sensor isn't responding, only the END button wakes up my screen during a call.

 

[cmajpwc]

My issue with the proximity sensor is that I don't like its substitute: the END button. I'm always afraid to hit the END button to try waking up the screen because I suspect the screen will wake up right before I hit it, and as a result I'll accidentally disconnect the call.

Others have suggested hitting the trackball to wake up the screen while on a call, but on my phone that's never worked. If the proximity sensor isn't responding, only the END button wakes up my screen during a call.

I tired hitting the end button if it didn't light up... it ended the call even though the screen was completely black. Huh. This intrigues me how different things work to fix this issue on different phones.

 

[Frisco]

This intrigues me how different things work to fix this issue on different phones.

You hit on one of my pet theories about the Eris, having to do with lack of quality control at the manufacturing and assembly plants.

 

[andrizoid]

You hit on one of my pet theories about the Eris, having to do with lack of quality control at the manufacturing and assembly plants.

ya, if you look at mos of the "bugs" on the eris, most of them can be traced back to hardware issues.

even things like overclocking can attribute to your theory...why some phones crap out at 710Mhz and others can go to 806 w/o an issue.

im lucky to have gotten a phone w/o any hardware defects, though recently the trackball shotting to the left has reared its head again-same reason i got the first refurb and was able to root -but it only happens when im charging, something that i cant remember if it was the case on my first eris.

 

[ThomasSW]

Seems to work if you touch the screen to your face while talking.

 

[rick311]

with 1.5 my sensor worked flawlessly. i use a headset most of the time and when the screen would go black i would press the track ball and it would light up instantly.

now, 2.1 it seems like sometimes it wont light up when i pull it away from my face. i notice the oil from my face on there all too often. so i just wipe it off on my shirt and *poof*, its back on! trackball trick works 20% of the time.

mostly just hit the volume button to get it to turn on.

 

[dirtmouth]

ya, if you look at mos of the "bugs" on the eris, most of them can be traced back to hardware issues.

even things like overclocking can attribute to your theory...why some phones crap out at 710Mhz and others can go to 806 w/o an issue.

im lucky to have gotten a phone w/o any hardware defects, though recently the trackball shotting to the left has reared its head again-same reason i got the first refurb and was able to root -but it only happens when im charging, something that i cant remember if it was the case on my first eris.

my trackball started that way at first, then it happened without even being on a charger 2.1v3 , i too then was able to get a warranty phone free due to HW issue. I shortly rooted after that and must say im glad i did. flashed a great rom and now love it. THANK YOU DEVS!!!

 

[FunnyBunny]

I had the same issue with my Eris, and it only started after the 2.1 OTA. My 2.1 refurb has the same issue.

I loved the Eris at 1.5... but have had enough. My replacement Droid is coming tomorrow; the Eris has too many issues.

 

[zebug]

volume button worked for me, nothing else has. I keep that sensor area clean as can be too. Sometimes just placing my thumb over the sensor and then moving my thumb would make it turn on (similar to putting the phone to your face technique). But the sure fire way (on my phone anyway) is the volume button.

 

[Puddlejumpernva]

I agree. The volume button is the best way to bring the screen back once it has gone dark and lighting up the prox sensor doesn't do the trick. If the lock screen does activate while on a call though, I have recovered several times by pushing the end call button while using the phone and it doesn't hang up. (Only works if it has locked/gone to sleep, not just turned off the display)