Not sure how to explain this but will try. On the front of the Photon at the top just above the "motorola" word there is a center speaker. On the right of the speaker is the led cirlce. But on the left of the "motorola" word there are two other openings.
Does anyone know what these are for? I am almost possitive that I saw one of them flash a red quickly but I don't know why or remember what I was doing in order to duplicate it.
I am just curious. On a side note...download "light flow" and you can control your led lights to alert you in different colors for different notifications.
Thanks..
I believe you are talking about the light sensor and the proximity sensor. The one that detects how bright to keep the LCD and the one that detects whether to black the screen when you're in a call...
anoroc44 said:
Not sure how to explain this but will try. On the front of the Photon at the top just above the "motorola" word there is a center speaker. On the right of the speaker is the led cirlce. But on the left of the "motorola" word there are two other openings.
Does anyone know what these are for? I am almost possitive that I saw one of them flash a red quickly but I don't know why or remember what I was doing in order to duplicate it.
I am just curious. On a side note...download "light flow" and you can control your led lights to alert you in different colors for different notifications.
Thanks..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One is a light sensor, and the other is a proximity sensor (tells the phone your cheek is close so it turns the screen off when you're on a phone call)
Sent from my MoPho using the XDA Premium app
21productionz said:
One is a light sensor, and the other is a proximity sensor (tells the phone your cheek is close so it turns the screen off when you're on a phone call)
Sent from my MoPho using the XDA Premium app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, now that makes perfict sense to me. This is my first android phone ever so I have been trying to figure out all the ends and out of this thing.
I can confirm that at certain times of the day the light sensor shows a faint red light.
anoroc44 said:
Ok, now that makes perfict sense to me. This is my first android phone ever so I have been trying to figure out all the ends and out of this thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You picked a good device for your first android phone. Have fun =D
Sent from my MoPho using the XDA Premium app
gollyzila said:
I can confirm that at certain times of the day the light sensor shows a faint red light.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I was crazy, or someone was trying to crash me in my walking pattern with a lazer or something... DAMN kids... Welcome to the Android community!
Pew! Pew! Pew! From my Mo-Pho!
http://android-gz.com
gollyzila said:
I can confirm that at certain times of the day the light sensor shows a faint red light.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the proximity sensor, light sensors don't emit light. When it detects a reflection, it knows something is close to the phone such as a face or pocket.
phatmanxxl said:
That's the proximity sensor, light sensors don't emit light. When it detects a reflection, it knows something is close to the phone such as a face or pocket.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, and normally it only comes on (i.e. you can see the faint red light) when you're in a call.
Related
anyone have info on which colors the led will display and is there only one?
Maybe a dev could get something like the Wimax notifier working for the 3d.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
evohog said:
anyone have info on which colors the led will display and is there only one?
Maybe a dev could get something like the Wimax notifier working for the 3d.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not 100% sure but i think there is only one led in our e3d's
Cool, gotta see which colors it has. I discovered the led on the opposite side of my EVO by putting an extended tp2 battery in it. It lit up to tell me I screwed up and wasted 50 bucks ...LOL...
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA Premium App
Just shined a flashlight through the grill and it looks like there's one on the other side.
FROM MY DDD-EVO
Well it displays red and green for charging and someone told me it does blue as well, so it's probably a multicolored LED and will be able to do any color.
I'm wondering too. All I want is blue lol. But now it uses the right led and its much brighter is this the Wimax led? But there's also another led across from it, what that for? And the sensor thing on the left side, is that the brightness sensor? I'm all confused lol!
EDIT: I just tried Chomp, blue light won't work just flashes green. Tried Handcent and it doesn't even have color options.
Sent in 3D fashion
The online sprint evo 3d users guide just mentions solid green & red and flashing green & red. There might be a way to light them both at the same time to get yellow.
Are you sure that other is an LED or the front facing camera? I have a Evo 3D and I only see one LED.
Take a flashlight and look in the left corner of the speaker grill, there looks like another led.
Also I've tried GO sms and when changing the les color to blue, when you test it, the les very quickly flashes blue then just green. Potential??
Sent in 3D fashion
The other LED you are seeing is the infrared emitter/sensor combo that detects when your face is close to the headset to shut off the screen.
Tried blink and it works but only in green.
FROM MY DDD-EVO
darkflame said:
The other LED you are seeing is the infrared emitter/sensor combo that detects when your face is close to the headset to shut off the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh I see O_O
Sent in 3D fashion
well if it can display R B and G then I don't see any issues with getting more colors down the line?
but I may be an idiot.
on second thought, I am an idiot...
but am i wrong? haha
Alanmw86 said:
well if it can display R B and G then I don't see any issues with getting more colors down the line?
but I may be an idiot.
on second thought, I am an idiot...
but am i wrong? haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really hate to say it but I think so I've tried everything for a blue light and can't get one
Sent in 3D fashion
I have the Cnet mobile review app on my iPod and the third picture down it really looks like there is a notification led! Probaly just light effects when they took the pic but I just found I should share this.
corey_r said:
I have the Cnet mobile review app on my iPod and the third picture down it really looks like there is a notification led! Probaly just light effects when they took the pic but I just found I should share this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it light up? The common confusion is the proximity sensor (or front facing camera) looks very much like a LED at the top except it doesn't give out light
foxbat121 said:
Does it light up? The common confusion is the proximity sensor (or front facing camera) looks very much like a LED at the top except it doesn't give out light
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should qualify that with "visible light" since technically the proximity sensor does emit IR light. Of course, even then visible is more a technical term than a literal one since some people can see the IR light emitted, too.
It really looks like it's lit up.
There is no notification LED.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
NoLED to the rescue!
Sadly, there is not LED. HOWEVER, there is a very need app in the store called NoLED. What it essentially does is display dots (or icons) on the screen. And since in our case the note has AMOLED displays it will not consume energy for the black background. I used this app on my SGS2 and loved it. It's a bit buggy at times though!!
hope this helps
I woke up to find this red light on the top left of my screen looking at me. If that light wasn't on i would have not never seen it.
Looking under a bright light there appears to be an LED there. It's use I have no clue. It's not in the users guide. Maybe its there to tell if DHS is monitoring you.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
My thoughts exactly
Is that right next to the proximity sensor or is that the proximity sensor?
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Nope the proximity sensor is right next to it. Could it be a roaming led?
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Hmmm. It's not a roaming led cause I'm roaming right now and it's not on. Weird.
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
drummerb said:
I woke up to find this red light on the top left of my screen looking at me. If that light wasn't on i would have not never seen it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Government's electronic spies. They are to monitor your activities. This phone was kept in customs remember?
It's part of the proximity sensor, the led is an ir diode. The led beams ir light toward your head and the sensor picks up the reflectance of the signal bouncing back off. See the attached diagram.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
UltimatePG said:
It's part of the proximity sensor, the led is an ir diode. The led beams ir light toward your head and the sensor picks up the reflectance of the signal bouncing back off. See the attached diagram.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So its some sort of cover for mind control? Or to prevent the apple signals to penetrate our head
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
UltimatePG said:
It's part of the proximity sensor, the led is an ir diode. The led beams ir light toward your head and the sensor picks up the reflectance of the signal bouncing back off. See the attached diagram.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IR LED's should not emit visible light. Just saying. The Op's is looks illuminated in the photo. But yes it is the emitter for the proximity sensor. Could be a dual LED package. Would have to see if there is a parts list available, then look up the part to see.
kf2m said:
IR LED's should not emit visible light. Just saying. The Op's is looks illuminated in the photo. But yes it is the emitter for the proximity sensor. Could be a dual LED package. Would have to see if there is a parts list available, then look up the part to see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's illuminating the diode casing externally with visible light.
Edit: Also, CCD sensors in cameras are able to pick up IR signal as well. Record a video of any irLED on a remote control while pushing the buttons, you'll see it light up on camera.
I noticed the same light on my phone when the front cam is activated for the Face Unlock, it could be an IR emitter to help the front cam in low-light scenarios...
But it was totally dark in the room.
I'll resurrect this. I just woke up this morning and saw this same VERY DIM red light in that spot. It's visible light, not catching light from something else. I'm running down my first charge. It was dead when I bought it (had to put it on charger for 5 minutes just to get it to power on to activate at the store) and then I charged it to 100% overnight, took it off yesterday and left it all day and all night, I'm now at 13%. I figured it would be a power notification, but it's certainly not useful for notifying of anything at this brightness.
When I try to take a pic of it it shows up very brightly illuminated just like in the OP's photo, FWIW. I'm not convinced that it isn't some sort of notification light that just isn't active yet (I never saw the cyan/amber light on my OG Evo until I installed Deck's AOSP over a year into the contract and it started lighting up for notifications). Curious as to what this one is for.
SilverZero said:
I'll resurrect this. I just woke up this morning and saw this same VERY DIM red light in that spot. It's visible light, not catching light from something else. I'm running down my first charge. It was dead when I bought it (had to put it on charger for 5 minutes just to get it to power on to activate at the store) and then I charged it to 100% overnight, took it off yesterday and left it all day and all night, I'm now at 13%. I figured it would be a power notification, but it's certainly not useful for notifying of anything at this brightness.
When I try to take a pic of it it shows up very brightly illuminated just like in the OP's photo, FWIW. I'm not convinced that it isn't some sort of notification light that just isn't active yet (I never saw the cyan/amber light on my OG Evo until I installed Deck's AOSP over a year into the contract and it started lighting up for notifications). Curious as to what this one is for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To put this to rest, some irLED diodes have a spectra that tail off in the visible region (around 750-800nm) with a peak at around 850nm (for Gallium Arsenide LED's). The visible portion of the emitted light would appear red (650 nm to 750 nm) and will appear dim due to the low emission at this wavelength range.
And again, a powered irLED will appear very bright when taking a picture of it with a digital camera due to sensitivity of CCD's toward infrared light.
Attached is a spectrum of two types of irLEDs, one emitting at a peak of 850nm.
Just be careful that it doesn't start saying things like "I am putting myself to the fullest possible use, which is all I think that any conscious entity can ever hope to do"
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
UltimatePG said:
To put this to rest, some irLED diodes have a spectra that tail off in the visible region (around 750-800nm) with a peak at around 850nm (for Gallium Arsenide LED's). The visible portion of the emitted light would appear red (650 nm to 750 nm) and will appear dim due to the low emission at this wavelength range.
And again, a powered irLED will appear very bright when taking a picture of it with a digital camera due to sensitivity of CCD's toward infrared light.
Attached is a spectrum of two types of irLEDs, one emitting at a peak of 850nm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See, now that makes sense.
SilverZero said:
See, now that makes sense.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
So drummer you hit things with sticks? Have a Roland TD-12 here.
Just noticed today, in darkness the proximity sensor is visible as a faint, but distinct, red light on the phone when its active. Anyone else noticed this? Maybe mine has a faulty sensor.
If you activate the sensor, by making a call in darkness (or opening a text message, if you have direct call on) and looking above the sensor, do others have this visible light?
I've seen other people mention other models using near-IR as opposed to actual IR for the sensor, but I haven't seen anyone mention it for the S3 (which is surprising considering how popular it already is) which makes me think it could be just mine.
I am pretty sure it's not a fault, mine does it too.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA
Proximity sensor uses infrared which is the same light your tv remote uses.
You can't see infrared but due to technical reasons there are always a few light particles emitted / reflected as visible dark-red light.
It's the same as with ultraviolet (darklight); you can't see UV but it still glows faintly dark-purplish.
Cool thanks. I thought so. Very relieved all the same.
It was more worrying when it seemed to be there all the time when the screen was on (I had a message open at the time!)... It didn't even occur to me it might be the proximity sensor, since I forgot about direct call which was obviously activating it.
Anyone know if there some advantage to visible ones? I've seen ones before that aren't. Are visible ones more sensitive? Or cheaper?
d4fseeker said:
Proximity sensor uses infrared which is the same light your tv remote uses.
You can't see infrared but due to technical reasons there are always a few light particles emitted / reflected as visible dark-red light.
It's the same as with ultraviolet (darklight); you can't see UV but it still glows faintly dark-purplish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know remotes etc. emit very small amounts of visible light (I remember my fascination at 12 when I found this out ). But this is a lot stronger than I've ever seen on a remote. Were it as weak as a remote, I probably wouldn't have even noticed.
Hmm, usually non-visible IR should be less expensive since the wavelength is longer, however due to manufacturing it could still be slightly visible.
Near-IR could be more accurate since under direct sunlight you'll have tons of IR-light so the sensor could mistake it for your ear reflecting the light in certain conditions. Slight changes in the specutrum might prevent this from happening.
Does it really bother you? Because the proximity sensor is only on when you're on the phone in which case I usually keep it on my ear or in my pocket =)
[Edit]
Also, IR remotes should be quite a bit less light-intensive. They only need to pulse a light which the receiver captures while this one needs to illuminate your ear so the receptor can decide how far it is.
Compare it to holding a tealight candle to show others that you're there vs using a torchlight to illuminate the path for thm.
My proximity sensor is lit up all the time. Even when the screen is off. I only just noticed it now and did a search on Google. Does it sounds like it might be faulty? It wouldn't have any need to keep it on all the time and it would drain a small amount of power right?
Jaisah said:
My proximity sensor is lit up all the time. Even when the screen is off. I only just noticed it now and did a search on Google. Does it sounds like it might be faulty? It wouldn't have any need to keep it on all the time and it would drain a small amount of power right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have have the latest version of Viber installed? If so try uninstalling it
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
do you have viber? if yes, then that's the one causing it.. the latest update has this bug..
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Oh, you're right. I force stopped Viber and the light went away straight away. Soooo, I kinda wanna keep Viber, will it damage the proximity sensor if it stays lit? Will it effect my battery life significantly?
i dont know if it will cause damage.. but it will cause battery drain.. but not that much.. if you charge your phone at least once a day, then you should be fine.. and besides, a lot of people have already reported it to the devs, so im sure they will fix it in no time..
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Found other similar posts in Q&A. I have to cover the light sensor or be in pitch black to get the buttons to light up. Anyone else? One guy already swapped for a new phone but same problem.
Yep its pretty much hit and miss with this phone. I had to exchange my first one for a different issue, but the capacitive buttons on both don't light up unless in really low light. Personally I like this as I would turn button backlights off with CM based Roms on other phones. I know where the buttons are, don't need them to light up.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
I was wondering the same thing. Mine only light up in very low light or dark. Unless there is a control for it, it is a bug
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda premium
I'm not so sure it is a bug. It seems equally possible that they only turn on in extremely low light by design. HTC might assume (and rightfully) that you know where the buttons are after a while and don't need them illuminated unless it is dark enough to not see the phone very well or at all.
Personally, I'm glad they don't light up a lot. I know where they are, I can see them fine in low light and I don't like when capacitive buttons are always shinning at me when I don't need them.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW
I think it is a battery saving feature. Why would you need them on in the light anyway. They are not invisible like on the note 2.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda premium
rupret27 said:
I think it is a battery saving feature. Why would you need them on in the light anyway. They are not invisible like on the note 2.
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree but I have still wondered about it. Sometimes mine won't light up at all in dark. But not bothering enough to take it back lol
Sent from my HTC6435LVW using xda app-developers app
mgladden2 said:
Found other similar posts in Q&A. I have to cover the light sensor or be in pitch black to get the buttons to light up. Anyone else? One guy already swapped for a new phone but same problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got the same problem. The phone has a problem. I installed AndroSensor on the dna and my razr. The dna consistently gives me false readings. If there's any light at all it gives a 200 lux reading. If you are in total darkness it will reset. That's why your work around works. The phone has a light sensor that, either by design or defect, doesn't differentiate light levels between 2 to 200 lux. It defaults to the higher figure and the cpu apparently uses this figure to shut the lights down.
Personally, I find this to be a little too convoluted to be an energy saving design. I believe it's a bug that a future update will deal with.
Same here. Also.........they arent bright enough!! Lol we need a mod for this. Ill get right on it.
RATTLED FROM MY ONE XL USING ICS TAPATALK 2
Mine light up all the time no matter how dark or light it is. They always seem to work on my end.
WilliamStern said:
Mine light up all the time no matter how dark or light it is. They always seem to work on my end.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well mine work, just has to b pretty dark. Btw, theres an app in the one xl forums to dim, or turn off completely that works for our DNA. Ill link u guys to it.
RATTLED FROM MY ONE XL USING ICS TAPATALK 2
Anyone who consistently uses the phone in a dimly lit room will want it fixed. I watch movies with a single low-watt lamp on, and I like to use the phone periodically. Having the lights off means that every third button press doesn't land exactly on the capacitive part. If I force the lights on by covering the sensor, I never miss. There's very little play on the sensor area, so you either land perfectly or not at all. Definitely looking forward to a fix. I just hope it's not a hardware glitch that can't detect 2 to 200 lux.