Android Question Proximity sensor

[luke2012]

Hi to all !

I'm trying to implement a screen management within a phone app.
My target is to switch off the screen when the user put the phone near the ear and switch on when put off the phone from ear.

Sub Process Global
    Dim ps As PhoneSensors
End Sub

Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)
    If FirstTime Then
      ps.Initialize(ps.TYPE_PROXIMITY)
      ps.StartListening("ps")
    End If
End Sub

Sub ps_SensorChanged (Values() As Float)
   Log(Values(0))
   If Values(0)=0 Then 
        Log("Screen switch off")
        phoneWS.ReleaseKeepAlive
   Else 
        Log("Screen switch on")
        phoneWS.KeepAlive(True)
   End If
End Sub

I'm running the code to handle the sensor but I it doesn't work as expected : the screen switch on / off isn't excuted.
Any Ideas?

 

[NJDude]

Does the device you are testing your code on has a proximity sensor?, I tested your code and it works on my phone.

 

[luke2012]

Does the device you are testing your code on has a proximity sensor?, I tested your code and it works on my phone.

Yes! I can see the Values of the sensor in the log.

So on your device the screen is switched off when you put the phone near your ear?

 

[NJDude]

Well, that is weird, on my phone I can see the screen go dim and bright if I get near or step away.

 

[ivanomonti]

App non c'è

 

[luke2012]

The sensor listening works fine on my device (Nexus 4 - Android JB 4.3).
In debug mode I can see the values of the prox. sensor in realtime.

What I don't able to do is switch off and switch on the screen on demand in the "Sub ps_SensorChanged".

The methods "phoneWS.ReleaseKeepAlive" and "phoneWS.KeepAlive(True)" (see the code above) do nothing on my device (Android 4.3).

 

[Erel]

KeepAlive will do nothing if the user turns off the screen. PartialLock will keep the CPU running (it is not clear whether the sensors will keep working or not).

 

[luke2012]

So how to solve this problem?

I can monitor the prox. sensor but I cannot disable / enable the touchscreen on demand :-(

 

[Erel]

Have you tried PartialLock?

 

[luke2012]

Have you tried PartialLock?

No I'll try!
So the PartialLock method switch off the screen but allow let the foreground app running ?

Thanks 4 your reply

 

[luke2012]

Have you tried PartialLock?

Erel,
I tried also PartialLock but doesn't work (no error, do nothing).

I have Android 4.3 (Nexus 4).

 

[Erel]

You should put your code in a service for it to work in the background.

 

[luke2012]

You should put your code in a service for it to work in the background.

You mean that I have to put the sensor listening code within the service module ?

 

[Erel]

Yes.

 

[luke2012]

Thanks Erel! I'll try.

But the real need is handle the screen dim and bright while the App is in the foreground.
I don't undersand why we have to put the code in the service ?

 

[luke2012]

Well, that is weird, on my phone I can see the screen go dim and bright if I get near or step away.

NJDude thanks for your feedback!
Can I ask you some info about the environment where the code was executed ?

Android version, B4A Version, Special permissions ?
The App have only the main module?

 

[Erel]

If the activity is not paused when you need the sensors events then you do not need a service.