BEngHonoursin E&I Sensors and TransducersM2H622266

The physical construction of the proximity sensor, its characteristics and working principle of i-phone 4

1. Physical construction

Proximity sensors of the mobile phones are capacitive sensors that are able to detect both metal and nonmetal things and they are  generally constructed of capacitive proximity sensor are plate, output circuit, oscillator and a threshold detector. When the person comes near the field of the sensor, it works to stop the works of the touch screen. Capacitance is raised when the object comes close and it is reduced when the object goes away.

2. Characteristics

A proximity sensor is characterized with its ability to recognize the existence of an object within a certain detection range which is specified according to the device abilities and the sensor boundaries, the sensor can recognize the person when the mobile phone is near his ear or face with certain distance, then the sensor can stop the work of keys of the mobile phone and other touching screen jobs in order to prevent turning the keys off or doing any unwanted actions that occur by touch. Proximity sensors include many types of sensors such as those found in mobile phones especially smart phones such as iphone 4. It depends on the physical contact in its operation. Manufacturers use proximity sensors in a commercial purpose which is raising the efficiency of the smart phone to attract more customers to buy it.

3. Working principle

The principle that proximity sensors work according to is its emitting for a beam or an electromagnetic radiation which is usually infrared, then the sensor works to detect the existence of changes in the field and if it doesn't find, the signal is returned by it. When the object is found, the sensor begins its operation. The found thing is called the proximity sensor's target.  There is a specific distance where the sensor can detect humans or things and it has a maximum known as the nominal range. There are sensors that are adjusted to the nominal range by a certain distance for detection. As proximity sensors don't have mechanical parts or physical contact with the sensed object, they are able to last for long time working properly. 

Result

A proximity sensor is a type of sensors that can be found in applications such as iphone 4 and it is using a detection process for objects or human found within the detection field and within the sensor's boundaries. The proximity sensor is based on the non contact detection which is different from other sensors. It can be helpful when the users of the iphone are talking and they don't fear the work of the touch screen such as turning the phone off or doing any relevant actions. Proximity sensors are accurate in detection jobs and they add extra commercial values to the product they are added to. The only disadvantage they have is the limited area of detection they sense. Proximity sensors are important for mobile phones manufacturers who consider them very important applications as many users of iphone look for such application so it is considered a commercial and an industrial success. 

  

Analysis and Discussion

A sensor is a device which works by receiving signals and sending certain signals which are used to express the needed task such as light, voice, sounds or motion. The sensor's job is turning the signal to a digital representation or to analog that represents the output. There are many different conditions that sensors work according to the specific job they are assigned to. Proximity sensors are set mainly for detection purposes. They work to convert the signals into readable outputs. The proximity sensors are not including mechanical parts or missions as they only use signals.

The type of sensors used to enhance the efficiency of iphone 4 is the capacitive sensors as they can detect both metallic and non metallic objects. This means that any smart phone can bear the capability of having a proximity sensor. Targeting motions is meant to be the basis of using this sensor in mobile phones.

The sensitivity of the capacitive proximity sensor and the application uses it can be measured by a method prepared mainly for this purpose, the application is iphone4. For tuning sensor placement, 2D sensor data plots were used and found more accurate but a 3D sensor data plots were found to be more effective for comparing sensors according to their efficiency and intensity as the differences between sensors used by many applications are shown and declared. Sensitivity measurements are important to measure the level of performance of the sensors. The phone is used by the users holding it with many possible ways and the sensor can work when the user is talking or browsing tasks. The sensor is physical sensitive and working in electric fields. Many modifications can be made for sensors of the mobile phones as most people look for new versions and updates of the iphone they have and issuing a new update of the mobile phone means that there is an improvement in the sensor applications. Thermal stress analysis can be done for other types of proximity sensors such as the inductive proximity sensors. Element analysis also can be made by the finite element method.

Conclusion and Future Work

In conclusion, it is important to report that sensors are widely used in many applications of computers and mobile phones especially those smart phones such as iphone4 which uses sensors for doing many tasks in the mobile that raise its efficiency and meets the needs of the customers. Proximity sensors are sensors that use signals in a way that is meant to detect the face of people talking or browsing the iphone 4 application screen in order to stop the touch screen work until the person goes away as the sensors send the signals and the function of the touch screen is delayed. Sensors are considered a commercial helping factor that manufacturers focus on in order to use them in new innovated applications that are helpful to the person and the society and provides welfare and luxury options in mobile phones. More future work is needed to enrich the literature review about this topic which is sensors and this future work can mainly depend on researches, questionnaires, surveys and discussions with the customers in order to measure their satisfaction with the application. Sensors have a long time validity but they soon can be updated to new versions which can be able to extend the field where detection process is occurring. More modifications can be added to the device in order to enhance its capabilities and raise its efficiency and abilities of performing the jobs required to be done by him. More studies will also be helpful in the field of sensors. Many researches should be conducted with different ways of analyzing the data collected about the use of inductive proximity sensors.