Proximity sensor

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A proximity sensor is a sensor able to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact.

A proximity sensor often emits an

A proximity sensor adjusted to a very short range is often used as a touch switch.

Use with smartphones and tablet computers

Proximity sensors are commonly used on mobile devices.^[1] When the target is within nominal range, the device lock screen user interface will appear, thus emerging from what is known as sleep mode. Once the device has awoken from sleep mode, if the proximity sensor's target is still for an extended period of time, the sensor will then ignore it, and the device will eventually revert into sleep mode. For example, during a telephone call, proximity sensors play a role in detecting (and skipping) accidental touchscreen taps when mobiles are held to the ear.^[2]

Proximity

• 
  The pulsing proximity sensor of a BlackBerry Leap
• Video of the pulsing proximity sensor of a BlackBerry Leap

Types of sensors

• Capacitive
• Capacitive displacement sensor
• Doppler effect (sensor based on doppler effect)
• Inductive
• magnetic proximity fuse
• Optical
  • Photoelectric
  • Photocell
    (reflective)
  • Laser rangefinder
  • Passive (such as charge-coupled devices)
  • Passive thermal infrared
• Radar
• Reflection of ionizing radiation
• Sonar (typically active or passive)
• Ultrasonic sensor
• Fiber optics sensor
• Hall effect sensor

Applications

• Parking sensors
  , systems mounted on car bumpers that sense distance to nearby cars for parking
• Inductive sensors
• Ground proximity warning system for aviation safety
• Vibration measurements of rotating shafts in machinery^{[citation needed]}
• Top dead centre (TDC)/camshaft sensor in reciprocating engines.
• Sheet break sensing in paper machine.
• Anti-aircraft warfare
• Roller coasters
• Conveyor systems
• Beverage and food can making lines
• Mobile devices
  • Touch screens that come in close proximity to the face^[2]
  • Attenuating radio power in close proximity to the body, in order to reduce
    radiation exposure^[3]
• Automatic faucets

See also

• Motion detector
• Occupancy sensor
• Range imaging
• Time of flight detector

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Proximity sensors.