When I'm on a call my screen turns off after X seconds. Half the time I can't get it to turn back on without pushing the on/off button, which I have set to terminate a phone call (because half the time I can't get the screen to turn back on). Is there a way to just turn this "feature" off?
In case it matters:
That setting is not available on all phones, but if it was it would be under: Home > Settings > Call Settings > [Display >] ...
Be sure that the power button does not end calls (Settings > Accessibility > Power Button ends call : make sure it is UNchecked)
Then just pull the phone away and press the power button to turn the screen on.
Are you sure that the screen goes off after X seconds? Android phones with proximity sensors usually turn off the screen when they are put on an ear. The Phone should automatically turn on the screen if you uncover the light/proximity sensor (e.g. by removing it from your ear). The Galaxy S does this and I suppose that the Vibrant does so too, because they are basically the same phone models. Other Android phones behave similar.
I am not sure if it's possible to disable this feature. Even if so, you would encounter another problem: Accidental pushing buttons on the touchscreen with parts of your face, which could lead to hang-ups.
I had been having exact same problem for a few months on my LG-P500, but have just fixed it. I found that the proximity sensor had gotten covered with dust as the screen cover had slightly lifted in the area of the proximity sensor. Once I cleaned it off it worked fine again.
You can disable the proximity sensor or simply go to call setting and you will find an option that reads keep screen awake.
I'm not quite sure how to turn the feature off but when I had my Droid Eris, it would do the same thing. I found that if I simply hit one of the volume buttons on the side, the screen would come back on without having to end the call.
I have noticed (while searching like mad to put my phone in a universal waterproof case for my handlebar, where the proximity sensor is hidden), that when the Bluetooth is on the screen stays on during a call.
Also, as Brian says here, when I'm on a ride with the "Strava" app running and I receive a call, the screen goes black, but if I press the "back" button, it goes back to Strava with the screen on.
I have the same problem of the screen dimming in my LG during a phone call. It matters because I have to sit and listen to really long conference calls, and I have to be ready to turn off Mute to answer a question.
I haven't found the settings that have been mentioned. My only work-around is to be in another app, and when I have to go to the phone, I click the call icon in the 'Second Screen.'
So, now I have one tap instead of 2 taps to wake the phone. That's a marginal improvement.
To keep the screen and disable the proximity sensor launch another program while on a phone call. The screen will remain on while the phone is against your ear.
If you enable the touchpad while the call is coming in, the screen will stay on even when the phone is pressed against your face. For instance, if you answer a Google Voice call and have to push "1" to pick up the call.
Of course, this will result in you repeatedly pressing the buttons with your face, causing GV to say "this call is being recorded" and possibly hang up, but hey, you asked for it.
02-09-2013 - When the screen goes dark (by factory default) while on a call can be very frustrating. I just purchased a new Samsung Galaxy Proclaim, an Android phone, and this solved the problem.
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Power Button ends call : make sure it is UNchecked
Then when the screen goes dark while you're on a call and you need for it to come back on for pressing prompt numbers, account numbers, or whatever....just press the power button to turn the screen on. Since you've unchecked the end call by pressing the power button...the screen will now come back on and will not end the call. Hope this helps.
I lived with this problem for a few months but eventually I hit my breaking point.
So I came up with a plan of my own:
does your device have shake your phone to activate camera feature? If so just shake phone then hit back button to get out of camera mode. Also on some phones it will light up screen when plugging into power or unplugging.
From your description, it sounds like there may be an issue with your proximity sensor. The proximity sensor should turn off the screen instantly when you put the phone to your face during a call. The way you described the screen turning off after X amount of time sounds like it's just normally timing out. You can use an app called AndroSensor to test the functionality of your proximity sensor. This would also explain having to turn the screen back on manually instead of it happening automatically. Also, you may want to look closely at the sensor, there may be dust on it preventing it from working properly.
As others have noted, the Vibrant should have an option for disabling the sensor. Is this option already checked? That may have something to do with it.
I found a couple of settings in Cyanogenmod which could be useful. I am not sure if they are available in vanilla Android.
Also, the proximity sensor application in HTC is pretty good. But I am not sure about Vibrant.
The best way that I find is to cover the screen for a few seconds and then release. This is the same mimic as if you are calling into voicemail or a feature for which you are required to press a key. This is the best means that I have found to keep all features enabled. BTW: I find it odd that you have the power button set to hang up. I believe this is a feature you setup in order to advert another issue. Maybe solving the hang up feature problems will assist with this one as well?
