Using ambient light sensor to augment proximity sensor output

1. A method of sensing proximity, the method comprising:

generating a proximity determination from an output of a proximity sensor;

receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output; and

altering, in response to the ALS output, the proximity determination wherein a system comprises the proximity sensor and the ALS and wherein the system is configured to alter the proximity determination with a first change based on an ALS output that has a first value and is configured to alter the proximity determination with a second change when the ALS output has a second value.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ALS output is a visible light level of ambient light received by an ALS sensor adjacent to a proximity sensor that provides the proximity sensor output, and the ALS sensor and the proximity sensor are located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximity determination is a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect comprises changing the proximity determination of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold and wherein the first value represents less ambient light than the second value.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the proximity determination is an estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and a surface of an object based on the generated output from the proximity sensor; wherein altering the proximity determination comprises determining, based on the ALS output that the estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and the surface of the object is incorrect; and wherein the first and the second change comprise changing, by a data processing system, the estimated distance value using the ALS output.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second change comprise changing, by a data processing system, an estimated proximity distance value using the ALS output.

6. A machine readable non-transitory storage medium containing instructions which when executed cause a system to perform a method of sensing proximity, the method comprising:

generating a proximity determination from an output of a proximity sensor;

receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output; and

altering, in response to the ALS output, the proximity determination wherein a system comprises the proximity sensor and the ALS and wherein the system is configured to alter the proximity determination with a first change based on an ALS output that has a first value and is configured to alter the proximity determination with a second change when the ALS output has a second value.

7. The medium of claim 6 , wherein the ALS output is a visible light level of ambient light received by an ALS sensor adjacent to a proximity sensor that provides the proximity sensor output, and the ALS sensor and the proximity sensor are located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device.

8. The medium of claim 6 , wherein the proximity determination is a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect comprises changing the proximity determination of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold and wherein the first value represents less ambient light than the second value.

9. The medium of claim 6 , wherein the proximity determination is an estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and a surface of an object based on the generated output from the proximity sensor; wherein altering the proximity determination comprises determining, based on the ALS output that the estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and the surface of the object is incorrect; and wherein the first and the second change comprise changing, by a data processing system, the estimated distance value using the ALS output.

10. The medium of claim 6 , wherein the first and the second change comprise changing, by a data processing system, an estimated proximity distance value using the ALS output.

11. A data processing system comprising:

means for generating a proximity determination from an output of a proximity sensor;

means for receiving an ambient light sensor (ALS) output; and

means for altering, in response to the ALS output, the proximity determination wherein a system comprises the proximity sensor and the ALS and wherein the system is configured to alter the proximity determination with a first change based on an ALS output that has a first value and is configured to alter the proximity determination with a second change when the ALS output has a second value.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the ALS output is a visible light level of ambient light received by an ALS sensor adjacent to a proximity sensor that provides the proximity sensor output, and the ALS sensor and the proximity sensor are located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the proximity determination is a proximity of an object to the proximity sensor, and altering the effect comprises changing the proximity determination of the object from a proximity greater than a first threshold to a proximity less than the first threshold and wherein the first value represents less ambient light than the second value.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the proximity determination is an estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and a surface of an object based on the generated output from the proximity sensor; wherein altering the proximity determination comprises determining, based on the ALS output that the estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and the surface of the object is incorrect; and wherein the first and the second change comprise changing, by a data processing system, the estimated distance value using the ALS output.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first and the second change comprise changing, by a data processing system, an estimated proximity distance value using the ALS output.

16. A method of sensing proximity, the method comprising:

receiving a first intensity level output from a proximity sensor;

determining an estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and a surface of an object based on the received first intensity level output from the proximity sensor;

receiving a second intensity level output from an ambient light sensor (ALS);

determining, based on the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor that the estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and the surface of the object is incorrect;

changing, by a data processing system, the estimated distance value by a first change using a first value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor; and

changing, by the data processing system, the estimated distance value by a second change using a second value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second intensity level output corresponds to a visible light level of ambient light received by an ALS sensor adjacent to a proximity sensor that provides the first intensity level output, and the ALS sensor and the proximity sensor are located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device.

18. A non-transitory machine readable medium containing executable program instructions which when executed cause a method of operating a data processing system, the method comprising:

receiving a first intensity level output from a proximity sensor;

determining an estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and a surface of an object based on the received first intensity level output from the proximity sensor;

receiving a second intensity level output from an ambient light sensor;

determining, based on the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor that the estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and the surface of the object is incorrect;

changing, by a data processing system, the estimated distance value by a first change using a first value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor; and

changing, by the data processing system, the estimated distance value by a second change using a second value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor.

19. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the second intensity level output corresponds to a visible light level of ambient light received by an ALS sensor adjacent to a proximity sensor that provides the first intensity level output, and the ALS sensor and the proximity sensor are located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device.

20. A portable data processing device comprising:

hardware logic for:

receiving a first intensity level output from a proximity sensor;

determining an estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and a surface of an object based on the received first intensity level output from the proximity sensor;

receiving a second intensity level output from an ambient light sensor;

determining, based on the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor that the estimated distance value between the proximity sensor and the surface of the object is incorrect;

changing, by the data processing system, the estimated distance value by a first change using a first value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor; and

changing, by the data processing system, the estimated distance value by a second change using a second value of the second intensity level output from the ambient light sensor.

21. The portable data processing device of claim 20 , wherein the second intensity level output corresponds to a visible light level of ambient light received by an ALS sensor adjacent to a proximity sensor that provides the first intensity level output, and the ALS sensor and the proximity sensor are located adjacent to an earpiece of a portable device.