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How do the Ambient Light Sensors Work in the MBP?

C

carp3n0ct3m

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 3, 2007
13
0
I've noticed that in the instruction manual, it points out that there are two Ambient Light Sensors, one in the left, and one in the right speaker. I was wondering under what conditions these are supposed to dim the screen. Is it required that both sensors experience this change in light condition for the screen to dim?

The reason I ask is because I just bought a new 2.4ghz SR MBP and when my hand brushes over the right speaker/sensor, the screen dims. The screen does not dim at all when my hand passes over the left speaker/sensor.

Thank you in advance,
Justin
 
Nevermind, I've researched it a little more and I think that my left sensor is broken, will have to go down to apple today or tomorrow.

I just tried an app by the maker of the smackbook, but uses the light sensors rather than the motion sensor. Upon running the app it gives you light levels for each sensor. My right sensor is showing up as 835 while my left sensor is showing up as 75, and that's without me covering anything.

-Justin
 
carp3n0ct3m said:
Nevermind, I've researched it a little more and I think that my left sensor is broken, will have to go down to apple today or tomorrow.

I just tried an app by the maker of the smackbook, but uses the light sensors rather than the motion sensor. Upon running the app it gives you light levels for each sensor. My right sensor is showing up as 835 while my left sensor is showing up as 75, and that's without me covering anything.

-Justin
Click to expand...

dude, the right sensors dont really do anything. smackbook software specifically states that the right sensors are useless...
 
I'd think that one light sensor is for high level light and one is for detecting low level light to get the best and most accurate sensitivity.

Just a guess - but I think the light sensors are useless to me anyway, I turn off the screen dimming feature, I prefer to control it myself.
 
carp3n0ct3m said:
The reason I ask is because I just bought a new 2.4ghz SR MBP and when my hand brushes over the right speaker/sensor, the screen dims. The screen does not dim at all when my hand passes over the left speaker/sensor.

Thank you in advance,
Justin
Click to expand...

Hi Justin,

mine does the same thing but in the opposite way :) the left sensor seems to be the primary one. it was a cool feature for the first few days, i have then since turned off the auto adjustment (like many of us on the forum) and its really not that hard just adjust the brightness myself:)

there's a software that can force the keyboard ambient light and manually adjust the brightness. Do a search then you will find it...its been mentioned many times on the forum <- i forgot the name on top of my head.

cheers,
Howard
 
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