Portable electronic device with dual, diagonal proximity sensors and mode switching functionality

An electronic device, comprising:

• a housing;
• one or more processors;
• at least one proximity sensor component operable with the one or more processors and comprising an infrared signal receiver to receive an infrared emission from an object external to the housing;
• a motion detector operable with the one or more processors;
• the one or more processors operable to:
• operate the at least one proximity sensor component at a first sensitivity until the infrared signal receiver receives the infrared emission from the object;
• activate the motion detector when the at least one proximity sensor component operates at the first sensitivity and the infrared signal receiver receives the infrared emission;
• transition the at least one proximity sensor component from the first sensitivity to a second sensitivity in response to the infrared signal receiver receiving the infrared emission from the object, the one or more processors to transition the at least one proximity sensor component from the first sensitivity to the second sensitivity by increasing a detection threshold of the infrared signal receiver;
• and
• operate the at least one proximity sensor component at the second sensitivity after the infrared signal receiver receives the infrared emission from the object and only after the motion detector detects motion of the electronic device;
• the second sensitivity less than the first sensitivity.