Is it possible NOT to turn off display when monitoring proximity?

In loadView I'm adding myself as observer for

[nc addObserver:self 
       selector:@selector(proximityAlert:)
           name:UIDeviceProximityStateDidChangeNotification
         object:device];

then I tell device to start generating those alerts

[device setProximityMonitoringEn开发者_运维知识库abled:YES];

and I handle them in

-(void)proximityAlert:(NSNotification *)note

The problem is that when I cover the sensor for too long, the screen turns off, which in my app's case is not convenient.

Thanks in advance for all answers.

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idleTimerDisabled is not a valid solution to this question. (Not deleting as comments below will go lost if I do.)