A portable information handling system integrates an infrared time of flight sensor to detect end user presence and absence. The portable information handling system has a portable housing with rotationally coupled housing portions so that the infrared time of flight sensor orientation relative to an end user changes its alignment axis based upon an expected end user position relative to the end user. An actuator interfaces with the infrared time of flight sensor to adjust its field of view based upon sensed housing position or configuration and adjusts end user presence/absence detection at actuation to change the orientation of the time of flight sensor, such as by resetting the sensor are re-aligning the scan field of view.