XMR angle sensor arrangement with safety mechanism and method for monitoring the same

An angle sensor arrangement comprising:

• an angle sensor having a sensing area for sensing an in-plane magnetic field and for outputting a sensor signal based on the in-plane magnetic field component sensed in the sensing area, wherein the angle sensor is configured to sense a first in-plane rotating magnetic field component in the sensing area of the angle sensor;
• and
• an excitation current rail path, which is arranged proximate to the sensing area of the angle sensor, wherein the excitation current rail path comprises a first rail path section and a second rail path section, wherein the first and second rail path sections cross in a crossing position, thereby defining a non-zero crossing angle therebetween, and
• wherein the first and second rail path sections are configured to conduct concurrently first and second excitation currents, respectively.

A method for monitoring an angle sensor arrangement, the method comprising:

• generating a first in-plane magnetic field component with a permanent magnet in the sensing area of an angle sensor,
• generating a second in-plane magnetic field component in the sensing area of the angle sensor by providing an excitation current rail path comprising a first rail path section and a second rail path section that are electrically isolated from one another and cross one another in a crossing position, thereby defining a non-zero crossing angle therebetween with first and second excitation signals, respectively, having first and second excitation signal strengths, respectively,
• wherein the excitation signal strengths of the first and second excitation signals are chosen to generate the second in-plane magnetic field component in the sensing area of the angle sensor causing a predictable change of direction of a resulting in-plane magnetic field component,
• sensing with the angle sensor an in-plane magnetic field component in the sensing area, and
• comparing the change in the sensed direction to the predictable change of direction for achieving a comparison result.

A non-transitory digital storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for performing a method for monitoring an angle sensor arrangement, the method comprising:

• generating a first in-plane magnetic field component with a permanent magnet in the sensing area of an angle sensor,
• generating a second in-plane magnetic field component in the sensing area of the angle sensor by providing an excitation current rail path comprising a first rail path section and a second rail path section that are electrically isolated from one another and cross one another in a crossing position, thereby defining a non-zero crossing angle therebetween with first and second excitation signals, respectively, having first and second excitation signal strengths, respectively,
• wherein the excitation signal strengths of the first and second excitation signals are chosen to generate the second in-plane magnetic field component in the sensing area of the angle sensor causing a predictable change of direction of a resulting in-plane magnetic field component,
• sensing with an angle sensor an in-plane magnetic field component in the sensing area, and
• comparing the change in the sensed direction to the predictable change of direction for achieving a comparison result,
• when said computer program is run by a computer.