Magnetic field sensor having two rows of magnetic field sensing elements for measuring an angle of rotation of a magnet

A magnetic field sensor for sensing an absolute position of a magnet capable of turning around a rotation axis, the magnet having a magnetic region with a boundary line between and separating a north and a south pole and with a north-south line passing through the north pole and the south pole, the magnetic field sensor comprising:

• a first row of magnetic field sensing elements comprised of a first three or more magnetic field sensing elements disposed proximate to the magnet and arranged along a selected one of a first straight line disposed in an x-y plane or a first arc disposed in the x-y plane, the x-y plane substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis, the first three or more magnetic field sensing elements operable to generate a first three or more signals;
• a second row of magnetic field sensing elements comprised of a second three or more magnetic field sensing elements disposed proximate to the magnet and arranged along a selected one of a second straight line parallel to the first straight line disposed in the x-y plane or a second arc disposed in the x-y plane, the second three of more magnetic field sensing elements operable to generate a second three or more signals, wherein the first row of magnetic field sensing elements and the second row of magnetic field sensing elements are disposed on opposite sides of the rotation axis;
• a first electronic channel coupled to the first three or more signals and operable to generate a first one or more values indicative of an angle of the north-south line relative to the first row of magnetic field sensing elements;
• a second electronic channel coupled to the second three or more signals and operable to generate a second one or more values indicative of an angle of the north-south line relative to the second row of magnetic field sensing elements;
• and
• a combining module operable to combine the first one or more values and the second one or more values to generate a relative angle value, wherein the relative angle value is indicative of a rotation angle of the magnet about the rotation axis relative to a position of the first and second rows of magnetic field sensing elements.