Reduced area magnetic field sensor topology

A method for processing a magnetic field signal with a magnetic field sensor, comprising:

• generating, with a magnetic field sensing element, the magnetic field signal in response to a magnetic field;
• modulating the magnetic field signal at a chopping frequency;
• amplifying, with a front end amplifier, the magnetic field signal to generate an amplified signal;
• demodulating the amplified signal at the chopping frequency;
• filtering the amplified signal with a low pass filter to generate a low pass filtered signal;
• and
• comparing, with a Schmitt trigger circuit, the low pass filtered signal to a reference signal a plurality of times within a chopping time period to generate a comparison signal, wherein the chopping time period is the inverse of the chopping frequency.

A magnetic field sensor comprising:

• a magnetic field sensing elements configured to generate a magnetic field signal indicative of a sensed magnetic field;
• a modulator configured to modulate the magnetic field signal at a chopping frequency;
• a front end amplifier coupled to receive the magnetic field signal and generate an amplified signal;
• a demodulator configured to demodulate the amplified signal at the chopping frequency;
• a low pass filter configured to process the amplified signal and generate a low pass filtered signal;
• and
• means for performing a plurality of comparisons of the low pass filtered signal with a reference signal during a chopping time period, wherein the chopping time period is the inverse of the chopping frequency.