Programmable sensor

A method of programming a sensor for an encoder, the method comprising:

• storing a first pole width setting in a first physical memory location of an active setting module, the first pole width setting associated with a first pole width for the encoder, the first pole width setting accessible from the first physical memory location by a sensing circuit module;
• storing a second pole width setting in a second physical memory location of an inactive setting module, the second pole width setting associated with a second pole width for the encoder, the second pole width setting not accessible from the second physical memory location by the sensing circuit module;
• retrieving, by the sensing circuit module, the first pole width setting from the first physical memory location of the active setting module;
• retrieving the second pole width setting from the second physical memory location of the inactive setting module;
• writing the second pole width setting to the first physical memory location of the active setting module;
• and
• retrieving, by the sensing circuit module, the second pole width setting from the first physical memory location of the active setting module.

A sensor for an encoder, the sensor comprising:

• a sensing circuit module configured to generate an output signal related to a sensed characteristic;
• an active data module including first pole width data, the first pole width data associated with a first pole width for the encoder, the first pole width data accessible by the sensing circuit module;
• an inactive data module including second pole width data, the second pole width data associated with a second pole width for the encoder, the second pole width data not accessible by the sensing circuit module;
• and
• a sensor interface configured for retrieving the second pole width data from the inactive data module and writing the second pole width data to the active data module.