Vector length variance check for functional safety of angle sensors

A method of performing a vector length variance check, the method comprising:

• generating a first sensor signal in response to a first component of a magnetic field;
• generating a second sensor signal in response to a second component of the magnetic field;
• generating an angle signal including an angular value corresponding to an orientation of the magnetic field based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal;
• generating a vector length signal comprising a plurality of vector lengths corresponding to the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal, wherein each of the plurality of vector lengths is sampled at a different sample time of a plurality of consecutive sample times;
• and
• extracting at least one spectral component of the vector length signal, the at least one spectral component being indicative of a vector length variance between at least two consecutively sampled vector lengths of the plurality of vector lengths.

A magnetic angle sensor system, comprising:

• a first magnetic sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal in response to a first component of a magnetic field;
• a second magnetic sensor configured to generate a second sensor signal in response to a second component of the magnetic field;
• and
• at least one signal processor configured to:
• generate an angle signal including an angular value corresponding to an orientation of the magnetic field based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal,
• generate a vector length signal comprising a plurality of vector lengths corresponding to the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal, wherein each of the plurality of vector lengths is sampled at a different sample time of a plurality of consecutive sample times, and
• determine a vector length variance between at least two consecutively sampled vector lengths of the plurality of vector lengths.