Adjustable sensitivity ranges for magnetic field sensors

A current sensor, comprising:

• a first magnetic field sensor circuit comprising a first sensor bridge circuit configured to generate a first differential sensor signal and a second sensor bridge circuit configured to generate a second differential sensor signal, wherein the first sensor bridge circuit comprises a first sensor bridge comprising a first plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a first full-bridge circuit configuration, wherein the second sensor bridge circuit comprises a second sensor bridge comprising a second plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a second full-bridge circuit configuration, and wherein the first sensor bridge and the second sensor bridge are laterally separated along a sensor axis by a first sensor pitch;
• a second magnetic field sensor circuit comprising a third sensor bridge circuit configured to generate a third differential sensor signal and a fourth sensor bridge circuit configured to generate a fourth differential sensor signal, wherein the third sensor bridge circuit comprises a third sensor bridge comprising a third plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a third full-bridge circuit configuration, and wherein the fourth sensor bridge circuit comprises a fourth sensor bridge comprising a fourth plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a fourth full-bridge circuit configuration, wherein the third sensor bridge and the fourth sensor bridge are laterally separated along the sensor axis by a second sensor pitch that is different from the first sensor pitch;
• a selector switch configurable in a plurality of switch states, wherein the selector switch is configured to simultaneously receive the first differential sensor signal, the second differential sensor signal, the third differential sensor signal, and the fourth differential sensor signal, output the first differential sensor signal and the second differential sensor signal if configured in a first switch state of the plurality of switch states, and output the third differential sensor signal and the fourth differential sensor signal if configured in a second switch state of the plurality of switch states;
• and
• a differential circuit coupled to the selector switch,
• wherein, if the selector switch is configured in the first switch state, the differential circuit is configured to receive the first differential sensor signal and the second differential sensor signal, and generate a first output signal representative of a first difference between the first differential sensor signal and the second differential sensor signal, and
• wherein, if the selector switch is configured in the second switch state, the differential circuit is configured to receive the third differential sensor signal and the fourth differential sensor signal, and generate a second output signal representative of a second difference between the third differential sensor signal and the fourth differential sensor signal.

A method for measuring a current, comprising:

• generating, by a first sensor bridge, a first pair of differential sensor signals, wherein the first sensor bridge comprises a first plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a first full-bridge circuit configuration;
• generating, by a second sensor bridge, a second pair of differential sensor signals, wherein the second sensor bridge comprises a second plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a second full-bridge circuit configuration, and wherein the first sensor bridge and the second sensor bridge are laterally separated along a sensor axis by a first sensor pitch;
• generating, by a third sensor bridge, a third pair of differential sensor signals, wherein the third sensor bridge comprises a third plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a third full-bridge circuit configuration;
• generating, by a fourth sensor bridge, a fourth pair of differential sensor signals, wherein the fourth sensor bridge comprises a fourth plurality of magnetic field sensing elements electrically coupled in a fourth full-bridge circuit configuration, and wherein the third sensor bridge and the fourth sensor bridge are laterally separated along the sensor axis by a second sensor pitch that is different from the first sensor pitch;
• outputting, by a selector switch, the first pair of differential sensor signals and the second pair of differential sensor signals based on the selector switch being configured in a first switch state of a plurality of switch states;
• outputting, by the selector switch, the third pair of differential sensor signals and the fourth pair of differential sensor signals based on the selector switch being configured in a second switch state of the plurality of switch states;
• on a first condition that the selector switch is configured in the first switch state, generating a first output signal representative of a first difference between the first pair of differential sensor signals and the second pair of differential sensor signals, wherein the first output signal represents the current;
• and
• on a second condition that the selector switch is configured in the second switch state, generating a second output signal representative of a second difference between the third pair of differential sensor signals and the fourth pair of differential sensor signals, wherein the second output signal represents the current.