System and method for detecting magnetic noise by applying a switching function to magnetic field sensing coils

A method for determining the amount of torque applied to a torque sensing device comprising the steps of:

• providing a magnetoelastic torque to magnetic field transducer having a first magnetically conditioned region and a second, oppositely polarized magnetically conditioned region;
• providing a first magnetic field sensor positioned proximate to the first magnetically conditioned region, the first magnetic field sensor having a sensitive direction;
• providing a second magnetic field sensor positioned proximate to the second magnetically conditioned region, the second magnetic field sensor having a sensitive direction;
• configuring the first and second magnetic field sensors in a first connection state wherein the sensitive directions of the first and second magnetic field sensors are opposite one another;
• obtaining a first output signal from each of the first and second magnetic field sensors in the first connection state;
• causing a switching function to reconfigure first and second magnetic field sensors in a second connection state wherein the sensitive directions of the first and second magnetic field sensors are identical;
• obtaining a second output signal from each of the first and second magnetic field sensors in the second connection state;
• and
• calculating the torque applied to the torque sensing device based on the first and second output signals.