Magnetic field sensors for detecting absolute position of multi-track targets

1. A magnetic field sensor for sensing an absolute position of a target, comprising:

a first magnetic field sensing element disposed proximate to a first portion of the target having a first cross-sectional shape configured to generate a first periodic magnetic field signal in response to movement of the first target portion;

a second magnetic field sensing element disposed proximate to a second portion of the target having a second cross-sectional shape configured to generate a second periodic magnetic field signal in response to movement of the second target portion, wherein the first periodic magnetic field signal and the second periodic magnetic field signal have a phase separation that does not change with movement of the target and wherein each of the first magnetic field signal and the second magnetic field signal has a constant reference potential;

a third magnetic field sensing element disposed proximate to a third portion of the target having a third cross-sectional shape configured to generate the constant reference potential in response to movement of the third target portion;

a position detection module configured to use the first magnetic field signal, the second magnetic field signal, and the constant reference potential to generate a position value indicative of the absolute position of the target; and

an output format module coupled to receive the position value and configured to generate an output signal of the magnetic field sensor.

2. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape of the first target portion and the second cross-sectional shape of the second target portion are substantially oval and wherein the first periodic magnetic field signal is substantially sinusoidal and the second periodic magnetic field signal is substantially sinusoidal.

3. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first periodic magnetic field signal has a first repeating pattern and the second periodic magnetic field signal has a second repeating pattern and wherein each of a first angle of repetition of the first repeating pattern and a second angle of repetition of the second repeating pattern is equal to 360°.

4. The magnetic field sensor of claim 3 , wherein each the first cross-sectional shape of the first target portion and the second cross-sectional shape of the second target portion has a single axis of symmetry.

5. The magnetic field sensor of claim 4 , wherein the axes of symmetry of the first cross-sectional shape of the first target portion and the second cross-sectional shape of the second target portion are offset from each other by a predetermined non-zero angle.

6. The magnetic field sensor of claim 5 , wherein the predetermined non-zero angle between the axes of symmetry of the first cross-sectional shape of the first target portion and the second cross-sectional shape of the second target portion is ninety degrees.

7. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the phase separation between the first periodic magnetic field signal and the second periodic magnetic field signal is ninety degrees.

8. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first periodic magnetic field signal has a first repeating pattern and the second periodic magnetic field signal has a second repeating pattern, and wherein an angle of repetition of the first repeating pattern is the same as an angle of repetition of the second repeating pattern.

9. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first periodic magnetic field signal has a first repeating pattern and the second periodic magnetic field signal has a second repeating pattern, and wherein an angle of repetition of the first repeating pattern is different than an angle of repetition of the second repeating pattern.

10. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the absolute position of the target comprises an absolute angle of rotation of the target.

11. The magnetic field sensor of claim 10 , wherein the target is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation with each of the first and second target portions rotatable about the axis of rotation and wherein the magnetic field sensor is positioned radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the target.

12. The magnetic field sensor of claim 10 , wherein the target is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation with each of the first and second target portions rotatable about the axis of rotation and wherein the magnetic field sensor is positioned axially with respect to the axis of rotation of the target.

13. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the target is configured to move linearly with respect to the magnetic field sensor.

14. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the third cross-sectional shape of the third target portion is circular.

15. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a magnet, wherein the first magnetic field sensing element and the second magnetic field sensing element are disposed between the magnet and the target.

16. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the target comprises a ring magnet.

17. The magnetic field sensor of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the target is spaced from the second portion of the target, and the phase separation between the first periodic magnetic field signal and the second periodic magnetic field signal is based on a separation distance between the first portion of the target and the second portion of the target.

18. A system comprising:

a target comprising a plurality of tracks, wherein a first one of the plurality of tracks is spaced from a second one of the plurality of tracks by a predetermined distance; and

a magnetic field sensor for sensing an absolute position of the target, comprising:

a first magnetic field sensing element disposed proximate to a first track of the plurality of tracks and configured to generate a first periodic magnetic field signal in response to movement of the first track;

a second magnetic field sensing element disposed proximate to the second track of the plurality of tracks and configured to generate a second periodic magnetic field signal in response to movement of the second track, wherein the first periodic magnetic field signal and the second periodic magnetic field signal have a phase separation associated with the predetermined distance between the first track and the second track that does not change with movement of the target and wherein each of the first magnetic field signal and the second magnetic field signal has a constant reference potential;

a third magnetic field sensing element disposed proximate to a third track of the plurality of tracks configured to generate the constant reference potential in response to movement of the third track;

a position detection module configured to use the first magnetic field signal, the second magnetic field signal, and the constant reference potential to generate a position value indicative of the absolute position of the target; and

an output format module coupled to receive the position value and configured to generate an output signal of the magnetic field sensor.

19. The magnetic field sensor of claim 18 , wherein the phase separation between the first periodic magnetic field signal and the second periodic magnetic field signal is ninety degrees.

20. The magnetic field sensor of claim 18 , wherein the target is rotatable about an axis of rotation and wherein the magnetic field sensor is configured to sense an absolute rotational position of the target.