MAGNETIC FIELD SENSORS AND RELATED TECHNIQUES THAT CAN COMMUNICATE AT LEAST ONE OF THREE OR MORE POTENTIAL CATEGORIES IN WHICH ONE OR MORE CHARACTERISTIC VALUES OF A PROXIMITY SIGNAL RESPONSIVE TO A PROXIMITY OF A SENSED OBJECT ARE CATEGORIZED

摘要

A method of performing a magnetic test involving a magnetic field sensor includes generating a proximity signal in response to a proximity of an object sensed by one or more magnetic field sensing elements and relating to the proximity signal while the proximity signal is in response to the proximity. Identifying one or more characteristic values. The method also includes classifying the one or more characteristic values into a plurality of potential categories comprising three or more categories, wherein the plurality of potential categories are in proximity of the detected object. Represents a plurality of distinct self test states of the proximity signal that may occur during a reaction. The method also includes conveying at least one of the plurality of potential categories from which at least one of the one or more characteristic values has been classified. The magnetic field sensor performs the method described above.