A magnetic field sensor, comprising: two or more magnetic field sensing elements (18, 20, 22) responsive to a moving target the target having a signature region, wherein the two or more magneticfield sensing elements are configured to generate at least two magnetic field signals; at least two detector circuits (36a, 36b) coupled to the two or more magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the at least two detector circuits are configured to generate a respective at least two detector signals (46a, 46b), wherein each detector signal has respective state transitions with respective rates indicative of a rate of movement of the target, and wherein the state transitions of the at least two detector signals have a relative phase indicative of a direction of movement of the target; and an output protocol processor coupled to the at least two detector circuits (36a, 36b) and configured to generate a magnetic field sensor output signal on the basis of the at least two detector signals, wherein the magnetic field sensor output signal has a plurality of pulses with respective pulse widths, wherein first pulses with first pulse widths with a first time duration are indicative of the target moving in a first direction, wherein second pulses with second pulse widths with a second different time duration are indicative of the target moving in a second different direction, wherein third pulses with identifiable encoding are indicative of the signature region passing by the magnetic field sensor, and wherein the output protocol processor is configured to detect target speed from one or more pulses, the magnetic field sensor being characterized in that the output protocol processor is configured to use the detected target speed information to predict a position of a next output pulse. two or more magnetic field sensing elements (18, 20, 22) responsive to a moving target the target having a signature region, wherein the two or more magneticfield sensing elements are configured to generate at least two magnetic field signals; at least two detector circuits (36a, 36b) coupled to the two or more magnetic field sensing elements, wherein the at least two detector circuits are configured to generate a respective at least two detector signals (46a, 46b), wherein each detector signal has respective state transitions with respective rates indicative of a rate of movement of the target, and wherein the state transitions of the at least two detector signals have a relative phase indicative of a direction of movement of the target; and an output protocol processor coupled to the at least two detector circuits (36a, 36b) and configured to generate a magnetic field sensor output signal on the basis of the at least two detector signals, wherein the magnetic field sensor output signal has a plurality of pulses with respective pulse widths, wherein first pulses with first pulse widths with a first time duration are indicative of the target moving in a first direction, wherein second pulses with second pulse widths with a second different time duration are indicative of the target moving in a second different direction, wherein third pulses with identifiable encoding are indicative of the signature region passing by the magnetic field sensor, and wherein the output protocol processor is configured to detect target speed from one or more pulses, the magnetic field sensor being characterized in that the output protocol processor is configured to use the detected target speed information to predict a position of a next output pulse.