Patent ID: 6295875
Filing Date: 2001-10-02
Classification: G01L

Abstract:
A pressure sensor, the pressure sensor comprising:a cell body having a first interior wall and a second interior wall generally opposite the first interior wall, the first and second interior walls defining an interior cavity;a deflectable diaphragm having a conductive portion, the diaphragm coupled to the cell body between the first and second interior walls, the diaphragm separating the interior cavity into a first cavity and a second cavity,wherein the first cavity is defined by the first interior wall and the diaphragm, and the second cavity is generally opposite the first cavity and defined by the second interior wall and the diaphragm,wherein the first and second cavities each contain a dielectric fill-fluid, the fill fluids each adapted to receive a pressure and exert a corresponding force on the diaphragm, and the diaphragm is deflectable in response to differences in the pressures received by the fill-fluids in the first and second cavities, andwherein the first interior wall includes an edge region and a center region, the edge region surrounding the center region;a first electrode coupled to the first interior wall generally within the center region and within the first cavity, the first electrode generally opposite the conductive portion of the diaphragm and capacitively coupled to the conductive portion to form a first variable capacitor;a second electrode coupled to the first interior wall generally within the edge region, the second electrode generally opposite the conductive portion of the diaphragm and capacitively coupled to the conductive portion to form a second variable capacitor; anda third electrode coupled to the second interior wall, the third electrode capacitively coupled to the conductive portion of the diaphragm to form a third variable capacitor.