Patent ID: 6675656
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: G01L

Abstract:
A pressure or force sensor structure comprising:a deformable membrane; a counter-structure; a holder placed between the membrane and the counter-structure, the holder connecting the membrane and the counter-structure such that there is a gap between the membrane and the counter-structure, the gap being varied by a bending of the membrane towards the counter-structure when a pressure or a force is applied to the membrane; wherein the membrane includes an array of elementary electrode areas thereon for establishing elementary capacitors for capacitively detecting the bending of the membrane, an elementary capacitor being formed by elementary electrode areas on the membrane and an electrode on the counter-structure, the elementary electrode areas on the membrane being separated from each other by non-conducting webs; and an interconnection structure having wires, the wires connecting in series or in parallel the elementary capacitors for determining a desired pressure/capacitance dependence or force/capacitance dependence, respectively, from a multiplicity of pressure/capacitance dependences or force/capacitance dependences, respectively.