Patent ID: 7032456
Filing Date: 2006-04-25
Classification: G01L

Abstract:
1. A pressure sensor comprising: a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; a top metallized pad formed on said substrate top surface and having a first top pad segment and a second top pad segment; a bottom metallized pad formed on said substrate bottom surface and having a first bottom pad segment and a second bottom pad segment; a sensing piezoresistor formed on said substrate top surface in electrical communication between the first top pad segment and the second top pad segment of said top metallized pad, said sensing piezoresistor being positioned to respond to a pressure of interest; a reference piezoresistor formed on said substrate bottom surface in electrical communication between the first bottom pad segment and the second bottom pad segment of said bottom metallized pad said sensing piezoresistor being positioned to respond to a reference pressure; and a conductor joined to the first top pad segment and the second bottom pad segment for conducting electricity; and a first electrical contact joined to the first bottom pad segment; a second electrical contact joined to the second bottom pad segment; and a third electrical contact joined to the second top pad segment whereby a differential pressure can be calculated from the resistances between said first, second and third electrical contacts.