Patent ID: 6470754
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: G01L,Y10T

Abstract:
A micromachined pressure sensor comprising:(a) a microstructure substrate; (b) a microstructure base which is closed, secured and sealed to the substrateat a lower end of the base; (c) a microstructure diaphragm secured and sealed to the base at an upper end of the base to define a cavity with the base and a surface of the substrate that is sealed between the base, substrate and diaphragm; (d) a skirt extending outwardly from the base and the cavity above the substrate with at least one of the diaphragm or the base deforming and deflecting with changes between ambient pressure and pressure within the sealed cavity to change a volume of the sealed cavity and to deflect the skirt; and (e) adjacent electrodes, one of the electrodes formed to deflect with the skirt to change the effective capacitance between the electrodes in a manner which is related to changes in pressure, wherein at least a portion of the electrodes are formed external to the sealed cavity such that electrical leads adapted to be connected to the electrodes external to the sealed cavity.