Patent ID: 7876023

Claim:
A piezoelectric/electrostrictive membrane sensor comprising: a ceramic substrate having a thin diaphragm portion and a thick portion integrally provided on the peripheral edge of the thin diaphragm portion, and including a cavity formed by the thin diaphragm portion and the thick portion so as to communicate with the outside; a piezoelectric/electrostrictive element having a laminate structure arranged on the outer surface of the thin diaphragm portion of the ceramic substrate and including a membranous piezoelectric/electrostrictive body, and a lower electrode and an upper electrode between which the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body is sandwiched; and terminal electrodes each of which connects the lower electrode or the upper electrode to a power source, the thin diaphragm portion of the ceramic substrate being configured to vibrate in conjunction with the driving of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive element, wherein a main component of the terminal electrodes is contained in the vicinity of the exposed surface of the piezoelectric/electrostrictive body that is not covered by the electrodes.