Patent ID: 8638106

Claim:
A microdischarge-based pressure sensor, comprising: a plurality of electrodes including an anode having a first surface, a first cathode having a second surface disposed in a parallel, spaced relationship relative to said first surface, and a second cathode, wherein said anode and said first cathode are sized such that a microdischarge chamber exists between said anode and said first cathode having a generally uniform first gap spacing across said first and second surfaces; a drive circuit connected to said electrodes, said drive circuit being operable to apply voltage pulses to said electrodes sufficient to cause a microdischarge in said chamber between said electrodes; and a measurement circuit that permits sensing of transient current pulses flowing through at least one of said electrodes in response to said voltage pulses, wherein said measurement circuit is configured to receive current pulses via a first output coupled to said first cathode and other current pulses via a second output coupled to said second cathode, said measurement circuit configured to determine an ambient pressure based on a differential current measurement based on the current pulses from said first and second cathodes.