Patent ID: 6945115

Claim:
A micromachined capacitive pressure sensor including: a plurality of sealed micromachined capacitive cells of type 1, each cell including a rectangular membrane supported above a common conductive electrode by an insulating support and each membrane supporting a conductive electrode for movement therewith whereby each electrode forms with the common conductive electrode a capacitor whose capacitance varies with movement of the membrane relative to the common electrode; a cavity region formed by the said membrane and the said conductive electrode; and conductive lines interconnecting conductive electrodes of adjacent cells of type 1; a plurality of micromachined capacitive cells of type 2, each cell including a rectangular film stack on a common conductive electrode by an insulating support and each stack supporting a conductive electrode therewith whereby each electrode forms with the common conductive electrode a capacitor whose capacitance does not vary with movement of the film stack; and conductive lines interconnecting conductive electrodes of adjacent cells of type 2.