Patent ID: 8516894

Claim:
An electronic circuit for controlling a capacitive pressure sensor, which capacitive pressure sensor has electrodes, including an electrically conductive back plate, arranged to form a plate electrode capacitor with a capacity that varies in dependence on pressure changes exerted on a deflectable diaphragm forming one plate electrode of the capacitor, wherein the electronic circuit comprises: a DC voltage source being adapted to generate a DC bias-voltage to be applied across the electrodes of the capacitor, an AC voltage source being adapted to generate an AC voltage signal to be applied across the electrodes of the capacitor, the DC bias-voltage and the AC voltage signal being configured and arranged for application across the diaphragm and the back plate, and a controller being adapted to receive an output signal of the capacitor and to control the DC voltage source such that the DC bias-voltage applied to the capacitor has a value that maintains the capacity of the capacitor (C) at a desired value.