Patent ID: 7224257

Claim:
A physical quantity sensing element comprising: an insulating layer; and a sensing layer configured to generate an electrical signal as a function of a physical quantity applied thereto, said sensing layer having a surface that includes a first and a second area, the first area being completely covered with said insulating layer so that the physical quantity is to be applied to both said insulating layer and said sensing layer through the first area, the second area being exposed to an application direction of the physical quantity without being covered with said insulating layer and being subject to application of the physical quantity, wherein the first and the second areas of the surface of said sensing layer are parallel to each other and together constitute one flat maior face of said sensing layer; the second area of the major face of said sensing layer is constituted of two or more separate subareas; and the major face of said sensing layer has a quadrangular shape, and wherein the first area of the major face, which is covered with said insulating layer, has an octagonal shape and is centrally positioned on the major face such that four subareas each having a triangular shape, which constitute the second area of the major face, are provided at four apexes of the major face of said sensing layer.