Patent ID: 7757563

Claim:
A capacitance manometer comprising: a flexible diaphragm including a first electrode structure; an electrode structure including second and third spaced-apart electrode structures secured relative to the diaphragm so as to establish a capacitance between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure and a capacitance between the first electrode structure and the third spaced-apart electrode structure, wherein the capacitances between the first electrode structure and each of the second and third electrode structures change with changes in differential pressure placed on opposite sides of the flexible diaphragm; and a thick film dielectric material disposed between the first electrode and each of the second and third spaced-apart electrode structures so as to increase the gain in capacitance of the manometer without decreasing the distance between the first electrode structure and each of the second and third electrode structures, and without increasing the stroke of the flexible diaphragm, while preventing the first electrode structure from shorting with either the second or third electrode structure in response to over pressurization conditions; wherein the dielectric material is a coating disposed on the second and third electrode structures, between the diaphragm and the second and third electrode structures.