Patent ID: 7383737

Claim:
A pressure sensor, comprising: a base-port having an opening configured to receive a fluid having a pressure; a transducer including (i) an electrically conductive diaphragm having a base wall extending into a cylindrical, closed side wall to thereby define an interior, said diaphragm being arranged relative to said base-port such that said interior is in communication with said fluid opening thereby forming a fluid pressure cavity, said diaphragm being substantially U-shaped in cross-section, said base wall of said diaphragm having a working surface facing said fluid pressure cavity and an opposing sensing surface; and (ii) a sensing electrode body including an insulating substrate having center and ring electrodes facing toward and spaced apart from said sensing surface by a spacer to form an air gap therebetween, said center electrode and said sensing surface forming a first capacitor and said ring electrode and said sensing surface forming a second capacitor; a pressure signal generating circuit responsive to variations in capacitance of said first and second capacitors configured to generate a pressure signal indicative of said fluid pressure.