Abstract:
A pressure sensor is described with sensing elements electrically and physically isolated from a pressurized medium. An absolute pressure sensor has a reference cavity, which can be at a vacuum or zero pressure, enclosing the sensing elements. The reference cavity is formed by bonding a recessed cap wafer with a gauge wafer having a micromachined diaphragm. Sensing elements are disposed on a first side of the diaphragm. The pressurized medium accesses a second side of the diaphragm opposite to the first side where the sensing elements are disposed. A spacer wafer may be used for structural support and stress relief of the gauge wafer. In one embodiment, vertical through-wafer conductive vias are used to bring out electrical connections from the sensing elements to outside the reference cavity. In an alternative embodiment, peripheral bond pads on the gauge wafer are used to bring out electrical connections from the sensing elements to outside the reference cavity