Resistive film pressure or force sensor for indicating occupation of vehicle seat - has conductive paths for providing series of meandering interdigitated local area transducer electrodes on polymer and semiconductor substrate

The pressure sensor exhibits an electrical characteristic which decreases when the applied normal force increases. It comprises two laminated polymer layers respectively incorporating a semiconductor material and two conductor paths providing a pair of interdigitated meander-formed electrodes and associated electrical leads. Pref. a number of pressure sensor elements (1.1-1.4) are connected in series, so that the pressure sensitive resistances provided between their interdigitated electrodes are connected in parallel. ADVANTAGE - Allows self-testing using resistance measurement to detect short-circuit or conductor path breakage points in vehicle having air bag actuators.