Abstract: The invention provides a sensor (1) having an electrode (2) that capacitively couples with the object and can be formed from an electrically conductive ceramic material. The electrode (2) is substantially surrounded by a housing (4) formed from an electrically non-conductive ceramic. A first electrically conductive bridge (5) is connected to the electrode (2) and connectable to a first conductor of a transmission cable. A second electrically conductive bridge (7) is connected to the housing (4) and connectable to a second conductor of the transmission cable. The electrically conductive bridges (5,7) extend away from the front face of the electrode (i.e. the face that faces toward the object in use) so that the connection between the conductors of the transmission cable and the electrically conductive bridges takes place at a low temperature region at the rear of the sensor.

Abstract: A sensor (1) for capacitively measuring the distance to a stationary or passing object. The sensor has an electrode (2) that capacitively couples with the object and is formed from an electrically conductive ceramic material. The electrode is substantially surrounded by a housing (4) formed from an electrically non-conductive ceramic. The electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive ceramic materials are chosen to that they have the similar thermal expansion coefficients so that the sensor remains virtually stress free at high temperatures.