Abstract: An air/fuel ratio sensor having an unambiguous output with respect to both the fuel-rich and the fuel-lean regions and which does not require the introduction of atmospheric air. The sensor is composed of first and second elements, each having porous electrodes formed on opposite sides of an oxygen-ion-conductive electrolyte plate. The two elements are arranged to define between them a gas compartment communicating with the atmosphere to be detected via one or more diffusion limiting portions. One of the elements serves as an oxygen concentration differential electrochemical cell and the other one as an oxygen pump. An internal reference oxygen source is formed on the side of one of the elements opposite the gas compartment, and a small current is caused to flow the first element so as to transfer oxygens from the gas compartment to the oxygen source.