A sensor that is based on a thick-film circuit. Thick-film circuits are formed by the deposition of layers of special pastes onto an insulating substrate. The pastes are usually referred to as inks, although there is little resemblance to conventional ink. The printed pattern is fired in a manner akin to the production of pottery, to produce electrical pathways of a controlled resistance. Parts of a thick-film circuit can be made sensitive to strain or temperature. The thick-film pattern can include mounting positions for the insertion of conventional silicon devices, in which case the assembly is known as a thick-film hybrid. The process is relatively cheap, especially if large numbers of devices are produced, and the use of hybrid construction allows the sensor housing to include sophisticated signal conditioning circuits. These factors indicate that thick-film technology is likely to play an increasing role in sensor design.