A flat limiting-current sensor 10 includes a solid electrolyte substrate
22, a negative electrode 34a and a positive electrode 32a. The negative
and positive electrodes 34a and 32a, respectively, are disposed on the
same side of the solid electrolyte substrate 22. A voltage of 0.8 V is
applied between the negative electrode 34a and the positive electrode 32a
in order to determine oxygen concentration. The ratio between the area of
the negative electrode 34a and the area of the positive electrode 32a is
set to 1:2, thereby reducing element resistance to 74% that of the case
where the negative electrode and the positive electrode assume the same
area. Thus, the measurement accuracy of the flat limiting-current sensor
10 is improved.