A　multi-spiral　capacitive　sensor　is　proposed　to　improve　the　sensor　performance,　and　the　relation　between　the　geometric　parameters　design　of　the　sensor　and　the　sensor　performance　is　discussed.　Compared　to　traditional　sensors,　under　the　same　measurement　conditions,　the　electrical　field　distribution　of　the　multi-spiral-shaped　sensor　is　presented.　The　detail　effects　of　the　sensor　design　parameters,　such　as　gaps　between　the　sensor　electrodes,　the　effective　area　and　the　geometry　of　the　sensor　plates　are　qualitative　analyzed.　The　experimental　results　prove　that　the　complex　structure　sensor　can　improve　the　measurement　linearity,　signal　strength　and　measurement　sensitivity.　©　(2014)　Trans　Tech　Publications,　Switzerland.