A planar fingerprint pattern detecting array includes a large number of individual skin-distance sensing cells that are arranged in a row/column configuration. Each sensing cell includes a first capacitor plate placed vertically under the upper surface of a dielectric layer and a second capacitor plate that is placed vertically under the upper surface of the dielectric layer in close horizontal spatial relation to the first capacitor plate. Electrostatic discharge protection relative to electrostatic potential that may be carried by an ungrounded fingertip is provided by placing a number of grounded metal paths within the dielectric layer to spatially surround each of the first and second capacitor plates, this being done in a manner that does not disturb the ungrounded state of the fingertip.