Cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge

A cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge assembly comprising:

• a cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge comprising:
• an extended anode electrode;
• and
• a cathode electrode surrounding the anode electrode along its length;
• an electronics module configured to be directly coupled to the vacuum gauge with an interface complementary to the vacuum gauge, the module housing electronics adapted to operate and read the vacuum gauge;
• and
• a cable between the electronics module and the vacuum gauge with the vacuum gauge and electronics module displaced from each other, the cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to imitate physical mating surfaces of the vacuum gauge to mate to the electronics module, and the second end being configured to imitate physical mating surfaces of the electronics module to mate to the vacuum gauge.

A method of operating a cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge comprising:

• setting a voltage potential difference to form an electrical discharge between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode;
• measuring a discharge impedance between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode;
• and
• switching the voltage potential difference between a high voltage setting and a low voltage setting at a lower pressure than that of a high voltage measurement anomaly and at a higher pressure than that of a low voltage measurement anomaly.

A method of operating a cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge comprising:

• setting a voltage potential difference to form an electrical discharge between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode;
• measuring a discharge impedance between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and deriving a pressure reading therefrom;
• measuring a leakage electrical current between an electrically conductive guard ring electrode interposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode about a base of the anode electrode;
• and
• triggering a gauge maintenance alarm if the pressure reading is less than an oscillatory discharge current pressure level and the leakage electrical current is greater than a maximum allowable leakage current limit.

A method of operating a cold cathode ionization vacuum gauge comprising:

• setting a voltage potential difference to form an electrical discharge between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode;
• measuring a discharge current between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode, and deriving a pressure reading therefrom;
• recording the discharge current as a function of time;
• and
• integrating the discharge current over time to obtain a pressure dose for the vacuum gauge.