Method and apparatus for the detection of high pressure conditions in a vacuum-type electrical device

An apparatus for detecting high pressure within a high voltage vacuum device, comprising:

• a gas tight envelope for containing gas pressure within said high voltage vacuum device, said gas pressure defining a vacuum pressure condition;
• electrical contacts located within said gas tight envelope, mounted for relative movement between a first position in which said electrical contacts are positioned closely adjacent, and a second position in which said electrical contacts are spaced apart from each other, with the vacuum pressure condition in the high voltage vacuum device preventing electrical arcing between said electrical contacts when they are moved between said first and second positions;
• and
• a microcircuit contained within said gas tight envelope, said microcircuit being capable of deriving power from RF signals transmitted to said microcircuit from outside said gas tight envelope, and said microcircuit transmitting a signal upon detection of a high pressure condition within said high voltage vacuum device by said microcircuit.

An apparatus for detecting high pressure within a high voltage vacuum device, comprising:

• a gas tight envelope for containing gas pressure within said high voltage vacuum device, said gas pressure defining a vacuum pressure condition;
• electrical contacts located within said gas tight envelope, mounted for relative movement between a first position in which said electrical contacts are positioned closely adjacent, and a second position in which said electrical contacts are spaced apart from each other, with the vacuum pressure condition in the high voltage vacuum device preventing electrical arcing between said electrical contacts when they are moved between said first and second positions;
• and
• a microcircuit contained within said gas tight envelope, said microcircuit deriving power from optical signals transmitted to said microcircuit from outside said gas tight envelope, and said microcircuit transmitting a signal upon detection of a high pressure condition within said high voltage vacuum device by said microcircuit.