Abstract:
A cold cathode ionization gauge includes a first and second electrode spaced apart and insulated from one another and having a common axis. A magnetic field generator surrounds the gauge and applies a non-time varying magnetic field along the common axis of the electrodes. The magnetic field generator includes at least one pair of opposed axially magnetized magnets adjacent each other. In one embodiment of the invention a non-magnetic annular spacer is placed between the opposed magnets. The magnet arrangement minimizes magnetic flux outside of the gauge while increasing the strength of the magnetic flux inside of the gauge. The magnetic arrangement also allows the gauge to be ignited in a very high vacuum, thereby extending the operating range of the gauge.
Abstract:
A cold cathode gauge including a glow lamp or the like disposed within the vacuum space of the gauge for initiating the gauge discharge, the lamp emitting UV or blue light directly at least at the cathode of the gauge where the energy of the light is sufficient to release photoelectrons from the cathode to thus initiate the discharge. Various techniques for supplying power to the lamp are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A cold-cathode ionization or Penning vacuum meter with an ignition system to increase the meter's usefulness at very low pressures. The ignition system comprises an additional anode and at least one additional cathode mounted adjacent to the primary, measuring, cathode and anode and within the same magnetic field as the primary cathode and anode. The at least one additional cathode and the anode are substantially smaller than the measuring cathode and the anode and serve to ignite or start the ionization of the atomosphere whose pressure needs to be measured.
Abstract:
Apparatus for measuring gas comprising a gas sensing unit having a gas inlet membrane and being evacuated by a sputter ion pump via a restrictive conductance. Said conductance has a very low value relative to the pumping speed of the pump, whereby a change in the pumping speed of the pump causes substantially no change in the pumping speed with which the gas sensing unit is evacuated, so that the output signal of said gas sensing unit is a true reflection of the gas entering said inlet, without distortion which would otherwise be caused by changes in pumping speed of said pump.
Abstract:
An ion gauge in which the collector is arranged outside the ionisation region and the ions representing the gas pressure are extracted from the ionisation region via an aperture in an X-ray screen and directed by a reflector electrode onto the collector electrode. The ion reflector electrode surrounding the collector electrode is constructed and shaped so that soft X-rays passing through the ion-exit aperture undergo multiple reflections at the reflector electrode before they are able to be reflected onto the collector. A cylindrical reflector electrode is disclosed provided with an internal truncated conical X-ray reflecting member which intercepts soft X-rays and reflects them back and forth several times between the cylindrical and conical reflecting surfaces. The end of the cylindrical reflecting electrode nearest the ion-exit aperture is tapered inwardly to reflect onto the conical reflector X-rays falling on that part of the surface.
Abstract:
An ion guage comprising a conducting cylinder closed at one end; a pair of cathodes within the cylinder; a cylindrical grid between the cathodes and having a wire mesh peripheral walls relatively transparent to electrons, which grid is bounded at one end by a wire mesh wall and at the opposite end nearer the closed end of the conducting cylinder by an apertured metal wall; means adjacent to the aperture for extracting and converging ions, and an electrode for collecting extracted ions.