A vacuum switch is a type of switch designed to monitor a specific range of vacuum levels; it is also known as a vacuum relay. Its function is to automatically open or close a control circuit-and simultaneously generate an electrical signal-when the actual vacuum level generated during operation reaches a predetermined requirement, thereby instructing the vacuum adsorption mechanism to execute its normal operation. It is classified as a component critical to both reliability and safety.
Vacuum switches are categorized into three types: mechanical, semiconductor, and pneumatic bridge. Mechanical vacuum switches determine changes in vacuum pressure by utilizing mechanical displacement-an example of which is the diaphragm-type vacuum switch. Semiconductor vacuum switches, conversely, employ semiconductor pressure sensors to detect changes in vacuum pressure and are capable of directly converting the detected pressure signals into electrical signals.