Smartphone-Readable Optical-Fiber Quasi-Distributed Phosphorescent Temperature Sensor

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Editor,

In this manuscript, a phosphorescent optical fiber quasi-distributed temperature sensor has been presented. The manuscript needs to be revised based on the following comments.

1. The authors have stated some equations but have not provided information about their use or simulation. Explain this clearly.

2. Draw the curve of variation of loss in terms of wavelength and discuss it physically.

3. What is the temperature measurement range?

4. Calculate the sensitivity of the sensor under different conditions. What effect does Bragg size have on sensor sensitivity? discuss

5. What is the response time delay of the sensor?

6. For 3.1.1, it is necessary to provide a photo of your practical setup and mark the different parts on it.

7. Compare the performance of the provided sensor with the following temperature sensors to better define the advantages and disadvantages of this work.

Chemosensors 10, no. 6 (2022): 228; Optik 168 (2018): 342-347; Sensors 22, no. 15 (2022): 5722; Experimental Mechanics 62, no. 9 (2022): 1531-1552

 Kind regards,

Author Response

1. The authors have stated some equations but have not provided information about their use or simulation. Explain this clearly.
   
   

   Additional comments on the normalized Arrhenius equation were added to the text in red.

   As for the equations (3) power law fits for the ON and OFF responses at high and low temperatures have been shown in 3.2.2 (Fig. 13 c,d) and comments have been added.

   
   
   
2. Draw the curve of variation of loss in terms of wavelength and discuss it physically.

We have added the spectral dependence of the losses of the bare C-LPG array (Fig. 9b),  after it was functionalized as well as under bending deformation and have added comments.

3.  What is the temperature measurement range?

The temperature range tested with this set-up is from 5C to 75C. The same phophorescent material has been used in a previous publication for measurement up to 100C.

4. Calculate the sensitivity of the sensor under different conditions. What effect does Bragg size have on sensor sensitivity? discuss

The sensitivity of the sensor is determined by two factors:

• the phosphorescent material (also affects the range) as shown in [11, 15]
• the duration over which rise and decay summation (integration is carried out)
• the duty factor

Comments have been added in the text.

The question about “Bragg size” is unclear. There is no Bragg type of grating in this case, not even traditional LPG.

 

1. What is the response time delay of the sensor?

The response time of the sensor depends on:

• The rise and decay times of the phosphor
• The modulation frequency (limited by the rise/decay times of the responses)
• The number of cycles over which the signal is averaged

1. The frame rate of the smartphone

Comments have been added in the text.

 

2. For 3.1.1, it is necessary to provide a photo of your practical setup and mark the different parts on it.

A photo has been added as Fig. 6b) together with explanations.

7. Compare the performance of the provided sensor with the following temperature sensors to better define the advantages and disadvantages of this work.

Chemosensors 10, no. 6 (2022): 228; Optik 168 (2018): 342-347; Sensors 22, no. 15 (2022): 5722; Experimental Mechanics 62, no. 9 (2022): 1531-1552

 

The basic features of the proposed sensor array have been outlined in Section 6 and each one has been compared to the sensors from three of these articles.

 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors presented a phosphorescent optical fiber quasi-distributed sensor with contactless smartphone interrogation. The normalized differential rise/decay time response measured by а smartphone is used as a measure of the temperature. The sensing array comprising 10 sensing points reproduced abrupt and gradual spatial changes in temperature. The approach and results presented are interesting. In my opinion, this manuscript can be published after some corrections: 

 i) The authors should introduce and discuss the results presented in Figure 14;

ii) The authors must fix some tracks along the manuscript, i.e., lines 449-451: "...In the first place this is a further development of the optical fiber (OF) temperature single sensor arrangements presented elsewhere [] and the application of mobile phones for the contactless interrogation of phosphorescent based sensors....";

iii) The authors should better organize the conclusion;

iv) There are many typos in the manuscript, e.g.:

      .  line 186: "...Blue Tooth...";

      .  line 197: "...spartphone...";    

      . line 207: "... The advanatges of ...".

  

Comments on the Quality of English Language

The English language requires minor editing.

Author Response

 

1. The authors should introduce and discuss the results presented in Figure 14;

 

The needed explanations and discussion are added in the text.

 

2. The authors must fix some tracks along the manuscript, i.e., lines 449-451: "...In the first place this is a further development of the optical fiber (OF) temperature single sensor arrangements presented elsewhere [] and the application of mobile phones for the contactless interrogation of phosphorescent based sensors....";

 

The text has been revisited and corrections introduced.

 

3. The authors should better organize the conclusion;

 

The conclusion has been reworked

 

4. There are many typos in the manuscript, e.g.:

      .  line 186: "...Blue Tooth...";

      .  line 197: "...spartphone...";    

      . line 207: "... The advanatges of ...".

  Typos have been corrected.

 

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Editor,

The comments have been addressed, so I can recommend the revised manuscript for publication.

With kind regards,

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The authors implemented most of the suggested corrections.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

English must be improved, including the text in red color.