Patent ID: 8854734

Claim:
An integrating optical system, comprising: at least one chamber, each at least one chamber having at least one aperture and at least one portion comprising a diffuse reflective material; at least one light source disposed outside of the at least one chamber and oriented to provide light rays into the at least one chamber through the aperture; and at least one diffuse transmissive baffle disposed in relation to the at least one chamber and the aperture such that all light rays from the at least one light source entering the at least one chamber pass through the aperture and the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle is also disposed in an optical path between the at least one light source and at least one treatable target, wherein at least one light-ray originating from the at least one light source is diffusely transmitted from the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and impinges on an interior surface of the at least one chamber before impinging on the at least one treatable target, wherein the interior surface comprises the diffuse reflective material, and wherein at least one light-ray originating from the at least one light source is diffusely transmitted from the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and impinges directly on the at least one treatable target without first impinging of the interior surface of the at least one chamber; wherein a distance between the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle and the at least one treatable target is such that less than 15% of light rays transmitting through the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle impinge directly on the at least one treatable target, and such that more than 85% of the light rays transmitting through the at least one diffuse transmissive baffle impinge directly on the interior surface before impinging on the at least one treatable target; wherein the diffuse reflective material scatters the at least one light ray substantially uniformly into all directions in a hemisphere adjacent to an incident side of the diffuse reflective material; wherein the at least one light source comprises at least one element selected from a group consisting essentially of a microwave-excited arc lamp, a medium pressure arc lamp, a high pressure arc lamp, a light emitting diode, and a laser; wherein the at least one light source is configured to output light rays having a non-visible component suitable to treat the at least one treatable target; and wherein the at least one treatable target comprises a material which at least one property thereof is altered by the light rays from the at least one light source.