Corner-cube irradiation control

A method for irradiation treating or processing a target item, the method comprising:

• irradiating the target item at desired locations according to an irradiation pattern using an irradiation source comprising semiconductor laser devices in an irradiation zone such that the target item can absorb irradiation in at least some desired locations of the target item;
• and
• reflecting irradiation back to the target item at substantially the same location on the target item from which the irradiation is reflected, or scattered, using proximate corner-cube array reflector material substantially enclosing or covering an interior surface of the irradiation zone positioned at least in areas of the irradiation zone where stray radiation is likely, and comprising sheets sufficiently thin to reduce heating of the material having a smooth flat surface facing the target item and having arrays of contiguous corner-cube reflectors configured and sized sufficiently small to be embedded in the sheets such that irradiation that has been, at least one of, reflected from or back-scattered from the target item, strikes a reflector of the array and is reflected by the reflector, is reflected back to the target item at substantially the same location from which such irradiation was reflected or scattered to increase efficiency by increasing absorption of irradiation at the desired locations of the target item according to the irradiation pattern and preventing other heating,
• wherein reflecting the irradiation back to the target item at substantially the same location on the target item from which such irradiation was, at least one of, reflected or back-scattered, preserves the irradiation pattern and is based on at least a minimized distance between parallel input rays and corresponding output rays of the reflector and an acceptance angle for the input rays to the reflector being less than 45° from a line orthogonal to a corresponding sheet of the corner-cube reflector material.

A cooking oven comprising:

• an irradiation source comprising semiconductor surface emitting laser devices operative to produce irradiation,
• the irradiation source configured to direct irradiation toward desired locations of a food item according to an irradiation pattern such that the food item can absorb irradiation in at least some desired locations of the food item;
• and
• an irradiation zone in which the food item will be located for irradiation, the irradiation zone having an interior surface substantially covered by corner-cube reflector material positioned at least in areas of the irradiation zone where stray radiation is likely, the corner-cube reflector material comprising sheets sufficiently thin to reduce heating of the material having a smooth flat surface facing the irradiation zone to face the food item and having arrays of contiguous corner-cube reflectors sized sufficiently small and configured such that irradiation that has been, at least one of, reflected from or back-scattered from the food item, strikes a reflector of the array and is reflected by the reflector, is reflected back to the food item at substantially the same location on the food item from which such irradiation was, at least one of reflected or back-scattered to increase efficiency of the oven by increasing absorption of irradiation at the desired locations of the food item according to the irradiation pattern and preventing other heating in the oven,
• wherein reflecting the irradiation back to the target item at substantially the same location on the target item from which such irradiation was, at least one of, reflected or back-scattered, preserves the irradiation pattern and is based on at least a minimized distance between parallel input rays and corresponding output rays of the reflector and an acceptance angle for the input rays to the reflector being less than 45° from a line orthogonal to a corresponding sheet of the corner-cube reflector material.

A system for irradiation treating or processing a target item, the system comprising:

• an irradiation source operative to produce irradiation,
• the irradiation source configured to direct irradiation toward desired locations of a target item such that the target item can absorb irradiation in at least some desired locations of the target item;
• and
• an irradiation zone in which the target will be located for irradiation, the irradiation zone being at least partially enclosed by proximate corner-cube reflector material, the corner-cube reflector material comprising an array of contiguous corner-cube reflectors sized sufficiently small and configured such that irradiation that has been, at least one of, reflected from, back-scattered from, or passed through the target item, strikes a reflector of the array and is reflected by the reflector, is reflected back to the target item at substantially the same location on the target item from which such irradiation was, at least one of, reflected, back-scattered, or passed through the target item to increase efficiency of the system by increasing absorption of irradiation at the desired locations of the target item and preventing other heating in the system,
• wherein at least one of the reflectors includes a non-reflective apex.

A cooking oven comprising:

• an irradiation source comprising semiconductor devices operative to produce irradiation,
• the irradiation source configured to direct irradiation toward desired locations of a food item such that the food item can absorb irradiation in at least some desired locations of the food item;
• and
• an irradiation zone in which the food item will be located for irradiation, the irradiation zone being at least partially enclosed by proximate corner-cube reflector material, the corner-cube reflector material comprising an array of contiguous corner-cube reflectors sized sufficiently small and configured such that irradiation that has been, at least one of, reflected from, back-scattered from, or passed through the food item, strikes a reflector of the array and is reflected by the reflector, is reflected back to the food item at substantially the same location on the food item from which such irradiation was, at least one of reflected, back-scattered, or passed through the food item to increase efficiency of the oven by increasing absorption of irradiation at the desired locations of the food item and preventing other heating in the oven,
• wherein at least one of the reflectors includes a non-reflective apex.