APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING AN OBJECT HAVING RANDOMLY DISTRIBUTED IDENTIFICATION ELEMENTS

摘要

A method for verifying the authenticity of an object, e.g. a bank note or a cheque, is described. The object is provided with a primary identifier in the form of a plurality of identification elements embedded in the object. The identification elements are visually detectable when illuminated by infrared or ultraviolet electromagnetic radiation but are visually indistinguishable from the rest of the object when illuminated with visible light. The object has a reference point in the form of a printed symbol defining an area of the object in which at least some of the identification elements are provided. The method includes the step of identifying a sub-area of the object defined by the reference point, and recording information relating to the positions of the identification elements in the sub-area relative to the reference point. A detector that can be used to carry out this method is also described.