APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MARKING OBJECTS, OBJECTS MARKED THEREBY AND APPARATUS AND METHOD OF READING MARKED OBJECTS

摘要

An apparatus for marking objects is disclosed. The apparatus (20) comprises: a source device (22) including a mother isotope for emitting daughter isotopes by radioactive decay; preferably a positioning mechanism (24) for positioning an object in close proximity to the source device; and a patterning mechanism (28) for restricting implantation of the daughter isotopes into a surface of the object, so as to create a detectable pattern of the daughter isotopes on the object.