Patent ID: 8168917

Claim:
A system for encoding information on a movable object, the moveable object including a circumferential surface and a longitudinal axis, the system comprising: a single laser optically coupled to a moveable object and configured to project concentrated electromagnetic radiation onto the moveable object, whereby the concentrated electromagnetic radiation heats a portion of the surface of the moveable object affected by the radiation so as to anneal the portion of the surface affected by the radiation, thereby modifying the reflective characteristics of the annealed portion; a mounting apparatus configured to adaptively position the moveable object relative to the laser; and a controller in communication with the laser and the mounting apparatus and configured to control one or more of the mounting apparatus and the laser to project a desired encoding pattern onto the moveable object, the controller being further configured to adjust a position of one or more of the moveable object and the laser if an incident characteristic associated with the electromagnetic radiation exceeds an incident threshold value.