Abstract: An object-identifying system is described comprising at least one device for remotely identifying a plurality of objects bearing each a characteristic code in the form of a badge which has alternating reflective and non-reflective strip zones. The objects may be moving past the device but could also be motionless. When illuminated by a light source, the badge reflects a part of the incident light beam to an opto-electrical transducer which is formed by a number of diodes in a row. Control means allow the photodiodes to be switched on and off in succession to scan the badge. The length of the row of diodes is generally greater than the length of the code support in the scanning direction to allow for any possible disalignment between the support and the identification device.