The classification device (1) comprises a pre-
processing unit (10), an identification unit (30), and a
material system (20) positioned between the pre-
processing unit and the identification unit. The
material system (20) comprises a heterogeneous magnetic medium (50) subdivided into a plurality of regions (51), each region being magnetically connected to at least one adjacent region via a
coupling link (53). According to the present invention, the
material system (20) further comprises control means (71, 73) for setting the
coupling value of each
coupling link.