Detection apparatus

A method for the spatially resolved detection of objects (13) located in a monitored zone (11) by means of an apparatus which includes a transmission device (43) for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation (17) in a transmission region (19) and a reception device (41) for the reception of radiation (25) reflected from a reception region (23),

• wherein the transmission region (19) and the reception region (23) overlap or intersect in a detection region (27) which is disposed within the monitored zone (11), which covers a detection angle (27) and in which the transmitted radiation (17) is reflected by objects;
• and
• wherein the apparatus includes an imaging arrangement (29) which is disposed in the propagation path of the transmitted radiation (17) and/or of the reflected radiation (25) and which covers the total detection region (27) at the transmission side and/or at the reception side at all times;
• wherein the propagation path of the radiation (17, 25) is influenced and/or the reception device (41) is operated such that the position, in particular the spacing, of the detection region (24) relative to the imaging arrangement (29) and/or the size of the detection region (27) determined by the degree to which the transmission region (19) and/or the reception region (23) overlap or intersect is/are changed.

Use of an imaging arrangement (29),

• which completely covers a detection region (27) at the transmission side and/or at the reception side at all times,
• in particular of a panoramic lens, of an omnidirectional lens or of at least one partly conical mirror,
• in an apparatus for the spatially resolved detection of objects (13) located in a monitored zone (11),
• wherein the apparatus includes a transmission device (43) for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation (17) in a transmission region (19) and a reception device (41) for the reception of radiation (25) reflected from a reception region (23), wherein the transmission region (19) and the reception region (23) overlap or intersect in the detection region (27) which is disposed within the monitored zone (11), which covers a detection angle and in which the transmitted radiation (17) is reflected by objects (13);
• wherein the imaging arrangement (29) is disposed in the propagation path of the transmitted radiation (17) and/or of the reflected radiation (25);
• and
• wherein the apparatus includes spatial resolution means (31) for the influencing of the propagation direction of the radiation (17, 25) and/or for the operation of the reception device (41), in particular in a time varying manner, such that the position, in particular the spacing, of the detection region (27) relative to the imaging arrangement (29) and/or the size of the detection region (27) determined by the degree to which the transmission region (19) and the reception region (23) overlap or intersect can be changed.