Optical detection apparatus for detecting objects, - comprising at least one transmitting device for emitting light pulses (18a, 18b), wherein transmitting device has a light-emitting first semiconductor element embodied as a diode in order to irradiate a spatial region in the surroundings, said semiconductor element having a reverse direction and a forward direction with respect to an electrical voltage, wherein the first semiconductor element emits light when an electrical voltage is applied in its forward direction, - comprising at least one receiver (20a, 20b), by which the light pulses (18a, 18b) can be received, - comprising at least one control and evaluation device for controlling the at least one transmitting device and the at least one receiver (20a, 20b) and for evaluating light pulses (18a, 18b) received by the at least one receiver (20a, 20b), - and comprising a function checking device, characterized in that the at least one transmitting device has - at least one light-emitting second semiconductor element which is embodied as a diode and which has a reverse direction and a forward direction with respect to an electrical voltage, wherein the second semiconductor element emits light when an electrical voltage is applied in its forward direction, - wherein the first semiconductor element and the at least one second semiconductor element are connected in parallel with respect to the electrical voltage and oppositely with respect to their reverse directions, - wherein the second semiconductor element is part of the function checking device of the detection apparatus, and wherein at the moment when the first semiconductor element is turned off, with electrical inductances of the transmitting device, at least one induced voltage pulse is generated which is directed oppositely to the transmission voltage pulse, and the induced voltage pulse is applied to the at least one light-emitting second semiconductor element, such that the at least one second semiconductor element emits a light pulse owing to the induced voltage pulse, and the receiver (20a, 20b) of the detection apparatus is provided for directly or indirectly receiving the light pulse emitted by the second semiconductor element, and the function checking device is provided for deducing the functionality of at least parts of the detection apparatus from the received light pulse. - comprising at least one transmitting device for emitting light pulses (18a, 18b), wherein transmitting device has a light-emitting first semiconductor element embodied as a diode in order to irradiate a spatial region in the surroundings, said semiconductor element having a reverse direction and a forward direction with respect to an electrical voltage, wherein the first semiconductor element emits light when an electrical voltage is applied in its forward direction, - comprising at least one receiver (20a, 20b), by which the light pulses (18a, 18b) can be received, - comprising at least one control and evaluation device for controlling the at least one transmitting device and the at least one receiver (20a, 20b) and for evaluating light pulses (18a, 18b) received by the at least one receiver (20a, 20b), - and comprising a function checking device, characterized in that the at least one transmitting device has - at least one light-emitting second semiconductor element which is embodied as a diode and which has a reverse direction and a forward direction with respect to an electrical voltage, wherein the second semiconductor element emits light when an electrical voltage is applied in its forward direction, - wherein the first semiconductor element and the at least one second semiconductor element are connected in parallel with respect to the electrical voltage and oppositely with respect to their reverse directions, - wherein the second semiconductor element is part of the function checking device of the detection apparatus,