Method for optical distance measurement, wherein the method comprises transmitting measurement pulses by means of transmitting elements and receiving reflected measurement pulses by means of receiving elements, wherein a transmitting element each is assigned to the receiving elements, wherein the method comprises the definition of at least one first group of receiving elements comprising N receiving elements, wherein the transmitting elements assigned to the first group of receiving elements each transmit at least one measurement pulse for distance measurement, wherein transmitted measurement pulses are reflected by at least one object in a measurement area, and wherein the receiving elements of the first group receive the reflected measurement pulses, wherein a single evaluation unit is used for evaluating the reflected measurement pulses received by the receiving elements of the first group by means of time multiplexing wherein for each transmitted measurement pulse one measurement window each with a measurement window duration is assigned to each receiving element of the first group by means of the assigned transmitting element, wherein for each transmitted measurement pulse one time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) each is assigned to each receiving element of the first group by means of the assigned transmitting element for the transmission of data to the evaluation unit, characterized in that the time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) is shorter than the measurement window duration wherein the time segments (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) assigned to the N receiving elements each have a duration of the measurement window duration divided by N, and wherein the time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) assigned to a receiving element is arranged temporally before an end of the measurement window, wherein the evaluation unit is actively connected to the receiving elements of the first group only during the respectively assigned time segments (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) so that each receiving element exclusively receives the assigned time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) for transmitting data and only measurement pulses received during the time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) are forwarded for evaluation and evaluated, and wherein no transmission of data takes place outside the time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c), so that no evaluation of measurement pulses received outside the time segment is possible. wherein the method comprises transmitting measurement pulses by means of transmitting elements and receiving reflected measurement pulses by means of receiving elements, wherein a transmitting element each is assigned to the receiving elements, wherein the method comprises the definition of at least one first group of receiving elements comprising N receiving elements, wherein the transmitting elements assigned to the first group of receiving elements each transmit at least one measurement pulse for distance measurement, wherein transmitted measurement pulses are reflected by at least one object in a measurement area, and wherein the receiving elements of the first group receive the reflected measurement pulses, wherein a single evaluation unit is used for evaluating the reflected measurement pulses received by the receiving elements of the first group by means of time multiplexing wherein for each transmitted measurement pulse one measurement window each with a measurement window duration is assigned to each receiving element of the first group by means of the assigned transmitting element, wherein for each transmitted measurement pulse one time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) each is assigned to each receiving element of the first group by means of the assigned transmitting element for the transmission of data to the evaluation unit, characterized in that the time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) is shorter than the measurement window duration wherein the time segments (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) assigned to the N receiving elements each have a duration of the measurement window duration divided by N, and wherein the time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) assigned to a receiving element is arranged temporally before an end of the measurement window, wherein the evaluation unit is actively connected to the receiving elements of the first group only during the respectively assigned time segments (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) so that each receiving element exclusively receives the assigned time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) for transmitting data and only measurement pulses received during the time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c) are forwarded for evaluation and evaluated, and wherein no transmission of data takes place outside the time segment (15a, 15b, 15c, 16a, 16b, 17a, 17b, 17c), so that no evaluation of measurement pulses received outside the time segment is possible.