Optoelectronic sensor for detecting an object in a monitoring area with at least one light source for emitting transmitted light, a beam splitter arrangement arranged downstream of the light source for splitting the transmitted light into a plurality of transmitted light beams which are separated from one another and produce isolated, spaced-apart light spots when they strike an object in the monitored area, a transmitting optical system for projecting the transmitted light beams into the monitored area, a light receiver with upstream receiving optics for generating received signals from light beams remitted from the object, and a control and evaluation unit for obtaining information about the object from the received signals, which is designed for this purpose, determining a distance of the object from a light propagation time between emission of the transmitted light beams and reception of the remitted light beams , wherein the beam splitter arrangement has at least one input for receiving the transmitted light from the light source , a plurality of outputs (16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8) for emitting the transmitted light beams , a plurality of switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4) for distributing the transmitted light to the outputs (66c.1, 66c.2, 66c.3, 66c.4, 66c.5, 66c.6, 66c.7, 66c.8) and a beam splitter controller for controlling the switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4), wherein the switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4) are set up for simultaneous splitting of the transmitted light to at least two outputs (16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8) of the beam splitter arrangement , and wherein the switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4) are designed as integrated switchable waveguide couplers, characterized in that the actuation of the switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4) includes the setting of splitting ratios of the switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4). wherein the beam splitter arrangement has at least one input for receiving the transmitted light from the light source , a plurality of outputs (16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8) for emitting the transmitted light beams , a plurality of switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4) for distributing the transmitted light to the outputs (66c.1, 66c.2, 66c.3, 66c.4, 66c.5, 66c.6, 66c.7, 66c.8) and a beam splitter controller for controlling the switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4), wherein the switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4) are set up for simultaneous splitting of the transmitted light to at least two outputs (16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, 16.5, 16.6, 16.7, 16.8) of the beam splitter arrangement , and wherein the switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4) are designed as integrated switchable waveguide couplers, characterized in that the actuation of the switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4) includes the setting of splitting ratios of the switchable beam splitters (64a, 64b.1, 64b.2, 64c.1, 64c.2, 64c.3, 64c.4). <EOS>