Method and device for detecting an object by means of a broadband laser pulse

A method and a device for detecting an object using broadband laser pulses with a given wavelength distribution, pulse duration and repetition frequency which is suitable for use in a motor vehicle comprise the steps:emit broadband laser pulses,generate a stretched pulse from each broadband laser pulse by applying an angle dispersion to the broadband laser pulse, whereby the different wavelengths of the broadband laser pulse are spread into different anglesdetect a reflected subsection of the stretched pulse which is reflected by the object arranged in the stretched pulse,determine the wavelengths in the reflected subsection of the stretched pulse,determine the runtime of the stretched pulse from the dispersive element to the object using a time-of-flight method, anddetermine the distance and the width of the object as a function of the runtime of the stretched pulse and the wavelength range of the reflected subsection of the stretched pulse.