The invention relates to a method for providing a detection signal for objects (70) to be detected, wherein by means of a first optical non-linear 3-wave process (30, 30a), from a light beam of a light source (10) having an output frequency (f<laser>), at least one first and one second light beam are generated, which have different frequencies (f<obj>, f<ref>) and wherein the first light beam having a reference frequency (f<ref>) is detected and wherein the second light beam having an object frequency (f<obj>) is emitted and, after reflection on an object (70), is received, and wherein the light beam having the output frequency (f<laser>) and the second light beam having the object frequency (f<obj>) are superimposed, and wherein by means of a second optical non-linear 3-wave process (30,30b), from the two superimposed light beams having the output frequency (f<laser>) and having the object frequency (f<obj>), a reference beam having a reference frequency (f<ref>) is generated, and wherein a detection signal is generated such that, based on the time difference between the detection of the first light beam having the reference frequency (f<ref>) and a detection of a change in the reference beam having reference frequency (f<ref>) on the basis of said superimposition, the distance (d) of the object (70) can be determined.