The invention describes an apparatus for detecting an object area with a flat housing having a first main side, a second main side, a lateral side; and a multi-aperture device with a plurality of laterally juxtaposed optical channels facing the lateral side, wherein each optical channel is configured to detect a respective partial area of the object area through the lateral side or along an optical axis of the respective optical channel that is deflected between a lateral course within the housing and a non-lateral course outside the housing, wherein the partial areas of the optical channels cover the object area.