A receiving device for an optical detection appliance for receiving optical reception signals, in particular of a transmitting device of the detection appliance, that are reflected at an object (18), a detection appliance and a driver assistance system are described. The receiving device comprises at least one optical sensor (36) comprising at least one detection surface (38) with at least one row (44) with a number of optical detection regions (40, 42) extending along a first extension direction (46) of the at least one detection surface (38). At least two of the detection regions (40, 42) can be analysed separately from each other for positional resolution of a received signal. The respective extents of at least two detection regions (40, 42) are different, at least when viewed along the first extension direction (46).