An apparatus for determining a position of an object relative to a representation of an image to be represented includes a position pattern generator for generating a position pattern subdivided into a plurality of pattern portions, each of the pattern portions having an unambiguous bit pattern of a plurality of bit patterns, and the bit patterns being Gray-coded in a generalized manner; a combination unit for combining the position pattern with the at least one image to be represented and for providing a corresponding combined image; an optical sensor for optically sensing an image section of the combined image, being correlated with the object position; a filter for extracting at least one bit pattern corresponding to a pattern portion of the position pattern, from the image section and for providing at least one corresponding extracted pattern portion; and a determiner for determining the object position based on the extracted bit pattern. A method for determining the position of an object is also disclosed.