The invention relates to a method for operating a pulse generator (1) for generating measuring pulses for a capacitive sensor having an adjustable pulse time in the range from 10 ns to 200 ns. The a pulse generator (1) comprises a controllable delay circuit (2) which contains a first integrating RC combination (RT1/CT1) and a second integrating RC combination (RT2/CT2); a logical combining element (3) having two inputs and one output; an initialization circuit (5) and a control unit (4), wherein the first input of the logical combining element (3) receives a clock signal, and the second input of the logical combining element (3) receives an analog setting signal (SSE) from the output of the delay circuit (2). Two simultaneous clock signals are generated, of which the first clock signal (T) is led without delay to the first input of the logical combining element (3), and the second clock signal (T2), delayed by the delay circuit (2), is led to the second input of the logical combining element (3), time-variable output pulses are generated with the aid of time-variable preloading signals (VL), wherein the output from the delay circuit (2) after each measuring pulse is discharged or charged by the initialization switch (5).