Miniaturized, inductive proximity sensor and method for detecting a sensing body

A method for detecting an object using an inductive proximity sensor, the method comprising:

• generating an alternating field using a transmitting coil of the inductive proximity sensor;
• and
• sensing, using two receiving coils of the inductive proximity sensor, a change in the alternating field caused by proximity of the object, wherein
• the inductive proximity sensor has an external diameter of equal to or smaller than 10 mm,
• the inductive proximity sensor further includes a top board not including coils and configured to act as an interface with terminal pads for connection to circuitry including a generator or oscillator,
• the transmitting coil is arranged between the two receiving coils,
• the receiving coils and transmitting coil are formed from a group of at least two individual coils on carrier boards, which are arranged parallel to one another and axially offset as a stack along a common sensor axis, and
• a winding of the transmitting coil or a receiving coil of the two receiving coils has a cross-sectional geometry in which a ratio of a base width to a height lies in a range of from 0.2 to 0.3.