Abstract: A pointing device includes a resilient substrate having flat upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of strain gages integrally formed on at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate, and a stick having a base connected to a central portion on the upper surface of the substrate, and a tip end opposite the base and displaceable in an arbitrary direction. The stick extends perpendicularly to the upper surface of the substrate. A displacement direction and a displacement quantity of the tip end of the stick are detectable from outputs of the strain gages.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor including a magnetoresistance effect element directed to prevent deterioration in the detection sensitivity occurring due to inversion of the magnetization of a plurality of ferromagnetic thin film stripes forming the magnetoresistance effect element with respect to the initial direction during the repeated operations, the magnetic sensor being arranged in such a manner that the magnetoresistance effect element is disposed at a position deviating from the center of the magnetic pole surface of a cylindrical magnet, preferably at a position deviating in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the magnetic object to be detected is moved. The thus-employed arrangement enables a bias magnetic field to be applied to the magnetoresistance effect element in parallel to the deviation direction. Therefore, the magnetization of all of the plurality of the ferromagnetic thin film stripes forming the magnetoresistance effect element can be caused to face the same direction.