Patent ID: 6900713

Claim:
A magnetic switch which performs switching using a magnetoresistive element having a free layer whose direction of magnetization is changed by an external magnetic field, the magnetic switch comprising: a first magnet; a second magnet for producing a magnetic field that is stronger than and opposite in direction to a magnetic field produced by the first magnet; and a magnetic shield member movably disposed between the first magnet and the second magnet, wherein the magnetoresistive element is disposed adjacent to the first magnet, and the second magnet is disposed at a longer distance from the magnetoresistive element than the first magnet, wherein a switching signal for a switch operation is output by operating the magnetoresistive element to determine the direction of magnetization of the free layer by the direction of the magnetic field of the second magnet when the magnetic shield member is not placed between the first magnet and the second magnet, and by operating the magnetoresistive element to determine the direction of magnetization of the free layer by the direction of the magnetic field of the first magnet when the magnetic shield member is placed between the first magnet and the second magnet.