Patent ID: 7231838

Claim:
An indicating instrument comprising a stepping motor, a speed-reducing gear mechanism, an indicating needle to be turned by transmission of a rotary output of the stepping motor to the indicating needle via the speed-reducing gear mechanism, a stopper mechanism to mechanically stop turning of the indicating needle, and an initializing unit, wherein a position which the indicating needle indicates when the indicating needle is turned by a preset angle relative to a position which the indicating needle indicates when turning of the indicating needle is mechanically stopped with the stopper mechanism is taken as a graduation-starting position and wherein said initializing unit is configured to drive the stepping motor in such a direction that the indicating needle may turn toward the position where turning of the indicating needle is mechanically stopped with the stopper mechanism; after the turning of the indicating needle is mechanically stopped with the stopper mechanism, to drive the stepping motor in such a direction that the indicating needle may turn away from the place where the turning of the indicating needle is mechanically stopped with the stopper mechanism, thereby to turn the indicating needle beyond the graduation-starting position, and thereafter to drive the stepping motor in such a direction that the indicating needle may turn toward the stopper mechanism; and to return the indicating needle to the graduation-starting position and stop the indicating needle there.