A character shielding-preventive pointer instrument for automotive gauges
includes a polarizer film having permeability or non-permeability
characteristics selectively depending on whether power is supplied
thereto. The polarizer film is attached on a lower surface of a front end
portion of a pointer needle positioned just above characters of a
character plate. Whether or not power is supplied to the polarizer film
is controlled depending on the current position of the pointer needle by
a micro computer such that the polarizer film is permeable to light when
the pointer needle is located above a character of the character plate so
that light emitted from the character plate passes through the pointer
needle through the polarizer film to prevent the pointer needle from
shielding the character.