Automation Tool for Meter Cluster Display System

Meter clusters display conventional warnings as well as complicated messages such as ADAS. The display systems of meter clusters are developed using model-based development methods, which include two kinds of models: GUI models and logic models. GUI models display pictures and messages according to the instructions of logic models' output, which are generally formulated using MATLAB/Simulink. Testing and validation of logic models are also performed using MATLAB/Simulink. GUI models are made using GUI tools and can be operated graphically. However, approximately nine million manual operations are necessary for each system. In this way, GUI tools are bound to cause human errors that are difficult to identify. In this study, an automatic layout tool is developed to improve the operation efficiency of the GUI model and reduce any human errors. The automatic layout tool for GUI model has three functions: an arrangement function, a localize function, and a check function. The localize function obtains the pictures and messages from the specifications according to the country information. The arrangement function decides the position of the pictures and messages on the screen. The check function checks whether pictures and messages are piled up. For any specification change, such as a change in pixel movement, the check function takes the XOR of the before and after layouts, which is easy to differentiate. This automatic layout tool is ten times more efficient than conventional GUI tools operated manually.