Embroidery data editing device

Details Embroidery data editing device Embroidery data editing device

1998-08-24

2001-10-16

Beausoleil, Robert (Department: 2181)

Data processing: generic control systems or specific application

Specific application, apparatus or process

Product assembly or manufacturing

C700S135000, C700S136000, C700S137000, C112S102500, C112S470010

Reexamination Certificate

active

06304793

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an embroidery data editing device for editing and correcting embroidery data needed to operate an embroidery sewing machine.
2. Description of Related Art
In order to meet a variety of different taste of users, an embroidery sewing machine has been developed that enables users to design and prepare their own embroidery at home. This embroidery sewing machine is made possible by great improvements in performance of sewing machines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1
shows a conceivable embroidery sewing machine.
The embroidery sewing machine
140
includes: a card mounting portion
143
to be mounted with an embroidery card
110
prestored with embroidery data; a display portion
146
for displaying a variety of different messages; an embroidery frame
145
for fixedly holding a workpiece cloth on which embroidery is to be sewn; a needle
142
for sewing the embroidery using embroidery thread; an embroidery drive portion
141
for controlling drive of the embroidery frame
145
in association with the needle
142
based on embroidery data stored in the embroidery card
110
; operation buttons
148
enabling a user to input a variety of commands into the sewing machine
140
; and an embroidery start button
152
for commanding start of embroidery sewing processes.
Next, an explanation will be provided for internal components of the conceivable embroidery sewing machine
140
while referring to FIG.
2
.
Internal components of the embroidery sewing machine
140
include a CPU
120
which is capable of controlling a variety of operations. The CPU
120
is connected, via a bus
122
, to a needle drive portion
150
for driving the needle
142
, and to the embroidery card
110
mounted in the card mounting portion
143
, the display portion
146
, the embroidery drive portion
141
, the operation buttons
148
, and the embroidery start button
152
.
The embroidery card
110
stores therein data of a plurality of embroidery patterns.
The embroidery patterns will be described below in greater detail.
Each embroidery pattern is constructed from one or more sewing regions, each for being sewn with a single color. It is now assumed that the embroidery card
110
stores therein data of a flower embroidery pattern A shown in FIG.
12
. The flower pattern A includes five closed regions A
1
through A
5
, that is, a flower center portion A
1
, a flower petal portion A
2
, a stem portion A
3
, and two left and right leave portions A
4
and A
5
. Coloring of each closed portion A
1
to A
5
is indicated in
FIG. 12
by different types of hatching. In this example, four different colors of thread are required in total to sew the pattern A. Only the closed portions A
4
and A
5
have the same coloring, and the other closed portions A
1
through A
3
have different coloring. One or more closed portions which are sewn using the same color are termed “sewing regions.” The flower pattern A includes four different sewing regions A
1
, A
2
, A
3
, and A
4
-A
5
as shown in FIGS.
13
(
a
) through
13
(
d
).
It is noted that the embroidery card
110
is sold together with a plurality of sample sheets (not shown) indicative of the plurality of embroidery patterns, data of which is stored in the embroidery card
110
. For example, a sample sheet for the embroidery pattern A of
FIG. 12
is printed with a color sample of the flower pattern A where each sewing region is filled with a corresponding proper color.
With the above-described structure, the conceivable embroidery sewing machine
140
operates as described below with reference to FIG.
3
.
When a user turns ON the power source (not shown) of the embroidery sewing machine
140
, the program of
FIG. 3
starts.
First, in S
100
, the CPU
120
determines whether or not the embroidery card
110
is properly mounted in the card mounting portion
143
. If the embroidery card
110
is determined to be properly mounted in the card mounting portion
143
(Yes in S
100
), then in S
102
, the CPU
120
retrieves, from the embroidery card
110
, the plurality of sets of embroidery data indicative of the plurality of embroidery patterns.
Next in S
104
, the CPU
120
controls the display portion
146
to display images representing the plurality of embroidery patterns based on the embroidery data retrieved from the embroidery card
110
. While referring to the images displayed on the display portion
146
, the user selects one embroidery pattern desired to be sewn. That is, in S
106
, the user inputs his/her selection by operating the operation buttons
148
.
When receiving the user's inputted embroidery selection command, the CPU
120
controls in S
108
the display portion
146
to display one of the sewing regions constituting the selected embroidery pattern. If the user has selected in S
106
the flower pattern A of
FIG. 12
, the CPU
120
controls the display portion
146
to display, as shown in FIG.
13
(
a
), one sewing region (A
1
in this example) to be sewn first.
When the sewing region of the user's selected embroidery pattern is thus displayed in S
108
, then the user visually compares the displayed sewing region with the color sample sheet showing the selected embroidery pattern. The user determines a color for the displayed sewing region to be the same as that shown in the sample sheet for that sewing region. Then, the user threads the needle
142
with an embroidery thread of the determined color, and presses the embroidery start button
152
in S
110
, whereupon embroidery operations are started for sewing the displayed sewing region with the presently-set thread.
It is noted that the embroidery card
110
may be prestored with data indicating one embroidery color predetermined for each sewing region. In this case, the CPU
120
determines the embroidery color of each sewing region and displays in S
108
the embroidery color on the display portion
146
. This enables the user to easily determine which color embroidery thread should be set in the needle
142
. It becomes unnecessary for the user to compare the displayed pattern with the sample sheet.
Once sewing of the sewing region started in S
110
has been completed, then the program proceeds to S
112
. In S
112
, the CPU
120
determines whether or not all the sewing regions of the selected embroidery pattern have been completely sewn.
When it is determined that all the sewing regions have not yet been sewn (No in S
112
), then the program returns to S
108
, whereupon a next sewing region is displayed. In the example of
FIGS. 12-13
, when the first sewing region A
1
has been sewn, the next sewing region A
2
is displayed in S
108
and is sewn in S
110
. Then, the program returns through S
112
to S
108
. Thus, the sewing regions A
1
-A
5
are successively sewn in the repeatedly-executed processes of S
108
-S
112
. When it is determined that all the sewing regions have been completely sewn (Yes in S
112
), then one series of sewing operations are completed, and the user's selected embroidery pattern is sewn. Then, this process ends.
On the other hand, when it is determined in S
100
that the embroidery card
110
is not properly mounted (No in S
100
), then the program proceeds to S
120
, where the CPU
120
displays on the display portion
146
a message urging the user to properly mount the embroidery card
110
and to again turn ON the power source. Afterwards, these processes are ended.
According to the above-described conceivable method, however, the user selects the color of embroidery thread based on the predetermined embroidery sample or on the predetermined embroidery color data stored in the embroidery card
110
. Accordingly, colors in which embroidery patterns could be sewn is limited to the same predetermined colors.
It is conceivable for the user to select embroidery colors other than those indicated by embroidery samples or by the embroidery card. However, selecting suitable colors takes a fair amount of designed sense and so is often difficult for the general user to perfor

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