Patent Application
20130138240
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-260529, filed Nov. 29, 2011, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a display control apparatus and a sewing machine that are capable of displaying information that pertains to sewing, and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a sewing machine control program.
A display device is known on which may be displayed a plurality of information items that pertain to sewing, and a sewing machine that includes the display device is also known. For example, a sewing machine is known in which a stitch type selection screen, which is an item display area, may be displayed on a liquid crystal display, along with an area for displaying and setting a swing width for a zigzag stitch type, an area for displaying and setting a stitch length for a stitch type, an area for displaying and setting a thread tension for a stitch type, and various types of input selection keys. Moreover, twenty keys for utility stitches may be displayed on the stitch type selection screen, for example. Various types of information that pertain to sewing may thus be displayed on the liquid crystal display.
As functions of the sewing machine increase in number, the number of information items that pertain to sewing may become greater. Therefore, if all of the information items are displayed on the liquid crystal display, the screen may become confusing and more difficult to recognize visually.
Embodiments of the broad principles derived herein provide a display control apparatus, a sewing machine, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a sewing machine control program that make it possible to present more information items to a user while ensuring that the screen can be recognized visually.
Embodiments provide a display control apparatus that includes a display control portion and a size change portion. The display control portion is configured to cause a display portion to display a first display area and a second display area. The display portion is configured to display an image. The first display area is displayed adjacent to the second display area. The first display area is an area that displays first information that includes information that pertains to sewing. The second display area is an area that displays second information that includes information that pertains to sewing and that is different from the first information. The size change portion is configured to change a size of at least one of the first display area and the second display area that are displayed on the display portion by the display control portion.
Embodiments also provide a sewing machine that includes a display portion, a display control portion, and a size change portion. The display portion is configured to display an image. The display control portion is configured to cause the display portion to display a first display area and a second display area. The first display area is displayed adjacent to the second display area. The first display area is an area that displays first information that includes information that pertains to sewing. The second display area is an area that displays second information that includes information that pertains to sewing and that is different from the first information. The size change portion is configured to change a size of at least one of the first display area and the second display area that are displayed on the display portion by the display control portion.
Embodiments further provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a control program executable on a sewing machine. The program includes instructions that cause the sewing machine to perform the step of causing a display portion to display a first display area and a second display area. The display portion is configured to display an image. The first display area is displayed adjacent to the second display area. The first display area is an area that displays first information that includes information that pertains to sewing. The second display area is an area that displays second information that includes information that pertains to sewing and that is different from the first information. The program also includes instructions that cause the sewing machine to perform the step of changing a size of at least one of the first display area and the second display area that are displayed on the display portion.
Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is an example of a case in which the present disclosure is applied to a sewing machine that is configured to form a stitch in a work cloth by moving the work cloth in relation to a needle that may move up and down.
A physical configuration of a sewing machine 1 will be explained with reference to
As shown in
A liquid crystal display 15 that has a vertically rectangular shape is provided on the front face of the pillar 12. Keys for executing various types of functions that are necessary for sewing operations, various types of messages, various stitch types, and the like may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 15.
A transparent touch panel 26 is provided on the surface (the front face) of the liquid crystal display 15. Therefore, by using a finger or a special touch pen to touch a position on the touch panel 26 that correspond to the various types of keys and the like on the screen that is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15, a user can, for example, select a stitch type to be sewn, make various types of settings for the selected stitch type, and the like. Hereinafter, the operation of using a finger or the special touch pen to touch a position on the touch panel 26 will be referred to as a panel operation.
A connector 38, to which an external device such as a memory card or the like (not shown in the drawings) can be connected, is provided on the right side face of the pillar 12. Through the connector 38, stitch type data and various types of programs can be loaded into the sewing machine 1 from the external device and can be output from the sewing machine 1 to the outside.
A cover 16 to be opened and closed is attached to the top of the arm 13. The cover 16 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the arm 13. The cover 16 is axially supported at the rear upper edge of the arm 13 such that the cover 16 may be opened and closed around the right-left directional axis. A thread container portion 17 is provided close to the middle of the top of the arm 13 under the cover 16. The thread container portion 17 is a recessed portion for containing a thread spool 19 that may supply a thread to the sewing machine 1. A spool pin 18, which projects toward the head 14, is disposed on an inner face of the thread container portion 17 on the pillar 12 side. The thread spool 19 may be attached to the spool pin 18 when the spool pin 18 is inserted through an insertion hole (not shown in the drawings) that is formed in the thread spool 19. An upper thread 20 may be supplied from the thread spool 19 to a needle 29 that is attached to the needle bar through a thread guide that includes a tensioner, a thread take-up spring, a thread take-up lever, and the like, which are not shown in the drawings. The tensioner is provided in the head 14 and is configured to adjust the thread tension. The thread take-up lever may be driven reciprocally up and down and may pull the thread up.
A drive shaft (not shown in the drawings) is also provided in the arm 13. The drive shaft extends in the longitudinal direction of the arm 13 and may be rotationally driven by a sewing machine motor 79 (refer to
A switch cluster 21 is provided at the bottom of the front face of the arm 13. The switch cluster includes a sewing start/stop switch, a reverse stitch switch, a needle up-and-down switch, a presser foot elevation switch, an automatic threading switch, and the like.
In addition to the needle bar, the thread take-up lever, the tensioner, and the thread take-up spring, which are described above, the head 14 is provided with an automatic thread guide device, an automatic threading mechanism, and the like, which are not shown in the drawings. A presser bar (not shown in the drawings) is provided to the rear of the needle bar. The presser bar is supported by a sewing machine frame such that the presser bar can be moved up and down. A presser foot 30 may be attached to the lower end of the presser bar. The presser foot 30 may press down on the work cloth.
An electrical configuration of the sewing machine 1 will be explained with reference to
The switch cluster 21, the touch panel 26, and drive circuits 71, 72, 74, 75 are electrically connected to the input/output interface 65. The drive circuit 71 may drive the feed adjustment pulse motor 78. The drive circuit 72 may drive the sewing machine motor 79. The drive circuit 74 may drive the swinging-and-releasing pulse motor 80. The drive circuit 75 may drive the liquid crystal display 15.
Images that may be displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 will be explained with reference to
In a case where the character decorative stitch key 92 is operated, the stitch type selection keys 103 are displayed in the first display area 100. The stitch type selection keys 103 that are displayed in this case may be used for selecting a character decorative stitch that is to be formed by the sewing machine 1. The character decorative stitches may include, for example, stitch types for hiragana characters, katakana characters, alphabetic characters, and the like, as well as stitch types for decorative patterns. In a case where the screen lock key 93 is operated, the touch panel 26 is locked, such that processing is not performed even if a panel operation is performed. In a case where the home key 94 is operated, a home screen is displayed. The home screen is a screen that is initially displayed when the power supply to the sewing machine 1 is turned on.
The first display area 100 may be displayed below the utility stitch key 91, the character decorative stitch key 92, the screen lock key 93, and the home key 94. The first display area 100 is an area in which first information, which includes information that pertains to sewing, is displayed. The information that pertains to sewing that is included in the first information may include, for example, the stitch type selection keys 103 for the utility stitches, the stitch type selection keys 103 for the character decorative stitches, and the like. The first information may include only information that pertains to sewing. The first information may include information that does not directly pertain to sewing, such as a clock or the like, for example.
As shown in
Some {sixteen in
Data for the stitch type that corresponds to the stitch type selection key 103 that is selected from among the stitch type selection keys 103 that are displayed in the first display area 100 may be read from the EEPROM 64 and may be stored in the RAM 63. The category number, the sub-category number, and the stitch type name for the selected stitch type may be displayed in a selected stitch type display field 120 above the stitch type selection keys 103 (refer to
In addition, the stitch type pattern for the selected utility stitch may be displayed in a selected stitch type display 121 in a selected stitch type display area 150 (refer to
The five category selection keys 141 to 145 may be displayed in a vertical array to the right of the plurality of the stitch type selection keys 103 in the first display area 100. The category selection keys 141 to 145 may be used for selecting the category numbers 1 to 5. In a case where any one of the categories is selected by a panel operation, the stitch type selection keys 103 for the stitch types that are included in the selected category are displayed in the first display area 100.
The category number display 147 and the position display 148 may be displayed to the right of the category selection keys 141 to 145. The category number display 147 shows the selected category. In
Below the first display area 100, a second display area 160 may be provided that is adjacent to the first display area 100. The second display area 160 is an area that displays second information. The second information may include information that pertains to sewing and that is different from the first information. In the examples that are shown in
Of the plurality of the function keys 50, the function key 501 is a free motion mode key. The function key 501 may be used for making a setting such that the feed dog 34 does not touch the work cloth and the user can move the work cloth freely. The function key 502 is a left-right inversion key. The function key 502 may be used for making a left-right inversion of the stitch type. The function key 503 is a top-bottom inversion key. The function key 503 may be used for making a top-bottom inversion of the stitch type. The function key 504 is a two needles key. The function key 504 may be used for switching settings between a case in which sewing is performed with one needle and a case in which sewing is performed with two needles. The function key 505 is a continuous sewing key. The function key 505 may be used for switching between a case in which a plurality of stitch types are sewn continuously and a case in which the sewing stops after each individual stitch type is sewn.
The function key 506 is a stitch type positioning key. In a case where the function key 506 is operated when the sewing is stopped, the needle drop point can be returned to the starting point for sewing the stitch type during the sewing. The function key 507 is a cancel key. The function key 507 may be used for canceling a stitch type that has been selected. The function key 508 is a size key. The function key 508 may be used for changing the size of the selected stitch type. The function keys 509 and 510 are undefined. New functions can be added to the undefined function keys 509 and 510 by connecting to the connector 38 (refer to
The size of the second display area 160 may be changed by operating a tab 161. For example, in
The tab 161 of the second display area 160 is a portion that protrudes from the second display area 160 (upward in the present embodiment) toward the first display area 100 that is adjacent to the second display area 160. More specifically, the tab 161 may be provided in the upper right part of the second display area 160 and may protrude upward. The upper end of the tab 161 may be displayed as having a rounded shape. The size of the second display area 160 may be changed by performing a panel operation such as touching the tab 161, dragging and dropping the tab 161, or the like (refer to Steps S16 and S18 in
A direction indicator 162 may be displayed within the tab 161. The direction indicator 162 indicates the direction in which the size of the second display area 160 can be changed. For example, in a case where the second display area 160 is in the small area state (refer to
The above-described selected stitch type display area 150 will be explained in more detail. As shown in
A pivot key 126, an automatic reinforcement stitch key 127, an automatic thread cut key 128, and the like may be displayed in a vertical array below the selected stitch type display 121. The pivot key 126 may be used for making a pivot setting. In a case where a pivot setting is made and sewing is stopped, the sewing machine 1 stops sewing with the needle 29 in a lowered state. Then the presser foot 30 may automatically rise. The user may rotate the work cloth using the needle 29 as a pivot point. The automatic reinforcement stitch key 127 may be used for setting an operation that sews a reinforcement stitch automatically when sewing starts and when sewing is completed. The automatic thread cut key 128 may be used for making a setting such that the upper thread and a lower thread is to be cut automatically when sewing is completed.
An item display area 530 may be provided below the second display area 160. Stitch adjustment keys 531, a shift key 534, and a tension key 535 may be displayed in the item display area 530. The stitch adjustment keys 531 include a width adjustment key 532 and a length adjustment key 533. The width adjustment key 532 may be used for adjusting the zigzag swing width for the stitch type that has been selected by one of the stitch type selection keys 103. The length adjustment key 533 may be used for adjusting the stitch length for the selected stitch type. The shift key 534 may be used for moving the stitch position to the left and to the right. The tension key 535 may be used for adjusting the thread tension. Individual setting values can be increased and decreased, and the desired setting values can be adjusted, by operating the individual keys 532 to 535 that are displayed in the item display area 530. The setting values may be displayed in setting value displays 536 to the left of the corresponding keys 532 to 535.
The upper and lower limit values for the swing width and the upper and lower limit values for the stitch length may be respectively set in the range of 0.0 to 7.0 millimeters and the range of 0.0 to 5.0 millimeters in accordance with the stitch type that is selected, and the values may be stored in one of the ROM 62 and the EEPROM 64. The upper and lower limit values that have been stored for the swing width and the stitch length may be read out when various types of processing that involve the swing width and the stitch length are performed, and the values may be stored in the RAM 63 in a state in which the values can be adjusted. It is therefore possible for the swing width and the stitch length for the selected stitch type to be adjusted easily and precisely as the user desires. Accordingly, the stitch type may be sewn using the desired stitches. The setting value for the thread tension may be ordinarily set to an optimum thread tension that is determined for each stitch type. For example, it is possible to adjust the thread tension in a range of 0.0 to 9.0.
Main processing will be explained with reference to the flowchart in
Next, a determination is made as to whether a panel operation has been performed (Step S12). If a panel operation has not been performed (NO at Step S12), the processing returns to Step S12. If a panel operation has been performed (YES at Step S12), a determination is made as to whether the tab 161 has been operated (Step S13). Specifically, a determination is made as to whether the panel operation that was detected at Step S12 is a panel operation at the location on the touch panel 26 that corresponds to the tab 161 (the location where the tab 161 is positioned on the front face).
In a case where the tab 161 has not been operated (NO at Step S13), processing is performed that corresponds to the key that has been operated (Step S14). For example, a case is considered in which, of the stitch type selection keys 103 in the first display area 100 that is shown in
Various types of settings may be made for the stitch type for the selected sub-category number 1-16 by using the function keys 50, the stitch adjustment key 531, the shift key 534, the tension key 535, and the like. For example, in a case where the function key 502 (the left-right inversion key) that is displayed in the second display area 160 has been operated (YES at Step S12; NO at Step S13), the selected stitch type display 121 is inverted left to right and is changed from the state that is shown in
In a case where, at Step S13, the location on the touch panel 26 that corresponds to the tab 161 has been operated (YES at Step S13), a determination is made as to whether the second display area 160 is in the large area state (refer to
Next, at approximately the same time as Step 516, the direction indicator 162 of the tab 161 is switched to the direction in which the size of the second display area 160 can be changed the next time (Step S17). Specifically, as shown in
In the case of the specific example, the second display area 160 enters the large area state, as shown in
In a case where it has been determined at Step S15 that the second display area 160 is in the large area state (YES at Step S15), the size of the second display area 160 is changed, and the second display area 160 is displayed as small (Step S18). The second display area 160 is thus changed from the large area state (refer to
Next, at approximately the same time as the processing at Step S18, the direction indicator 162 of the tab 161 is switched to the direction in which the size of the second display area 160 can be changed the next time (Step S19). Specifically, as shown in
The main processing according to the present embodiment is performed as described above. The size of the liquid crystal display 15 is limited. Accordingly, if too much information is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15, it may be difficult to visually recognize the image. In the present embodiment, the size of the second display area 160 can be changed. Therefore, it is best for the number of items of the first information (the stitch type selection keys 103 and the like) and the second information (the function keys 501 to 505) that are displayed in the first and second display areas 100, 160 to be limited to a number that makes it possible to visually recognize the image (refer to
The user may change the size of the second display area 160 by operating the touch panel 26. That is, because the user uses the touch panel 26, the user can change the size of the second display area 160 intuitively by operating the tab 161 in the image that is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. Because the panel operation can be performed intuitively, the convenience for the user may be improved.
The user may change the size of the second display area 160 by performing a panel operation on the location on the touch panel 26 that corresponds to the tab 161. Because the tab 161 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15, it may be easy for the user to recognize the location of the operation portion (that is, the tab 161) that changes the size of the second display area 160. This may improve the operability in a case where the user changes the size of the second display area 160.
The tab 161 is a portion that protrudes toward the first display area 100 from the second display area 160. Therefore, the tab 161 may be made conspicuous on the screen that is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. That makes it easier for the user to recognize the position of the tab 161. The operability in a case where the user changes the size of the second display area 160 may therefore be further improved.
The direction indicator 162 that indicates the direction in which the size of the second display area 160 can be changed is displayed within the tab 161. Therefore, in a case where the user operates the tab 161, the user can easily recognize the direction in which the size of the second display area 160 can be changed. That may improve the convenience for the user.
In the present embodiment, the tab 161 protrudes from the second display area 160. Therefore, the shape of the tab 161 may appear to be a shape that resembles an opening that is frequently touched in ordinary daily life, such as an opening in the lid of a candy container or the like, for example. When one opens the lid of a candy container by gripping the opening with one's fingers, the forms of the candy inside may become visible. In the present embodiment, the tab 161 is shaped to resemble an opening. Therefore, the user may easily recognize that the form of the information that has not been displayed has become visible (is displayed) if the user operates the tab 161 in the same manner as when opening the lid of a candy container. For an elderly user, in particular, it may often be difficult to access various types of information by performing a panel operation on a screen. However, the user may easily recognize that the form of the information that has not been displayed has become visible if the user operates the tab 161. It may therefore be easy for even an elderly user to operate the tab 161.
Even in a case where the second display area 160 is in the small area state, as shown in
The first information that is displayed in the first display area 100 includes the plurality of the stitch type selection keys 103 for selecting a stitch type that is to be sewn. The second information that is displayed in second display area 160 includes the plurality of the function keys 50 for making settings for the stitch type that is to be sewn. Therefore, the stitch type may be selected by operating one of the stitch type selection keys 103 that are displayed in the first display area 100. The size of the second display area 160 may be changed, and the settings for the stitch type may be made by operating the function keys 50. Therefore, the user may smoothly select and make settings for the stitch type that is to be sewn.
Of the function keys 501 to 510, the function keys 501 to 505 that are displayed in the first row may be set for functions that are used more frequently than the functions for which the function keys 506 to 510 that are displayed in the second row are set. Moreover, the frequently used function keys 501 to 505 in the first row may be displayed even in a case where the second display area 160 is in the small area state (refer to
The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment that is described above, and various types of modifications may be possible. For example, the second display area 160 is displayed adjacent to and below the first display area 100, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. As shown in
In the embodiment that is described above, the size of the second display area 160 may be changed, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the screen may be configured such that the size of the first display area 100 can be changed in the same manner as the second display area 160. The screen may be configured such that the sizes of both the first display area 100 and the second display area 160 can be changed. That is, the screen may be configured such that the size of at least one of the first display area 100 and the second display area 160 can be changed. In that case, the user may change the size of whichever one of the first display area 100 and the second display area 160 the user desires to change. That makes it possible to display more of the information that is displayed in the display area that the user desires to change.
In a case where the second display area 160 becomes larger, the first display area 100 becomes smaller, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the first display area 100 may slide as the second display area 160 becomes larger.
In a case where the second display area 160 is in the large area state, two rows of the function keys 50 are displayed, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, when where the second display area 160 is in the large area state, three rows of the function keys 50 may be displayed. In that case, the screen may be configured such that the second display area 160 can be adjusted, by operating the tab 161, to display any desired number of rows from one to three.
The tab 161 protrudes toward the first display area 100 from the second display area 160, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the tab 161 may be provided within the second display area 160 such that the tab 161 does not protrude.
The first information that is displayed in the first display area 100 includes the stitch type selection keys 103 and the like, and the second information that is displayed in the second display area 160 includes the function keys 50, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. As long as the first information and the second information include the information that pertains to sewing, the first information and the second information may also include other information. For example, a camera that is capable of acquiring an image of the work cloth in the vicinity of the presser foot 30 may be provided in the head 14 of the sewing machine 1. The image that the camera has acquired may be displayed in the first display area 100, and keys that perform camera settings, such as keys for enlarging and reducing the image or the like, may be displayed in the second display area 160.
In the embodiment that is described above, an image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the image may be displayed on a different type of display, such as an organic electroluminescence (EL) display or the like.
In the embodiment that is described above, operations such as selecting and making settings for the stitch type are performed using the touch panel 26, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, a mouse may be connected to the sewing machine 1. The sewing machine 1 may be configured such that operations can be performed by using the mouse to move the cursor on the liquid crystal display 15.
In the embodiment that is described above, the size of the second display area 160 is changed when the tab 161 is operated, but the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, the sewing machine 1 may be provided with a mechanical switch. The second display area 160 may be put into the large area state when the switch is turned on and may be put into the small area state when the switch is turned off.
The shape of the tab 161 is not limited to the shape that is shown in the embodiment that is described above. For example, the shape of the tab 161 may be rectangular. The tip of the tab 161 may be triangular. A pattern may be shown on the tab 161. In that case, the pattern may make the tab 161 more noticeable. The user may therefore more easily recognize the location where the tab 161 can be operated.
In the embodiment that is described above, control of the image that is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 of the sewing machine 1 is performed by the executing of the main processing that is shown in
The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-260529 | Nov 2011 | JP | national |
