Patent Application
20190093267
This Application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-186046, filed on Sep. 27, 2017, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine.
A sewing machine is known that has an embroidery function that can project a pattern image onto a work cloth. The sewing machine projects the pattern image, using a display light source, on the basis of display data, and displays the pattern image on the work cloth. In this way, the sewing machine can visually present a sewing position of a sewing pattern to a user. Thus, the user can easily perform position alignment of the sewing position of the sewing pattern.
However, depending on a color tone and a material of the work cloth, the pattern image displayed on the work cloth may be difficult to see.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a sewing machine capable of projecting a clear pattern image onto a work cloth, irrespective of the color tone or the material of the work cloth.
Various embodiments herein provide a sewing machine that sews a sewing pattern on a work cloth, including a storage portion configured to store pattern data used for sewing the sewing pattern on the work cloth, a projector configured to project an image, a processor and a memory. The memory configured to store computer-readable instructions. When executed by the processor, the computer-readable instructions instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include generating, on the basis of the pattern data, a projection image that includes a pattern object and a peripheral object. The pattern object represents the sewing pattern. The peripheral object is disposed adjacent to an outer edge of the pattern object and surrounds the pattern object. The processes further include controlling the projector to project the generated projection image toward a top surface of a bed portion on which the work cloth is placed.
Various embodiments also provide a sewing machine that sews a sewing pattern on a work cloth, including a storage portion configured to store pattern data used for sewing the sewing pattern on the work cloth, a projector configured to project an image, a processor and a memory. The memory configured to store computer-readable instructions. When executed by the processor, the computer-readable instructions instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include generating, on the basis of the pattern data, a projection image that includes a pattern object and a peripheral object. The pattern object represents the sewing pattern. The border object is disposed adjacent to an outer edge of the pattern object and borders the pattern object. The processes further include controlling the projector to project the generated projection image toward a top surface of a bed portion on which the work cloth is conveyed.
Embodiments of the disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
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 sews a sewing pattern on a work cloth. The sewing patterns of the present embodiment have a practical pattern and an embroidery pattern. The practical pattern is sewn while the work cloth is fed using a feed dog. The practical pattern is formed using practical stitches, such as straight line stitching, zigzag stitching, overcasting stitches, and the like. Further, a decorative pattern is included in the practical pattern. The decorative pattern is formed by a unit pattern being sewn a plurality of times in a continuous manner. The unit pattern is a geometric pattern, such as a triangle or the like, or a schematic pattern, such as a flower design or the like. The embroidery pattern is sewn on the basis of embroidery data, and is formed using embroidery. The embroidery pattern is a sewing pattern of characters, graphics, and the like.
A physical configuration of a sewing machine 1 will be explained with reference to
As shown in
As shown in
The sewing machine 1 is provided with a feed motor 22 (refer to
As shown in
The embroidery frame 70 includes an inner frame member 71, an outer frame member 72, and an attachment portion 75. The inner frame member 71 and the outer frame member 72 clamp and hold the work cloth. A sewable area 74 that is set on the inside of the embroidery frame 70 is an area in which the sewing machine 1 can form the stitches. The sewable area 74 is set in accordance with the type of the embroidery frame. The attachment portion 75 is a section that is mounted on the frame holder.
The main body portion 61 is internally provided with an X axis movement mechanism (not shown in the drawings) and an X axis motor 63 (refer to
A liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as an “LCD”) 31 is provide in the front surface of the pillar 3. Images including various items, such as commands, illustrations, setting values, messages and the like, are displayed on the LCD 31. A touch panel 32 is provided on the front surface side of the LCD 31. The touch panel 32 can detect a position that is approached, touched, or pressed. The touch panel 32 receives input of an operation using a finger or a dedicated touch pen or the like. A CPU 81 (refer to
The pillar 3 is internally provided with a control portion 80 (refer to
An openable/closable cover 42 is provided on the upper portion of the arm portion 4. A thread storage portion 45 is provided below the cover 42. A thread spool 20 around which an upper thread is wound is housed in the thread storage portion 45. During sewing, the upper thread wound around the thread spool 20 is supplied to the sewing needle 52 from the thread spool 20, via a predetermined path provided in the head portion 5. The drive shaft that extends in the left-right direction is provided inside the arm portion 4. The drive shaft is rotatingly driven by the sewing machine motor 33. The drive shaft transmits the drive power of the sewing machine motor 33 to the needle bar up-down drive mechanism 55 (refer to
As shown in
The image sensor 57 is a known area sensor. The image sensor 57 is an imaging element in which a plurality of imaging elements aligned in a main scanning direction are arrayed in a plurality of rows in a sub-scanning direction. For example, a known complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) is used. In the present embodiment, the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction correspond to the X axis direction (the left-right direction) and the Y axis direction (the front-rear direction) of the sewing machine 1, respectively. The image sensor 57 captures an image of a predetermined range (an image capture range) on the bed portion 2.
The projector 58 projects an image onto a predetermined range (a projection range) of the bed portion 2. The projector 58 is provided with a liquid crystal panel 58A (refer to
An electrical configuration of the sewing machine 1 will be explained with reference to
The CPU 81 performs overall control of the sewing machine 1. The CPU 81 performs various arithmetic calculations and processing relating to sewing, image capture, and image projection, in accordance with various programs stored in the ROM 82. Although not shown in the drawings, the ROM 82 is provided with a plurality of storage areas, including a program storage area. The various programs to operate the sewing machine 1 are stored in the program storage area. For example, a program for pattern projection processing to be described later is stored in the program storage area. A storage area storing calculation results and the like resulting from the arithmetic processing by the CPU 81 is provided in the RAM 83. Pattern data for the sewing machine 1 to sew the pattern is stored in the flash memory 84. The pattern data includes coordinate data of needle drop positions of the practical pattern or the embroidery pattern. In the case of the embroidery pattern, the pattern data includes thread color data specifying a thread color. Further, various parameters used by the sewing machine 1 to perform the various processing are stored in the flash memory 84.
Drive circuits 91 to 97, the touch panel 32, the start/stop switch 43, the image sensor 57, and the light source 58B of the projector 58 are connected to the input/output I/F 85. The drive circuit 91 is connected to the sewing machine motor 33. The drive circuit 91 drives the sewing machine motor 33 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 81. In accordance with the driving of the sewing machine motor 33, the needle bar up-down drive mechanism 55 is driven via the drive shaft of the sewing machine 1 and moves the needle bar 51 up and down. The drive circuit 92 is connected to the feed motor 22. The drive circuit 92 drives the feed motor 22 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 81. When sewing the practical pattern, the feed dog is driven in accordance with the driving of the feed motor 22, and feeds the work cloth on the bed portion 2. The drive circuit 93 is connected to the swinging motor 56. The drive circuit 93 drives the swinging motor 56 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 81. When sewing the practical pattern, the swinging mechanism is driven in accordance with the driving of the swinging motor 56. In this way, the needle bar 51 swings in the left-right direction.
The drive circuit 94 is connected to the X axis motor 63. The drive circuit 94 drives the X axis motor 63 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 81. The drive circuit 95 is connected to the Y axis motor 64. The drive circuit 95 drives the Y axis motor 64 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 81. When sewing the embroidery pattern, in accordance with the driving of the X axis motor 63 and the Y axis motor 64, the embroidery frame 70 mounted on the movement mechanism 60 is moved in the left-right direction (the X axis direction) and the front-rear direction (the Y axis direction) by a movement amount corresponding to the control signal.
The drive circuit 96 drives the LCD 31 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 81. The drive circuit 96 causes an image, an operation screen and the like to be displayed on the LCD 31. The touch panel 32 outputs, to the CPU 81, coordinate data indicating an input position of an operation using the finger, the dedicated touch pen, or the like. On the basis of the coordinate data acquired from the touch panel 32, the CPU 81 recognizes the item selected on the operation screen displayed on the LCD 31. The CPU 81 performs processing corresponding to the recognized item. The start/stop switch 43 receives, separately from the touch panel 32, an input of an operation with respect to the sewing machine 1. When the start/stop switch 43 receives the input of the operation, the start/stop switch 43 outputs a signal to the CPU 81. When the CPU 81 receives the signal, the CPU 81 outputs a control signal to start or to stop the sewing operation.
The image sensor 57 outputs, to the CPU 81, data of the captured image captured by the imaging elements. The drive circuit 97 drives the liquid crystal panel 58A of the projector 58 in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 81, and causes the projection image to be displayed on the liquid crystal panel 58A. The light source 58B illuminates in accordance with a control signal from the CPU 81. The light source 58B projects the projection image displayed on the liquid crystal panel 58A onto the work cloth that is being conveyed on the bed portion 2.
The CPU 81 of the sewing machine 1 of the present embodiment performs the pattern projection processing, and projects the sewing pattern to be sewn (the practical pattern or the embroidery pattern) onto the work cloth. Hereinafter, the pattern projection processing will be explained with reference to
When the user switches on a power source of the sewing machine 1, the CPU 81 causes a home screen (not shown in the drawings) to be displayed on the LCD 31. The CPU 81 receives, on the home screen, an input of an operation to select a practical sewing mode to sew the practical pattern (including the decorative pattern), or an embroidery mode to sew the embroidery pattern. When the CPU 81 receives the input of the operation to select the practical sewing mode, the CPU 81 displays a screen prompting the user to perform an operation to arrange the work cloth on the bed portion 2, and performs the pattern projection processing.
The program for the pattern projection processing is read out from the ROM 82 by the CPU 81 and is deployed in the RAM 83. The program for the pattern projection processing is executed in parallel with other programs that are being executed by the CPU 81. When the CPU 81 performs the pattern projection processing, storage areas for various data, including variables, flags, counters and the like, are secured in the RAM 83.
As shown in
A flow of processing in the case of the embroidery mode will be described later. When the user selects the practical sewing mode, the CPU 81 reads out, from the flash memory 84, the thumbnail images of the practical data and causes the thumbnail images to be displayed on the LCD 31. The CPU 81 receives an operation to change the thumbnail images displayed on the LCD 31, and an operation to determine the pattern to be sewn by selection of the thumbnail image.
When the pattern is selected in accordance with the operation by the user, the CPU 81 acquires the pattern data (the practical data) corresponding to the selected thumbnail image from the flash memory 84 (step S2). The CPU 81 sets a background flag to OFF, and sets a number of color changes and a number of width changes to zero (step S3). The background flag is a flag for determining whether or not to project, onto the work cloth, the projection image for which the background of the embroidery pattern is made white. When, in the embroidery mode, the whole of the embroidery pattern does not fit within the projection range of the projector 58, the CPU 81 sets the background flag to ON. In this case, the projection image for which the background of the embroidery pattern is made white is projected. The number of color changes and the number of width changes are counters used to count a number of times that changes are made. The number of color changes and the number of width changes are used to limit the number of times that a border color and a border width are changed, when creating the projection image with the practical pattern or the embroidery pattern bordered.
In the case of the practical sewing mode (no at step S5), the CPU 81 acquires a thread color (step S6). The CPU 81 displays, on the LCD 31, a screen to select or input the thread color. The CPU 81 acquires the thread color in accordance with the input by the user using the touch panel 32. If there is not input by the user, the CPU 81 acquires, from the ROM 82, a thread color that is set as a default (red, for example). The CPU 81 specifies the acquired thread color as a pattern color set for a pattern image D (refer to
The CPU 81 performs projection image generation processing (step S13). As shown in
The CPU 81 generates the pattern image D (step S73). The CPU 81 secures, in the RAM 83, a virtual display region V (refer to
As shown in
The CPU 81 performs known contour extraction processing on the pattern image D, and extracts a contour line of the pattern image D (step S77). An example of the known contour extraction processing is processing applying a Laplacian filter or the like. The CPU 81 sets a border width and a border color (step S78, step S80). The CPU 81 depicts a border image F (refer to
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The CPU 81 compares the contour extraction image Q1 generated from the projection image P and the contour extraction image Q2 generated from the captured image R. Using the comparison, the CPU 81 performs processing to identify the projection image P in the captured image R (step S20). Specifically, the CPU 81 performs known template matching. In the template matching, the contour extraction image Q1 is used as the template, and sections resembling the contour line G1 and the contour line H1 of the contour extraction image Q1 (the contour line G2 and the contour line H2) are searched for in the contour extraction image Q2. Through the template matching, the CPU 81 detects the position, orientation, and size of the contour extraction image Q1 in the contour extraction image Q2, and overlaps the contour extraction image Q1 and the contour extraction image Q2. The CPU 81 calculates a rate of concordance between the sections in the contour extraction image Q2 corresponding to the contour line G1 and the contour line H1 (the contour line G2 and the contour line H2), and the contour line G1 and the contour line H1. The rate of concordance is calculated by comparing the contour line G1 and the contour line H1 with the contour extraction image Q2 in pixel units, and determining that mutually corresponding pixels are matched when they are within a predetermined similarity range. When the rate of concordance of all the pixels is equal to or greater than a predetermined percentage (75%, for example), the CPU 81 determines that the projection image P has been identified in the captured image R.
For example, when the border color of the border image F and a color of the work cloth C are similar, there is a case in which a boundary between the border image F and the work cloth C in the captured image R cannot be clearly identified. In this case, the contour line H2 of the border image F extracted from the captured image R is significantly different to the contour line H1 extracted from the projection image P, and thus, the rate of concordance is low. Further, for example, when the border width of the border image F is small and the pattern color of the pattern image D and the color of the work cloth C are similar, sometimes the border image F cannot be identified from the captured image R, and the boundary between the pattern image D and the work cloth C cannot be clearly identified. In this case also, the contour line G2 and the contour line H2 that are extracted are different from the contour line G1 and the contour line H1 and thus, the rate of concordance is low. When the rate of concordance is low, namely, when the projection image P cannot be identified on the work cloth C onto which the projection image P is projected, the contour of the border image F or the pattern image D is not clear. Thus, the user cannot easily see the pattern image D on the work cloth C.
As shown in
When the processing at step S13 to step S20 is performed and the projection image P cannot be identified (no at step S31), the CPU 81 stores the currently set border color and border width, and the rate of concordance determined at step S22 (step S32). Until the number of color changes reaches five (no at step S33; no at step S41), the CPU 81 sets a not yet selected color as the new border color, from among the complementary colors to the color of the work cloth C, or the colors similar to the complementary colors (step S47). The CPU 81 repeatedly performs the processing from step S13 to step S20 and tries to identify the projection image P. When the projection image P can still not be identified (no at step S31) and the number of color changes is equal to or more than five (yes at step S41), the CPU 81 changes the border color to be set for the border image F to the default color (step S42). At step S78 (refer to
With respect to the border image F whose width has become larger, similarly to the above description, the CPU 81 tries to identify the projection image P through the processing from step S13 to step S20. As shown in
As shown in
When the projection image P can still not be identified (no at step S31) and the number of width changes is equal to or more than five (yes at step S33), the CPU 81 changes the border color and the border width of the border image F to the border color and the border width corresponding to the largest rate of concordance, among the rates of concordance stored in the RAM 83 (step S35). The CPU 81 performs the projection image generation processing (step S36). The CPU 81 generates the projection image P in which the pattern image D, the border image F for which the border color and border width changed at step S35 have been set, and the background image B are depicted. The CPU 81 drives the projector 58 and projects the projection image P onto the work cloth C (step S37). The CPU 81 advances the processing to step S51.
As shown in
When the user has issued the command to manually change the border color and the border width of the border image F and the pattern color of the pattern image D (yes at step S51), the CPU 81 displays a screen that receives the command to change the border color, the border width, and the pattern color, and an end command to end the manual change processing, and stands by for the processing (no at step S52; no at step S55; no at step S57; no at step S62; step S52).
When the command to change the border color is received (yes at step S52), the CPU 81 displays colors to be candidates for the border color on the LCD 31, using a color circle chart for example, and receives a selection. The CPU 81 sets the color selected by the user using the touch panel 32 as the border color to be set for the border image F (step S53), and advances the processing to step S60. The CPU 81 performs the projection image generation processing (refer to
When the command to change the border width is received (yes at step S55), the CPU 81 displays a screen to set the border width on the LCD 31, and receives an input. The CPU 81 sets the width selected by the user using the touch panel 32 as the border width to be set for the border image F (step S56), and advances the processing to step S60. The CPU 81 performs the projection image generation processing. In the projection image generation processing, the pattern image D, the border image F, and the projection image P are generated (step S60). The border width set by the user is applied to the border image F. The background image B is depicted in the projection image P. The CPU 81 drives the projector 58 and projects the projection image P onto the work cloth C (step S61). The CPU 81 advances the processing to step S62 and returns to the stand-by state.
When the command to change the pattern color is received (yes at step S57), the CPU 81 displays the colors to be the candidates for the pattern color on the LCD 31, using the color circle chart for example, and receives a selection. The CPU 81 sets the color selected by the user using the touch panel 32 as the pattern color to be set for the pattern image D (step S58), and advances the processing to step S60. The CPU 81 performs the projection image generation processing. In the projection image generation processing, the pattern image D, the border image F, and the projection image P are generated (step S60). The pattern image D is colored using the pattern color set by the user. The background image B is depicted in the projection image P. The CPU 81 drives the projector 58 and projects the projection image P onto the work cloth C (step S61). The CPU 81 advances the processing to step S62 and returns to the stand-by state.
When the command to end the manual change processing is received (yes at step S62), the CPU 81 advances the processing to step S63. The CPU 81 displays, on the LCD 31, the screen that receives the execution commands of the plurality of types of processing, and stands by for the processing (no at step S51; no at step S63; no at step S65; step S51). A command to change a projection position of the embroidery pattern in the embroidery mode (step S63) will be described later. When the user operates the start/stop switch 43 (yes at step S65), the CPU 81 starts the sewing of the practical pattern (step S66), and ends the pattern projection processing. Note that the CPU 81 executes programs to control the driving of the sewing machine 1, and drives the sewing machine motor 33, the feed motor 22, and the swinging motor 56 in accordance with the practical data. In this way, the CPU 81 causes the practical pattern to be sewn while conveying the work cloth C. When the user once more operates the start/stop switch 43, the CPU 81 ends the sewing of the practical pattern.
Next, a flow of processing in the embroidery mode will be explained. As shown in
In the case of the embroidery mode (yes at step S5), the CPU 81 advances the processing to step S8. The CPU 81 determines whether the size of the embroidery pattern is larger than the projection range of the projector 58 (step S8). Information about the size of the embroidery pattern is included in the embroidery data. The CPU 81 may read out coordinates of needle drop positions from the embroidery data. The CPU 81 may determine the size of the embroidery pattern on the basis of a maximum value and a minimum value of the read out coordinates. When the size of the embroidery pattern is equal to or less than the size of the projection range (no at step S8), the CPU 81 advances the processing to the projection image generation processing at step S13.
When the size of the embroidery pattern is larger than the size of the projection range (yes at step S8), the CPU 81 sets the background flag to ON (step S10). As shown in
As shown in
Similarly to the practical pattern, the CPU 81 generates the pattern image D of the embroidery pattern on the basis of the embroidery data (step S73). When the background flag is ON (yes at step S75), the CPU 81 cuts out, from the pattern image D, a partial image DD (refer to
The CPU 81 extracts a contour line from the partial image DD and generates the border image F (step S81). When the size of the embroidery pattern is larger than the size of the projection range and the background flag is ON (yes at step S82), the CPU 81 sets the background image B of the partial image DD to white (step S85). The CPU 81 generates the projection image P in which the partial image DD, the border image F, and the background image B are depicted (step S86). Note that, when the background image B is white, a background section is the projection target. The CPU 81 returns the processing to the pattern projection processing.
As shown in
As shown in
When, in the processing at step S57, the command to change the pattern color is received (yes at step S57), the CPU 81 sets the color selected by the user as the pattern color (step S58). The CPU 81 projects the projection image P generated in the pattern image generation processing onto the work cloth C (step S16). As shown in
As shown in
As described above, using the projector 58, the sewing machine 1 projects the pattern image D representing the sewing pattern to be sewn on the work cloth C onto the bed portion 2 on which the work cloth C is conveyed. The sewing machine 1 can project the border image F or the background image B along with the pattern image D. The border image F and the background image B are adjacent to the outer edge of the pattern image D, and are arranged so as to surround the pattern image D. In other words, the sewing machine 1 projects, onto the work cloth C, the projection image P in which the border image F and the background image B surround the periphery of the pattern image D. Thus, irrespective of the color tone and the material of the work cloth C, the sewing machine 1 can allow the user to easily see the pattern image D on the work cloth C.
The border image F can accentuate the pattern image D in a conspicuous state. Thus, irrespective of the color tone and the material of the work cloth C, the sewing machine 1 can allow the user to easily see the pattern image D on the work cloth C.
In the projection image generation processing, the sewing machine 1 can allow the user to easily see the border image F on the work cloth C, by changing the border color. The change of the border color may be performed by the user selecting a desired color. Alternatively, the border color may be changed when the projection image P cannot be identified in the captured image R that is captured when the projection image P is projected onto the work cloth C. Thus, the sewing machine 1 can cause the pattern image D bordered by the border image F to be accentuated in an even more conspicuous state. As a result, irrespective of the color tone and the material of the work cloth C, the sewing machine 1 can allow the user to easily see the pattern image D on the work cloth C.
In the projection image generation processing, the sewing machine 1 can allow the user to easily see the border image F on the work cloth C, by changing the border width. The change of the border width may be performed by the user selecting a desired width. Alternatively, the border width may be changed to a wider border width when the projection image P cannot be identified in the captured image R that is captured when the projection image P is projected onto the work cloth C. Thus, the sewing machine 1 can cause the pattern image D bordered by the border image F to be accentuated in an even more conspicuous state. As a result, irrespective of the color tone and the material of the work cloth C, the sewing machine 1 can allow the user to easily see the pattern image D on the work cloth C.
When, due to the color tone and the material of the work cloth C, the projection image P becomes buried in the work cloth C, it is difficult to identify a section corresponding to the projection image P in the captured image R. In contrast to this, the sewing machine 1 compares the contour extraction images Q1 and Q2 extracted from the captured image R and the projection image P, respectively. In this way, the sewing machine 1 can determine whether it is possible to identify the section corresponding to the projection image P in the captured image R. When the projection image P cannot be identified, the sewing machine 1 can make the appropriate changes to the border color or the border width.
The practical pattern is sewn using a thread of a single color. Thus, there is a possibility that, depending on the color tone and the material of the work cloth C, the user can barely see the practical pattern. The sewing machine 1 can project the pattern image D of the practical pattern along with the border image F. Thus, irrespective of the color tone and the material of the work cloth C, the sewing machine 1 can allow the user to easily see the pattern image D of the practical pattern on the work cloth C.
The sewing machine 1 can change the pattern color. Thus, irrespective of the color tone and the material of the work cloth C, the sewing machine 1 can allow the user to easily see the pattern image D of the practical pattern on the work cloth C.
The embroidery pattern is sewn using embroidery threads of a plurality of colors. The sewing machine 1 can also form the pattern image D of the embroidery pattern using the single pattern color. By projecting the pattern image D of the single color onto the work cloth C, irrespective of the color tone and the material of the work cloth C, the sewing machine 1 can allow the user to easily see the pattern image D of the embroidery pattern on the work cloth C. As a result, the user easily ascertains the overall shape and size of the embroidery pattern.
By including the background image B in the projection image P, the sewing machine 1 can accentuate the pattern image D in an even more conspicuous state. Thus, irrespective of the color tone and the material of the work cloth C, the sewing machine 1 can allow the user to easily see the pattern image D on the work cloth C. Further, in the case of the embroidery pattern, using the background image B, the partial image DD corresponding to the section represented by the partial pattern in the sewing pattern can be clearly indicated. Thus, the user easily ascertains the whole of the sewing pattern.
Various modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment. In the processing at step S6, the CPU 81 acquires the thread color as a result of the input by the user. The method of acquiring the thread color is not limited to this example. For example, an image sensor that captures an image of the thread spool 20 may be provided in the sewing machine 1. The CPU 81 may acquire the thread color by analyzing an image captured by the image sensor.
In the processing at step S2, the CPU 81 reads out and thus acquires the pattern data from the flash memory 84. The present disclosure is not limited to this example, and the sewing machine 1 may be provided with, for example, a USB reader/writer that can be connected to an external storage device, such as a USB memory. The CPU 81 may read out and acquire the pattern data from the USB memory, via the USB reader/writer. Alternatively, the sewing machine 1 may be connected to a network in a wired or wireless manner. The CPU 81 may download and acquire the pattern data from a server provided in the network.
In the embroidery mode, in the processing at step S85, the CPU 81 sets the background image B of the projection image P to be white. For example, the CPU 81 may display, on the work cloth C, the projection range in which the background image B is a frame-shaped image bordering an outer peripheral section of the projection image P. The color of the background image B is not limited to white, and may be any color other than black.
In the processing at step S63, the command to change the projection position of the embroidery pattern is not limited to the case of operating a button or the like that receives the command, for example. For example, the frame line W may be moved by a panel operation in which the frame line W is touched and dragged. If this method is adopted, the CPU 81 can seamlessly update the projection image P projected onto the work cloth C, in line with the change of the position of the frame line W.
The upper limit of the number of color changes in the determination at step S41 is not limited to five, and can be changed as appropriate. Similarly, the upper limit of the number of width changes in the determination at step S33 is not limited to five, and can be changed as appropriate. In the processing at step S43, the CPU 81 increases the border width of the border image F by one dot each time the processing is performed. The CPU 81 may increase the border width by two dots or more. In the processing at step S20, the CPU 81 determines that the projection image P has been identified in the captured image R when the rate of concordance between the contour line G1 and the contour line H1 and the contour extraction image Q2 is equal to or greater than 75%, for example. The CPU 81 may take a desired rate of concordance as a reference. The border image F is not limited to the line of the predetermined width. For example, the border image F may be a dotted line, a chain line, or an ornamental line.
In the processing at step S73, the CPU 81 depicts the pattern image D in the virtual display region V on the basis of the needle drop positions read from the pattern data (the practical data). The image data of the pattern image D may be included in the pattern data in advance. The CPU 81 may read the image data of the pattern image D from the pattern data and depict the pattern image D in the virtual display region V.
The border image F surrounds the periphery of the pattern image D and forms a border. A gap may be provided between the border image F and the pattern image D such that the border image F and the pattern image D are in proximity to each other. Specifically, it is sufficient that the border image F and the pattern image D be adjacent to each other. The border image F is generated by coloring in the space between the contour line extracted from the pattern image D and the outer shape line that is offset from the contour line. For example, the border image F may be generated by thickening, toward the outside, the contour line extracted from the pattern image D by the amount of the border width, and coloring the contour line using the border color. The border image F may be generated as an image obtained by subtracting a region occupied by the pattern image D from an image obtained by outwardly expanding the contour line extracted from the pattern image D and coloring in the inside using the border color.
In the processing at step S20, the CPU 81 identifies the projection image P in the captured image R using the rate of concordance obtained by comparing, in pixel units, the contour extraction image Q1 generated from the projection image P and the contour extraction image Q2 generated from the captured image R. For example, using a known background difference method, the CPU 81 may identify the projection image P in the captured image R by comparing a captured image before the projection of the projection image P with a captured image after the projection of the projection image P.
In the projection image generation processing, the projection image P is generated that includes the pattern image D, the border image F, and the background image B. For example, the sewing machine 1 may generate the projection image P that does not include the border image F and includes only the pattern image D and the background image B. In this case, the background image B is the color other than black, and is disposed adjacent to the pattern image D. The CPU 81 may perform the processing at step S85 in place of the processing from step S77 to step S85, and may perform the following processing in place of the processing from step S15 to step S65. The CPU 81 drives the projector 58 and projects the projection image P onto the work cloth C. The CPU 81 captures an image of the projection range of the work cloth C onto which the projection image P is projected, using the image sensor 57. The CPU 81 extracts the contour line of the pattern image D from the captured image R obtained by the image capture. The CPU 81 extracts the contour line of the pattern image D from the projection image P, and calculates the rate of concordance with the contour line of the pattern image D extracted from the captured image R. The CPU 81 performs processing to identify the projection image P in the captured image R, on the basis of the calculated rate of concordance. When the projection image P cannot be identified in the captured image R, the CPU 81 generates the projection image P in which the color of the background image B has been changed, and once more performs a series of processing including the projection, the contour extraction, and the calculation of the rate of concordance. Each time this series of processing is performed, the CPU 81 stores the rate of concordance and the color of the background image B in the RAM 83. When the projection image P cannot be identified in the captured image R even after repeating the series of processing a predetermined number of times, the CPU 81 generates the projection image P in which the color of the background image B is set as the color with the highest rate of concordance, and projects the projection image P onto the work cloth C. Even when the projection image P is identified in the captured image R, the CPU 81 receives the change of the color of the background image B by the user's panel operation. When the color of the background image B is changed, the CPU 81 projects the projection image P including the background image B with the updated color onto the work cloth C.
In the embroidery mode, when the size of the embroidery pattern is larger than the image capture range of the projector 58, the CPU 81 projects the projection image P including the partial image DD generated from the partial pattern included inside the frame line W. In line with the movement of the frame line W, in the projection image P that is generated once more, the border color of the border image F may be set to be the border color of the initially generated border image F. In this case, a first time flag may be provided in the RAM 83 and in the processing at step S3 shown in
As shown in
When the user moves the frame line W and changes the projection position of the embroidery pattern, the CPU 81 generates the partial image DD obtained by cutting out the section corresponding to the projection position (step S76). When generating the border image F, the first time flag is OFF (no at step S91), and thus, the CPU 81 sets the border color stored in the RAM 83 (step S92). Further, since the first time flag is OFF (no at step S96), the CPU 81 generates the projection image P without overwriting and storing the border color (step S86). In the determination at step S41 shown in
The border image F and the background image B are not limited to the case where they are arranged so as to surround the entire pattern image D. The border image F and the background image B may be arranged so as to surround a part of the pattern image D.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-186046 | Sep 2017 | JP | national |
