Patents by Inventor Tomotaka Katano

Tomotaka Katano has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230304202
    Abstract: An editing apparatus displays an editing screen for editing data for a medium to be processed by processing equipment including a printer, a cutting machine, and a sewing machine on a display. The data includes print data to drive the printer, cutting data to drive the cutting machine, and sewing data to drive the sewing machine. The editing apparatus receives an operation for editing the data with the editing screen or the preview screen displayed on the display, edits the data in accordance with the operation received, and outputs the data edited to the printer, the cutting machine, and the sewing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomotaka KATANO, Daisuke ABE, Yuta KAMIHIRA, Sayaka KURIHARA, Kazuki SHIBATA
  • Publication number: 20220253043
    Abstract: A sewing machine detects a sewing status after a change, when the sewing status changes. When the sewing machine receives a status request requesting the sewing status, from an information terminal via a LAN, the sewing machine transmits, to the information terminal, sewing status information that accords with the detected sewing status. When the detected sewing status satisfies a predetermined condition, the sewing machine transmits a notification request, which includes identification information identifying the information terminal, to a server, in order to cause the server to transmit, to the information terminal, a notification command instructing a push notification in the information terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Inventors: Yuta KAMIHIRA, Tomotaka KATANO
  • Publication number: 20220127770
    Abstract: A sewing machine detects a sewing status after a change, when the sewing status changes. When the sewing machine receives a status request requesting the sewing status, from an information terminal via a LAN, the sewing machine transmits, to the information terminal, sewing status information that accords with the detected sewing status. When the detected sewing status satisfies a predetermined condition, the sewing machine transmits a notification request, which includes identification information identifying the information terminal, to a server, in order to cause the server to transmit, to the information terminal, a notification command instructing a push notification in the information terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Yuta KAMIHIRA, Tomotaka KATANO
  • Patent number: 9617670
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing portion, a switching frame, a movement mechanism, a processor, and a memory. The sewing portion is configured to perform sewing on a sewing workpiece. The switching frame is configured to hold the sewing workpiece. The movement mechanism is configured to move the switching frame mounted thereon. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the sewing machine to perform processes that include acquiring first pattern data used to sew a first pattern, acquiring second pattern data used to sew a second pattern, causing the movement mechanism to move the switching frame and the sewing portion to sew the first pattern, causing the movement mechanism to move the switching frame to an escape position, and causing the movement mechanism to move the switching frame and the sewing portion to sew the second pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomotaka Katano, Chiyo Koga, Kiyomi Kato
  • Patent number: 9441319
    Abstract: An embroidery data generating device has a hole data acquisition portion, an embroidery data acquisition portion, a polygon acquisition portion, a line segment generating portion and a bridge data generating portion. The hole data acquisition portion acquires hole data to form a hole in a sewing workpiece. The embroidery data acquisition portion acquires embroidery data corresponding to an embroidery pattern that is arranged on the inside of the hole. The polygon acquisition portion acquires a minimum polygon that encompasses the embroidery pattern, based on the acquired embroidery data. The line segment generating portion generates a line segment that joins the polygon and a peripheral edge portion of the hole. The bridge data generating portion generates bridge data to form bridge stitches between the embroidery pattern and the peripheral edge portion of the hole, based on the generated line segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuki Ihira, Tomotaka Katano, Kenji Yamada
  • Publication number: 20150240399
    Abstract: An embroidery data generating device has a hole data acquisition portion, an embroidery data acquisition portion, a polygon acquisition portion, a line segment generating portion and a bridge data generating portion. The hole data acquisition portion acquires hole data to form a hole in a sewing workpiece. The embroidery data acquisition portion acquires embroidery data corresponding to an embroidery pattern that is arranged on the inside of the hole. The polygon acquisition portion acquires a minimum polygon that encompasses the embroidery pattern, based on the acquired embroidery data. The line segment generating portion generates a line segment that joins the polygon and a peripheral edge portion of the hole. The bridge data generating portion generates bridge data to form bridge stitches between the embroidery pattern and the peripheral edge portion of the hole, based on the generated line segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Yuki IHIRA, Tomotaka KATANO, Kenji YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20150059631
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing portion, a switching frame, a movement mechanism, a processor, and a memory. The sewing portion is configured to perform sewing on a sewing workpiece. The switching frame is configured to hold the sewing workpiece. The movement mechanism is configured to move the switching frame mounted thereon. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the sewing machine to perform processes that include acquiring first pattern data used to sew a first pattern, acquiring second pattern data used to sew a second pattern, causing the movement mechanism to move the switching frame and the sewing portion to sew the first pattern, causing the movement mechanism to move the switching frame to an escape position, and causing the movement mechanism to move the switching frame and the sewing portion to sew the second pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Tomotaka KATANO, Chiyo KOGA, Kiyomi KATO
  • Patent number: 8897908
    Abstract: A sewing data creation apparatus includes an area specification portion that specifies at least one area in which a plurality of stitches are to be formed and a sewing data creation portion that creates sewing data for forming the plurality of stitches in each of the specified at least one area and for forming an overlapping portion in a case where the specified at least one area includes a first area and a second area. The overlapping portion is a region in which at least one of the first area and the second area is enlarged in a direction that extends across a boundary line, such that a portion of the plurality of stitches to be formed in the first area is one of intersected and overlapped by a portion of the plurality of stitches to be formed in the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomotaka Katano, Chiyo Koga, Takashi Hirata, Satoko Hishida, Masayuki Hori
  • Patent number: 8738169
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that instruct the apparatus to execute steps including acquiring pattern data, identifying a plurality of needle drop points, identifying a corresponding identified needle, storing needle drop point data and identified needle data in association with each other in the memory, identifying a continuous number of times, replacing, among the identified needle data stored in the memory, the identified needle data of the identified needle for which the identified continuous number of times is smaller than a threshold value, with other identified needle data corresponding to the needle drop point data of one of a previous needle drop point and a subsequent needle drop point in the order, and generating cut data based on the needle drop point data and the identified needle data stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Muto, Tomotaka Katano
  • Patent number: 8738172
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions that instruct the apparatus to execute steps comprising acquiring pattern data, identifying needle drop points on a pattern line, identifying, as a corresponding cutting needle for each of the plurality of needle drop points, one of cutting needles configured to be attachable to needle bars of a multi-needle sewing machine in a state in which directions of cutting edges are different from each other, storing needle drop point data and cutting needle data in association with each other in the memory, identifying an extending direction of fibers of the work cloth, replacing the cutting needle data in which an angle between the extending direction and the direction of the cutting edge does not satisfy a predetermined relationship, with other data indicating another cutting needle in which the angle satisfies the predetermined relationship, and generating cut data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi Muto, Tomotaka Katano
  • Patent number: 8655474
    Abstract: An embroidery data generating apparatus that includes a pattern data acquisition device that acquires pattern data, an area identification device that identifies a base area in which a plurality of base stitches including a plurality of intersecting portions are to be formed, each of the intersecting portions being a portion at which two base stitches extending in different directions intersect, a first generating device that generates first sewing data to be used to sew the base stitches in the base area, a sewing data acquisition device that acquires second sewing data to be used to sew a pattern represented by the pattern data in an area including at least a part of the base area, and an embroidery data generating device that generates embroidery data including the first sewing data and the second sewing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomotaka Katano, Takashi Hirata, Chiyo Koga
  • Publication number: 20130112129
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that instruct the apparatus to execute steps including acquiring pattern data, identifying a plurality of needle drop points, identifying a corresponding identified needle, storing needle drop point data and identified needle data in association with each other in the memory, identifying a continuous number of times, replacing, among the identified needle data stored in the memory, the identified needle data of the identified needle for which the identified continuous number of times is smaller than a threshold value, with other identified needle data corresponding to the needle drop point data of one of a previous needle drop point and a subsequent needle drop point in the order, and generating cut data based on the needle drop point data and the identified needle data stored in the memory.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi MUTO, Tomotaka KATANO
  • Publication number: 20130116815
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a processor and a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions that instruct the apparatus to execute steps comprising acquiring pattern data, identifying needle drop points on a pattern line, identifying, as a corresponding cutting needle for each of the plurality of needle drop points, one of cutting needles configured to be attachable to needle bars of a multi-needle sewing machine in a state in which directions of cutting edges are different from each other, storing needle drop point data and cutting needle data in association with each other in the memory, identifying an extending direction of fibers of the work cloth, replacing the cutting needle data in which an angle between the extending direction and the direction of the cutting edge does not satisfy a predetermined relationship, with other data indicating another cutting needle in which the angle satisfies the predetermined relationship, and generating cut data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Yukiyoshi MUTO, Tomotaka KATANO
  • Patent number: 8335583
    Abstract: An embroidery data generating apparatus that generates embroidery data for an embroidery pattern includes a boundary line acquisition device that acquires boundary line data that is data that specifies a boundary line that surrounds a closed region, a unit area arrangement device that contiguously arranges first unit areas over the entire closed region, each of the first unit areas being a rectangular area that includes a unit line segment, a coverage rate computation device that computes a coverage rate that is a ratio of the closed region in each of the first unit areas, a determination device that determines whether a stitch will be formed on the unit line segment in each of the first unit areas, based on the coverage rate, and an embroidery data generating device that generates the embroidery data for the embroidery pattern that is formed by the cross-stitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomotaka Katano
  • Publication number: 20120239180
    Abstract: A sewing data creation apparatus includes an area specification portion that specifies at least one area in which a plurality of stitches are to be formed and a sewing data creation portion that creates sewing data for forming the plurality of stitches in each of the specified at least one area and for forming an overlapping portion in a case where the specified at least one area includes a first area and a second area. The overlapping portion is a region in which at least one of the first area and the second area is enlarged in a direction that extends across a boundary line, such that a portion of the plurality of stitches to be formed in the first area is one of intersected and overlapped by a portion of the plurality of stitches to be formed in the second area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomotaka KATANO, Chiyo KOGA, Takashi HIRATA, Satoko HISHIDA, Masayuki HORI
  • Publication number: 20110218665
    Abstract: An embroidery data generating apparatus that includes a pattern data acquisition device that acquires pattern data, an area identification device that identifies a base area in which a plurality of base stitches including a plurality of intersecting portions are to be formed, each of the intersecting portions being a portion at which two base stitches extending in different directions intersect, a first generating device that generates first sewing data to be used to sew the base stitches in the base area, a sewing data acquisition device that acquires second sewing data to be used to sew a pattern represented by the pattern data in an area including at least a part of the base area, and an embroidery data generating device that generates embroidery data including the first sewing data and the second sewing data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomotaka KATANO, Takashi HIRATA, Chiyo KOGA
  • Publication number: 20100234979
    Abstract: An embroidery data generating apparatus that generates embroidery data for an embroidery pattern includes a boundary line acquisition device that acquires boundary line data that is data that specifies a boundary line that surrounds a closed region, a unit area arrangement device that contiguously arranges first unit areas over the entire closed region, each of the first unit areas being a rectangular area that includes a unit line segment, a coverage rate computation device that computes a coverage rate that is a ratio of the closed region in each of the first unit areas, a determination device that determines whether a stitch will be formed on the unit line segment in each of the first unit areas, based on the coverage rate, and an embroidery data generating device that generates the embroidery data for the embroidery pattern that is formed by the cross-stitches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomotaka Katano