SEWING MACHINE MODIFICATION TOOLS
A method for editing images representing sewing elements (10) on a display of a sewing machine (1) for manipulating images of sewing elements (10) to be sewn on a fabric (2) arranged in the sewing machine(1), the method includes the steps, displaying at least one sewing element (10) image on said display (11), selecting at least one of said at least one sewing element (10) image, selecting an image editing function among a predetermined number of base editing functions, setting, by said selecting of an image editing function, members (35a-35e) of a selector group (35) to toggle to operate manipulator functions corresponding to said selected base function, manipulating said selected image of a sewing element (10) according to the selected base function by operating at least one of said members (35a-35e) of said selector group (35). The invention includes a device for performing the method.
The present invention relates to a method of editing graphics and sewing elements for manipulating sewing elements on a sewing machine. Further, the invention relates to a human-machine interface for performing the method.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUNDConventionally, a sewing machine with an embroidery function has a sewing mechanism for forming stitches by driving a needle bar, a thread take-up lever and a rotary hook. A fabric to be embroidered with the sewing elements is arranged in an embroidery frame, which is moved and driven by an embroidery frame driving mechanism controlled by a processor of the sewing machine based on sewing data for the sewing elements. In embroidering a fabric using the technology currently available it is possible to use ready designed embroidery elements which are stored in a memory, either in the sewing machine or an external memory unit.
To precisely and clearly being able to adjust graphics and sewing elements with respect to size, rotation, scaling and panning of the sewing elements displayed on a display of the sewing machine a lot of space has traditionally been occupied and requested by buttons, icons or other kinds of commanding tools on the display or the area around the display for the interface purposes.
An example of a device for editing patterns containing sewing elements shown as graphics elements on a display is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,670. According to the device shown therein a plurality of buttons are needed to edit the sewing element, such as separate buttons for size, rotation and spacing. Furthermore, a plurality of navigation buttons are used for moving or editing the objects selected on the display in a wanted direction or edited as desired.
Displays of e.g. sewing machines and handheld computers are relatively small compared to screens used for personal computers, whereby the demands on innovative and space-saving solutions are high. On sewing machines the area of the display must be optimally used to allow for an attractive, creative and user-friendly human-machine interface. A complex and full-loaded human-machine interface with keys, text and pictures does not promote the user friendliness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the present invention a method is provided for editing images representing sewing elements on a display of a sewing machine for manipulating images of sewing elements to be sewn on a fabric arranged in the sewing machine, the method includes the steps of:
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- displaying at least one sewing element image on said display,
- selecting at least one of said at least one sewing element image,
- selecting an image editing function among a predetermined number of base editing functions,
- setting, by said selecting of an image editing function, members of a selector group to toggle to operate manipulator functions corresponding to said selected base function,
- manipulating said selected image of a sewing element according to the selected base function by operating at least one of said members of said selector group.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a human machine interface of the sewing machine according to the independent device claim.
Further embodiments and aspects of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims as summarized below.
The method according to the invention thus includes setting said base functions to incorporate at least one step from the group of:
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- movement of the selected sewing element on the display,
- rotation of the selected sewing element,
- scaling the selected sewing element,
- panning around on the display.
The method further includes arranging each base editing function to be represented by a toggle button.
The method still further includes arranging said selector group to include manipulator buttons for one of:
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- moving one or a group of selected sewing element images in a predetermined direction.
- rotating one or a group of selected sewing element images an arbitrary angle.
- scaling one or a group of selected sewing element images arbitrarily up or down in size.
- panning the display in a predetermined direction, while keeping the selection of sewing element images.
A further aspect of the invention is to provide a human machine interface arranged on a sewing machine for editing images representing sewing elements on a display associated with the sewing machine for manipulating images of sewing elements to be sewn on a fabric arranged in the sewing machine, characterized in that associated with said display is:
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- a control member for selecting one or a group of sewing element images on said display,
- a predetermined number of base function selectors for toggling between said base functions,
- a selector group including selector group members for operating manipulator functions corresponding to said selected base function.
Said human machine interface includes said base function selectors being performed as toggle buttons.
Still further said human machine interface includes said base functions representing at least one of:
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- movement of the selected sewing element on the display,
- rotation of the selected sewing element,
- scaling the selected sewing element,
- panning around on the display, and
said base function being assigned a specific toggle button.
The human machine interface includes each toggle button setting an operative function of the selector group.
Still further, the human machine interface includes that said selector group members, in dependence of the set operative function of the selector group, are represented by buttons for any one of:
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- moving one or a group of selected sewing element images in a predetermined direction.
- rotating one or a group of selected sewing element images an arbitrary angle.
- scaling one or a group of selected sewing element images arbitrarily up or down in size,
- panning the display in a predetermined direction, while keeping the selection of sewing element images.
An aspect of the invention is further a sewing machine provided with the human machine interface according to any of the embodiments described above.
The invention provides a user interface which is optimized both in minimal needed space and maximum usability. By use of the invention the possibility to create advanced creations on a small area is maximized. The invention further enhances maximal editing flexibility without any loss of usability or functionality. Further, the working area is maximized.
Still further, the ergonomics for the user is improved. Another important feature is the minimization of the number of the buttons needed for editing and manipulation the sewing element images on the display.
The different figures show different presentations of the graphically illustrated buttons according to different selecting editing modes, such as movement, rotation, scaling and panning.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIONA number of embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings.
By way of example of the functioning of a lock stitch sewing machine for performing the inventive method,
The machine is provided with a control program which, for example, is stored in a processor C. Further the sewing machine has an available memory M, preferably being accommodated in the machine, although the memory M as well may be external and accessible from the processor C. In the memory M the sewing machine sewing elements for composing embroideries may be stored in the form of stitch data. A display 11 is provided, on which the images representing embroidery elements can be displayed to a user.
As an example of use of sewing elements, in
Sewing elements 10 can be recovered from the memory and displayed on the display 11 of the sewing machine. A sewing element 10 can as an alternative be designed by a user directly on the display 11, whereupon the sewing element 10 is stored in the memory M as a stitch data object. An aspect of the present invention is to enable editing and manipulating said sewing element 10 or a group of sewing elements 10 before they are sewn on the fabric 2. In
A sewing element 10 is defined as a stitch data object, being at least one element of any one from the group of: a pattern, a pattern sequence, a design, an embroidery character, a sew character.
When conventional embroidery is performed in an embroidery machine of the discussed type, the machine controls the movements of the embroidery frame fully according to stitch data stored in the memory M of the sewing machine according to all aspects concerning stitch types, sewing directions, and so on, according to prior art.
According to prior art, there is known to use a plurality of buttons and value windows to achieve the operations necessary when editing sewing elements 10, such as 20 buttons, or more, for different functions and operations.
The identified buttons are in the specific example performed as graphical elements on a display area, which preferably is arranged as a window 30 of the display 11, when an editing mode is chosen on the sewing machine. All buttons are thus represented as touch buttons on the window 30 and can be operated by means of a pressure from a finger or a stylus. Of course, there would be possible to arrange the identified buttons 31 to 35 by means of mechanically operated buttons, but in that case the buttons would occupy space on the sewing machine exterior. Anyhow, the present invention includes all kind of buttons, wherein the term button shall include all kinds of operating means performing the selecting operations according to the claims.
In the example illustrated in
One or several sewing elements 10 visible on the display 11 are selected. Base function “movement” is chosen by operating toggle button 31. As a result of said operating the selector group 35 will adapt its appearance as shown in
One or several sewing elements 10 visible on the display 11 are selected. Base function “rotation” is chosen by operating toggle button 32. As a result of said operating the selector group 35 will adapt its appearance as shown in
One or several sewing elements 10 visible on the display 11 are selected. Base function “scaling” is chosen by operating toggle button 33. As a result of said operating the selector group 35 will, in this mode, adapt its appearance as shown in
When the panning mode (one of the base functions) is chosen, the previously performed selection of the object(s) is kept. The appearance of the selector group 35 will change to the look according to
Claims
1. A method for editing images representing sewing elements (10) on a display (11) of a sewing machine (1) for manipulating images of sewing elements (10) to be sewn on a fabric (2) arranged at the sewing machine (1), the method including the steps of:
- displaying at least one sewing element (10) image on said display (11),
- selecting at least one of said at least one sewing element (10) image,
- selecting an image editing function among a predetermined number of base editing functions,
- setting, by said selecting of an image editing function, members (35a-35e) of a selector group (35) to toggle to operate manipulator functions corresponding to said selected base function,
- manipulating said selected image of a sewing element (10) according to the selected base function by operating at least one of said members (35a-35e) of said selector group (35).
2. The method according to claim 1, further including the step of:
- setting said base functions to incorporate at least one from the group of: movement of the selected sewing element (10) on the display, rotation of the selected sewing element (10), scaling the selected sewing element (10), panning around on the display (11).
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further including the steps of:
- arranging each base editing function to be represented by a toggle button (31-34).
4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further including the step of:
- arranging said selector group (35) to include manipulator buttons (35a-35e) for one of: moving one or a group of selected sewing element (10) images in a predetermined direction. rotating one or a group of selected sewing element (10) images an arbitrary angle. scaling one or a group of selected sewing element (10) images arbitrarily up or down in size. panning the display (11) in a predetermined direction, while keeping the selection of sewing element (10) images.
5. A-human machine interface arranged on a sewing machine (1) for editing images representing sewing elements (10) on a display (11) associated with the sewing machine (1) for manipulating images of sewing elements (10) to be sewn on a fabric (2) arranged in the sewing machine (1), characterized in that associated with said display (11) is:
- a control member (21) for selecting one or a group of sewing element (10) images on said display (11),
- a predetermined number of base function selectors (31-34)for toggling between said base functions,
- a selector group (35) including selector group members (35a-35e) for operating manipulator functions corresponding to said selected base function.
6. The human machine interface according to claim 5, wherein said base function selectors (31-34) are performed as toggle buttons.
7. The human machine interface according to claim 6, wherein said base functions represents at least on of: said base function being assigned a specific toggle button (31-34).
- movement of the selected sewing element (10) on the display,
- rotation of the selected sewing element (10),
- scaling the selected sewing element (10),
- panning around on the display(11), and
8. The human machine interface according to claim 7, wherein each toggle button (31-34) sets an operative function of the selector group (35).
9. The human machine interface according to claim 8, wherein said selector group members (35a-35e), in dependence of the set operative function of the selector group (35), are represented by buttons (31-34) for any one of:
- moving one or a group of selected sewing element (10) images in a predetermined direction.
- rotating one or a group of selected sewing element (10) images an arbitrary angle,
- scaling one or a group of selected sewing element (10) images arbitrarily up or down in size.
- panning the display (11) in a predetermined direction, while keeping the selection of sewing element (10) images.
10. The human machine interface according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a value window (36) is arranged in a relationship to said selector group (35) for displaying figures related to the manipulation performed with respect to the selected base function.
11. A sewing machine (1) provided with the human machine interface according to claim 5.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 12, 2008
Publication Date: Jul 14, 2011
Inventor: Pierre Lanquist (Huskvarna)
Application Number: 12/675,526
International Classification: D05B 19/10 (20060101); D05C 5/02 (20060101);