Electronic Pattern Controlled Or Programmed Patents (Class 112/102.5)
  • Patent number: 11952691
    Abstract: A controller acquires sewing data for sewing an applique piece on a sewing target material, the applique piece having a shape having a hole, the hole being a closed area surrounded by at least part of the applique piece, identifies a contour of the applique piece while distinguishing an inner contour and an outer contour, the inner contour being the contour defining the hole of the applique piece, the outer contour being the contour other than the inner contour, determines, based on the acquired sewing data, whether an inner stitch and an outer stitch are arranged at positions closer to each other than a particular distance or at positions overlapping each other, and outputs an error notification in response to determining that the inner stitch and the outer stitch are arranged at positions closer to each other than the particular distance or at positions overlapping each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Tokura
  • Patent number: 11851793
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to execute a process. The process includes: obtaining image data; obtaining thread colors as available colors for sewing an embroidery pattern; setting a first color representing a target area; in a case where at least one color is assigned from the available colors as a color representing the target area, selecting a color close to the first color when combined with the at least one color assigned, from the available colors, as a candidate; determining whether a difference between color information representing the at least one color assigned and color information representing the candidate is smaller than a threshold value; in a case where the difference is smaller than the threshold value, adding the candidate to the at least one color assigned; and generating embroidery data associating thread color data with position data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Kamihira, Mayumi Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 11727615
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe techniques for editing a needle point path displayed on a touch screen. For example, a stylus can be used to select a portion of the needle point path which can then be moved, rotated, shrunk/enlarged, deleted, replaced, copied, etc. The embodiments herein may convert the selected portion of the needle point path into a graphics region which can then be manipulated. Once edited, the path can then be added back to the needle point path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: CreateMe Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ursula C. Wolz, Christopher W. Dunne
  • Patent number: 11624135
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a bed, a feed unit, a sewing unit, a projector, and a controller. The projector is configured to project a projection image to the bed. The controller is configured to, where the feed unit and the sewing unit do not perform sewing, execute a first control in which the controller causes the projector to project a first image to the bed, the first image including a first object and a second object, the first object indicating a planned sewing position, the second object indicating a reference position to position the workpiece. The controller is configured to, where the feed unit and the sewing unit perform sewing, execute a second control in which the controller causes the projector to project a second image to the bed, the second image including the first object and not including the second object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutaka Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 11473228
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions, when executed by a computer, causing the computer to execute a process. The process and a method of generating embroidery data each includes: obtaining a pattern to be sewn on a workpiece by a sewing machine; obtaining a size of a sewing area to be set inside an embroidery hoop attachable to the sewing machine; setting a virtual arrangement of a plurality of the sewing areas relative to the workpiece; setting a virtual arrangement of the pattern relative to the workpiece; changing a relative position of the sewing areas; and generating embroidery data including needle drop data, the needle drop data representing a plurality of coordinates of needle drop points to form a plurality of stitches for the pattern located in each of the sewing areas in the relative position changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuta Kamihira
  • Patent number: 11441253
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling the position of a seam contour and a device for carrying out the method, wherein the position control of a seam contour relative to structures of a sewing material is based on comparison data of a structure of a reference sewing material and a structure of a working sewing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: PFAFF Industriesysteme und Maschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Guido Jaeger, Berthold Becker
  • Patent number: 11429199
    Abstract: A method of an optical sensor apparatus which is to be used with a controlling device arranged for controlling an object having a long shape and flexible form of a material, includes: using a light emitting circuit to generate and output a light ray to a surface of a portion of the object; sensing the light ray reflected from the surface for multiple times to generate multiple images; detecting at least one motion image in the generated multiple images; and, determining a motion, an offset, or a rotation angle of the object, which is controlled by the thread controlling device, according to the detected at least one motion image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Feng-Chi Liu, Ching-Lin Chung
  • Patent number: 11421363
    Abstract: A sewn product making apparatus such as a sewing robot can be used to produce a variety of products over a broad range of sizes, shapes or materials. Various examples are provided related to the automation of sewing robots, and the making of sewn products. In one example, among others, a system can generate a product making path using a product construction file, and instruct a sewing device and fabric mover(s) to automatically sew the product based upon the product making path. The product making path can be modified when a deviation is detected, and the sewing adjusted based upon the modified product making path. The product construction file can be generated using information from a computer aided design associated with the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: SoftWear Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baker, Barrett C. Clark, Eric Guenterberg, Alexander Ren Gurney
  • Patent number: 11401643
    Abstract: A tufting machine interface or simulator is provided with yarn planning software enabling the optimization of winding yarn cones for particular patterns and production runs to minimize waste yarn and labor attendant to rewinds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Tuftco Corporation
    Inventor: Rob Padgett
  • Patent number: 11286597
    Abstract: A sewing machine is disclosed. The sewing machine includes a holding member configured to be movable while holding a workpiece within a predetermined plane including a sewing position immediately below a needle, an actuator configured to move the holding member, an imaging device configured to be capable of capturing the workpiece, a sewing data acquisition unit configured to acquire sewing data including a sewing order to be referred to in sewing processing, and an imaging position setting unit configured to output a control signal to the actuator so that a plurality of feature patterns of the workpiece are sequentially disposed in an imaging region of the imaging device based upon the sewing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: JUKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazunori Yamada, Kimihiro Yokose, Kouichi Kondou, Takahiro Sano
  • Patent number: 11257020
    Abstract: A sewing management system includes a sewing device that transmits a production management information including an identification information of an operator and an operation information of a device main body; and a management device that manages the production management information by a process unit of a product sewn in a sewing line or a component forming the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: JUKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadashi Atsumi
  • Patent number: 11220768
    Abstract: Presented are a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for stitching. The method includes examining, by an examiner, an embroidery design, wherein the examiner is operably coupled to a controller and a sewing head, and wherein the controller comprises a memory having a capacity, and wherein the controller is operable to cause the sewing head to stitch a work piece. The method further includes determining, by the examiner, a needle drop location of each stitch of the embroidery design, and dividing, by the examiner, the examined embroidery design into a plurality of separate sections. The method still further includes transmitting the plurality of separate sections at a plurality of different times to the controller such that the controller the plurality of separate sections do not exceed the capacity of the memory at any one of the plurality of different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: ABM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal A. Schwarzberger, William E. Schnaufer
  • Patent number: 11180879
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing portion, a movement portion, a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include acquiring pattern data indicating positions of a plurality of needle drop points to sew a pattern, acquiring a position of a sewing start point of the pattern, performing first correction, performing second correction that uses the acquired position of the sewing start point as a base point, and corrects the pattern data, by changing, by an acquired change amount, the positions of the plurality of needle drop points represented by the pattern data corrected by the first correction, and controlling the sewing portion and the movement portion and sewing the pattern on the sewing object, in accordance with the pattern data corrected by the second correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoko Yamanashi, Yukiyoshi Muto, Fuyuki Nakashima
  • Patent number: 11091864
    Abstract: A sewn product making apparatus such as a sewing robot can be used to produce a variety of products over a broad range of sizes, shapes or materials. Various examples are provided related to the automation of sewing robots, and the making of sewn products. In one example, among others, a system can generate a product making path using a product construction file, and instruct a sewing device and fabric mover(s) to automatically sew the product based upon the product making path. The product making path can be modified when a deviation is detected, and the sewing adjusted based upon the modified product making path. The product construction file can be generated using information from a computer aided design associated with the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SoftWear Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baker, Barrett C. Clark, Eric Guenterberg, Alexander Ren Gurney
  • Patent number: 11060220
    Abstract: Using an existing embroidery design that has been created for applique, data is automatically created for a cutting machine, which will cut the applique. Currently, the user currently has to cut these by hand—a labor intensive process or use a custom die that can be expensive. The process only requires that the applique steps in the sewing sequence are labeled as such. Generally, the applique steps are so labeled in order for the design creator to be able to let the sewer know what they are doing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: BRITON LEAP, INC.
    Inventor: Brian D. Bailie
  • Patent number: 11028512
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a holder, a movement portion, a needle bar, a sewing portion, an input portion, a processor, and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include acquiring embroidery data, associating, for each of a plural pieces of pattern data included in the embroidery data, a sewing position with the pattern data, stopping sewing when partition data included in the embroidery data is read out. The processes include driving, when a sewing start command is received during a stop period, the movement portion and the sewing portion in accordance with a next piece of pattern data and the sewing position, receiving a change command during the stop period, and changing the sewing position associated with target pattern data in accordance with the received change command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Harumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10954616
    Abstract: An embroidery frame transport device includes a carriage, a guide portion, a rotation shaft, and a lock release lever including a first restricting portion and a contact portion. The lock release lever is configured to rotate to a first position and a second position around the rotation shaft. The first restricting portion contacts the coupling portion to restrict an embroidery frame from moving in a removing direction by moving to the first position when the embroidery frame is moved in a mounting direction in a process of mounting the coupling portion on the carriage. The contact portion contacts the coupling portion and presses the embroidery frame in the removing direction as a result of the lock release lever moving to a third position when the lock release lever is rotated in a releasing direction while the coupling portion is mounted on the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyomi Kato
  • Patent number: 10947654
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a bed, a projector configured to project an image toward the bed onto at least a guarantee area, a storage medium, and a controller. The controller controls the projector to project the image toward the bed onto a maximum area. The controller determines, based on a position of the image projected onto the maximum area, first world coordinates representing, in a real space coordinate system, a rectangular area contained in the maximum area. The controller determines, based on the first world coordinates, second world coordinates representing, in the real space coordinate system, a target area containing at least the guarantee area. The controller stores the second world coordinates in the storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutaka Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 10876238
    Abstract: A sewing machine that sews an embroidery pattern on a sewing object includes an embroidery frame horizontally moving along a direction which a frame surface extends, a needle bar supporting a needle for inserting a thread, and reciprocally moving toward an internal space of the embroidery frame, a memory unit storing image data of the embroidery frame, and embroidery data of the embroidery pattern, and a display unit displaying an image of the embroidery frame, an image of the embroidery pattern within the image of the embroidery frame, and a feature point with a positional relation between the embroidery pattern, and the embroidery frame when actually sewn in accordance with the embroidery data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kongo
  • Patent number: 10849380
    Abstract: The present invention relates: to a piece of sports and leisure clothing, having a geometric pattern thereon, wherein the geometric pattern comprises at least one base item having a base boundary that forms the contour of the base item, a surrounding area that encompasses the base item, wherein the surrounding area is divided into a plurality of subareas, and a plurality of images, wherein within each subarea of the plurality of subareas at least one image of the plurality of images is disposed, such that the base boundary is visually defined by the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: PictureUnited GmbH
    Inventor: Ralph Brinkmann
  • Patent number: 10846916
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that can follow a fast movement of a virtual point to change a high-precision image. A position correction unit corrects a three-dimensional position of a point of a boundary of an occlusion area among a plurality of points, the three-dimensional position being included in three-dimensional data including three-dimensional positions and color information of the plurality of points, the three-dimensional data being generated from color image data and depth image data from a predetermined viewpoint. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, an image processing apparatus or the like that generates color image data from a virtual viewpoint on the basis of color image data and depth image data from a predetermined viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuichi Araki, Nobuaki Izumi, Junichiro Enoki
  • Patent number: 10787760
    Abstract: A thread color comparison unit compares and judges whether or not a comparison target is the same as a comparison reference with a given thread color of a given design stored in a thread color storage unit as the comparison target and with a given thread color of another given design that differs from the given design as the comparison reference. A thread color grouping unit performs grouping for the comparison target and the comparison reference included in different designs when the comparison target and the comparison reference are the same color. When the thread color comparison unit has judged that the comparison target is the same as the comparison reference, the thread color storage unit stores information such that the comparison target is to be sewn together with the comparison reference that has been judged to be the same, and the sewing data for the comparison target is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yumi Minegishi, Yumiko Kambara
  • Patent number: 10767291
    Abstract: Preparing textile products by establishing, by a textile product system, data types, valid values for each data type, and valid relationships between the data types encompassing specification of textile products for manufacturing and visualization of the textile products. Receiving, from a user, a first data set comprising values of data types and relationships between the data types associated with at least one of manufacturing of a particular textile product and visualization of the particular textile product. Determining whether the received first data set conforms to the data type, data value, and data relationships valid for at least one of the manufacturing of textile products and the visualization of textile products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Timothy Edward Wilson
  • Patent number: 10738398
    Abstract: A sewn product making apparatus such as a sewing robot can be used to produce a variety of products over a broad range of sizes, shapes or materials. Various examples are provided related to the automation of sewing robots, and the making of sewn products. In one example, among others, a system can generate a product making path using a product construction file, and instruct a sewing device and fabric mover(s) to automatically sew the product based upon the product making path. The product making path can be modified when a deviation is detected, and the sewing adjusted based upon the modified product making path. The product construction file can be generated using information from a computer aided design associated with the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: SoftWear Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Baker, Barrett C. Clark, Eric Guenterberg, Alexander Ren Gurney
  • Patent number: 10731280
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions for sewing data generation executed by a processor in a sewing data generation device. The instructions comprises acquiring image data and determining a mode to determine a tendency of a plurality of thread colors to be used. The plurality of thread colors to be used is thread colors used in sewing of an embroidery pattern that represents an image represented by the acquired image data. The instructions also comprises selecting, on the basis of a target mode that is the determined mode, a plurality of thread colors among which at least one thread color is different for each of the modes, from a plurality of thread colors stored in a storage portion, as the plurality of thread colors to be used, and generating embroidery data to form, using a sewing machine, stitches of the selected plurality of thread colors to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Kamihira, Mayumi Nishizaki
  • Patent number: 10683595
    Abstract: Presented are a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for stitching. The method includes examining, by an apparatus, a stitching design, and determining, by the apparatus, a needle drop location of each stitch of the stitching design. The method further includes stitching, by the apparatus, the stitching design into a work piece based on the determined needle drop location, wherein the stitching comprises moving a sewing head of the apparatus relative to the work piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: ABM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal A. Schwarzberger, William E. Schnaufer
  • Patent number: 10662563
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions. The instructions, when executed, cause a processor of a sewing data generation device configured to generate sewing data to perform steps. The steps include acquiring a sewing area in which a pattern is to be sewn and acquiring a target area in which a pattern is to be arranged. The steps further include generating a plurality of sewing data. Each of the plurality of sewing data is data to form stitches of a plurality of stippling patterns inside the acquired target area. The steps further include associating the sewing data with arrangement information, for each of the plurality of sewing data, and outputting the sewing data and arrangement information that have been associated with each other. The arrangement information indicates an arrangement of each of the stippling patterns to be sewn on the basis of the sewing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Kamihira, Yukiyoshi Muto
  • Patent number: 10662564
    Abstract: A sewing machine acquires a selected pattern that is selected from among a plurality of embroidery patterns. The sewing machine displays a pattern image representing the selected pattern. The sewing machine identifies a specified position indicated by the instruction. The sewing machine determines, when the selected pattern is acquired a plurality of times, whether one of a plurality of the pattern images is displayed at the identified specified position. When it is determined that the pattern image is displayed at the identified specified position, the sewing machine identifies the selected pattern for which the pattern image is displayed at the specified position as the editing target. When it is not determined that the pattern image is displayed at the identified specified position, the sewing machine identifies the selected pattern for which a mask region encompassing the selected pattern is set at the specified position as the editing target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Aki Yokoyama, Tsuneo Okuyama
  • Patent number: 10657477
    Abstract: There is provided a work data management system which includes a detailed step classification unit that classifies work performed by a worker at a work site into a plurality of time-series detailed steps based on work data including image data of the work site and a data visualization unit that causes a result display unit to display at least the image data and the plurality of time-series detailed steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kudo, Noriyuki Haga, Satoshi Katsunuma
  • Patent number: 10655260
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions. The instructions, when executed, cause a processor of a sewing data generation device configured to generate sewing data to perform processes. The processes include acquiring pattern data to sew an embroidery pattern. The processes further include setting an outline having an offset portion and a complementary portion on the basis of the pattern data. The outline is a single line surrounding the outside of a contour of the embroidery pattern. The offset portion is a part of the single line and is offset from the contour toward the outside of the embroidery pattern by a predetermined amount. The complementary portion is another part of the single line and being offset from the contour toward the outside of the embroidery pattern by an amount larger than the predetermined amount. The processes also include generating sewing data to sew the outline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryutaro Maki
  • Patent number: 10626532
    Abstract: A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions for sewing data generation. The computer-readable instructions are executed by a processor provided in a sewing data generation device. When executed by the processor in the sewing data generation device, the computer-readable instructions instruct the processor to perform following processes. First, the processor acquires a pattern. And, the processor divides the acquired pattern into a first pattern and a second pattern. The second pattern includes an overlapping portion. The overlapping portion in the second pattern partially overlaps with the first pattern. The processor generates sewing data to sew each of the first pattern and the second pattern on a sewing object. And, the processor generates processing data to process, in full size, a processing pattern. The processing pattern is obtained by excluding the overlapping portion from the second pattern, on a sheet-like processing object different from the sewing object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuta Kamihira, Kazutaka Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 10619279
    Abstract: A decoration pattern data generating apparatus includes: a controller, the controller being configured to control the decoration pattern data generating apparatus to select an embroidery pattern to be sewn, specify an outline of the embroidery pattern, based on embroidery pattern data for sewing the selected embroidery pattern; set an area outside the specified outline, as a decoration area; and generate decoration pattern data for sewing a decoration pattern in the set decoration area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoko Yamanashi, Ryutaro Maki, Takafumi Naka
  • Patent number: 10619278
    Abstract: A appliqué method includes: acquiring a first image of a first fabric piece; performing edge detection on the first image to acquire a plurality of edge points of the first fabric piece; calculating, for each of the edge points, coordinates of the edge point in a coordinate system corresponding to a computerized embroidery machine; and embroidering the first fabric piece onto a second fabric piece along an embroidering path formed by the coordinates of the edge points in the coordinate system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: ZENG HSING INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kun-Lung Hsu, Hsin-Hau Lin
  • Patent number: 10614399
    Abstract: There is provided a work data management system which includes a detailed step classification unit that classifies work performed by a worker at a work site into a plurality of time-series detailed steps based on work data including image data of the work site and a data visualization unit that causes a result display unit to display at least the image data and the plurality of time-series detailed steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Kudo, Noriyuki Haga, Satoshi Katsunuma
  • Patent number: 10604875
    Abstract: A computer-readable medium stores instructions for a processor in a sewing data generation device. When the instructions are executed, the processor acquires pattern data of embroidery pattern including partial patterns using different thread. If first common data indicating the same thread is included in first data of a first embroidery pattern and second data of a second embroidery pattern, the processor sets a sewing order in the first data, while causing the partial pattern using the thread of the first common data to be the partial pattern that is last in the sewing order in the first embroidery pattern, and sets a sewing order in the second data, while causing the partial pattern using the thread of the first common data to be the partial pattern that is first in the sewing order in the second embroidery pattern that is the embroidery pattern subsequently to the first embroidery pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ngoc anh huyen Nguyen, Kazutaka Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 10590578
    Abstract: Presented are a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for stitching. The method includes examining, by an examiner, an embroidery design, wherein the examiner is operably coupled to a controller and a sewing head, and wherein the controller comprises a memory having a capacity, and wherein the controller is operable to cause the sewing head to stitch a work piece. The method further includes determining, by the examiner, a needle drop location of each stitch of the embroidery design, and dividing, by the examiner, the examined embroidery design into a plurality of separate sections. The method still further includes transmitting the plurality of separate sections at a plurality of different times to the controller such that the controller the plurality of separate sections do not exceed the capacity of the memory at any one of the plurality of different times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ABM International, Inc.
    Inventors: Neal A. Schwarzberger, William E. Schnaufer
  • Patent number: 10590579
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes needle bars, a notification portion, a processor, and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include acquiring sewing data for sewing an embroidery pattern made up of a plurality of partial pattern, setting correspondences between a needle bar among the needle bars and an upper thread data set included in the sewing data, for each of the needle bars, and the sewing embroidery pattern, detecting an error that occurs during the sewing, stopping the sewing when the error is detected, specifying a change-eligible needle bar, for which the sewing is completed, when a target data set exists, the correspondence with one of the needle bars not being set for the target data set, and causing the notification portion to notify information indicating the specified change-eligible needle bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tsuneo Okuyama, Aki Yokoyama, Mika Matsushima
  • Patent number: 10563330
    Abstract: Disclosed is a guiding apparatus for use with a machine to facilitate performing an action along a self-guided path on a substrate. The guiding apparatus may include a support member configured to be attached to at least a portion of the machine. Further, the guiding apparatus may include one or more of lighting units, optical sensors, controllers, and user interface components, mounted on the support member, configured to identify an object, obtain position of the object on a substrate and perform an action along a self-guided path in association with that object on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: One Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Blenis, Jr., Roderick P. McAfee
  • Patent number: 10444975
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for graphical icon manipulation. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving a user input that corresponds to a selection of a graphical item that is located in a first portion of the graphical interface. The actions further include receiving a translation input that corresponds to a drag of the graphical item. The actions further include determining that a location of the selection input is in a second portion of the graphical interface. The actions further include updating the graphical item by providing, in place of the graphical item, a representation of a change to the graphical item based on the graphical item being placed in the second portion. The actions further include determining that the selection input has ceased. The actions further include providing, for output, the change to the graphical item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: David Joseph Murphy, Alan Lee Gardner, III, Ariel Benjamin Sachter-Zeltzer
  • Patent number: 10407810
    Abstract: An operating method for computerized machine embroidery includes steps of: (a) transmitting two portions of the stitch data sets respectively into a first storage section and a second storage section; (b) embroidering according to the portion of the stitch data sets in the first storage section; (c) after completion of step (b), the embroidery machine erasing data from the first storage section; (d) after completion of step (c), the transmitting a remaining portion of the stitch data sets to the first storage section; (e) after completion of step (b), embroidering according to the portion of the stitch data sets in the second storage section; and (f) repeating step (b) after completion of steps (d) and (e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Zeng Hsing Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Hung Chen, Wei-Lun Chen
  • Patent number: 10392736
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a first image acquisition unit, a second image acquisition unit, and a display unit. In the sewing machine, the first image acquisition performs image acquisition from the front face side of a cloth for a stitching pattern formed in the cloth. The second image acquisition unit performs image acquisition from the back face side of the cloth such that the center position of the acquired image matches the center position of the image of the stitching pattern acquired by the first image acquisition unit. The display unit displays, on the same screen, a first stitching pattern video image thus acquired by the first image acquisition unit and a second stitching pattern video image thus acquired by the second image acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Kongo
  • Patent number: 10358753
    Abstract: Using an existing embroidery design that has been created for applique, data is automatically created for a cutting machine, which will cut the applique. Currently, the user currently has to cut these by hand—a labor intensive process or use a custom die that can be expensive. The process only requires that the applique steps in the sewing sequence are labeled as such. Generally, the applique steps are so labeled in order for the design creator to be able to let the sewer know what they are doing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: BRITON LEAP, INC.
    Inventor: Brian D. Bailie
  • Patent number: 10344411
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing portion sewing an embroidery pattern on a cloth, a first storage portion storing the stitch data and pattern data, a display portion, a processor, and a memory storing computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions, executed by the processor, includes first acquiring the stitch data and the pattern data, and first displaying, based on the pattern data, the pattern image on the display portion. The computer-readable instructions also includes, first generating a plurality of partial images representing a number of stitches corresponding to a first predetermined number, based on the stitch data, after the first displaying of the pattern image on the display portion, and second displaying, each time each of the plurality of partial images is generated by the first generating, the generated partial image on a portion of the pattern image displayed by the first displaying that corresponds to the generated partial image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryutaro Maki, Yoshiteru Aoki
  • Patent number: 10274929
    Abstract: A controller capable of transmitting and receiving an input signal from a drive circuit corresponding to a moving device, a mounting head, or the like of an electronic component mounting machine or an output signal to the drive circuit for each predetermined period (A/2), in which the controller computes an output signal based on an input signal which is received before the predetermined period, stores the output signal for a time greater than or equal to the predetermined period, and subsequently transmits the output signal to the drive circuit. It becomes possible to set a time (a delay time) from when an input signal is output until an output signal reaches a drive circuit to an arbitrary length by adjusting the storage time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohiro Kato, Michinaga Onishi
  • Patent number: 10132018
    Abstract: Software converts a photographic image into realistic and customized embroidery. Software reads photographic image, down-sampling or up-sampling so that a single pixel has a Density, One Grayscale image is created to calculate derivatives for each pixel using Sobel operator to calculate angle and magnitude and stores in a Sobel table. One Color Image is created to materialize and reduce color selection. A series of polylines are calculated to connect same-color pixels using the pixel's angle from the Sobel table. Polylines are reduced to a manageable size first by multiplying all points by Density resulting in stitch data in physical units, and by using a series of rules and formulas involving angles and magnitudes of each pixel from the Sobel table, Commands are appended to an embroidery machine to generate the final embroidery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DRAWSTITCH INTERNATIONAL LTD.
    Inventors: Konstantinos Angelakis, Ioannis Doukakis, Miltiadis Vasileiadis
  • Patent number: 10053806
    Abstract: A sewing machine that includes a storage unit to store a plurality of pieces of pattern data respectively corresponding to a plurality of embroidery patterns and is capable sewing an embroidery pattern on a work cloth on the basis of the pattern data, the sewing machine includes a controller to control the sewing machine to: select one piece of pattern data from the pattern data stored in the storage unit; extract a plurality of pieces of other pattern data from the pattern data stored in the storage unit randomly; generate images of a plurality of combined embroidery patterns as a combination of a plurality of embroidery patterns respectively corresponding to the plurality of pieces of other pattern data extracted by extracting and an embroidery pattern corresponding to the one piece of pattern data selected; and display the images of the combined embroidery patterns generated by the generating on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Takahata, Chiyo Koga
  • Patent number: 9917634
    Abstract: A relay apparatus includes a reception analog filter that extracts a desired signal from a received signal, an A/D converter that converts the signal after passage through the reception analog filter into a digital signal, a demultiplexing unit that demultiplexes the digital signal converted by the A/D converter into m signals, a reception-side compensating unit that digitally compensates for an analog characteristic of the reception analog filter with respect to the m signals demultiplexed by the demultiplexing unit, and a multiplexing unit that multiplexes the m signals digitally compensated by the reception-side compensating unit. The reception-side compensating unit further demultiplexes each of x signals not sufficiently compensated among the digitally-compensated m signals into k signals, digitally compensates for the analog characteristic of the reception analog filter, and multiplexes the k signals after the digital compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Akinori Fujimura
  • Patent number: 9891611
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a platen configured to receive and object, a cutting device having a cutter, a first moving mechanism configured to move the cutter so that the cutter comes close to or departs from the platen, and a second moving mechanism configured to move the object and the cutter on the platen relative to each other. The apparatus further includes a display unit and a control device. The control device is configured to cause the apparatus to obtain lengths of line segments composing a cutting line of the pattern for every line segment, to calculate a time length required to cut each line segment, to calculate a cutting time length required to cut the pattern by accumulating the time lengths required to cut the respective line segments, and to cause the display unit to display a calculated cutting time length required to cut the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsuneo Okuyama
  • Patent number: 9828709
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a display which displays a pattern and a marking. A marking-data disposing position specifier specifies the disposing position of another pattern relative to the pattern. A marked pattern replicator displays, on the display, plural marked patterns that are the patterns on which the corresponding markings are disposed. The positions where the plural marked patterns are displayed are set based on the markings of the plural marked patterns. After the display positions of the plural marked patterns are set, the marking of the marked pattern is deleted. Accordingly, pattern data of a new pattern is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: JANOME SEWING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromi Oda, Hayato Takada
  • Patent number: 9811076
    Abstract: A method for communicating product development information includes generating, by a server, a first interface configured to facilitate uploading data that defines a 3D image of a product to the server, and to facilitate specifying reviewer identifying data associated with one or more reviewers for reviewing the 3D image. The method also includes receiving, via the first interface, the 3D image and the reviewer identifying data; generating, by the server, a second interface that includes a viewer that facilitates viewing the 3D image and one or more fields for specifying feedback information related to the 3D image. The method also includes receiving, via the second interface, feedback information related to the 3D image; and communicating the feedback information to a designer associated with the 3D image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: ACCENTURE GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED
    Inventors: Ping Guo, Sunny Webb