JP2001017757A - Sewing machine capable of embroidering - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely prevent a prescribed pattern from being copied by storing the pattern in a nonvolatile memory medium included in a sewing machine or an outside memory medium, to reproduce patterns including the prescribed pattern easily by reading in the patterns from a nonvolatile memory medium included in a sewing machine or an outside memory medium, to securely prevent the unfair use of the prescribed pattern by a person other than the owner of the pattern, and to improve the reproductivity of original combination patterns including the prescribed pattern. SOLUTION: When pattern data (S3-S4, S7-S8, S9-S10) read in from a pattern data memory in a ROM, a ROM card or a floppy disk for patterns are stored in a floppy disk FD (S17: Yes), if data of a copyright pattern, the subject of copyright, are included in the data (S18: Yes), only pattern data other than those of the copyright pattern are stored in the floppy disk FD (S20). Therefore, copying of copyright patterns can be securely prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery sewing machine capable of storing and reading pattern data in a non-volatile storage medium or an external storage medium built in the sewing machine, and more particularly, to a predetermined sewing machine which is subject to copyright. The present invention relates to an apparatus for restricting the storage of a pattern in a built-in nonvolatile storage medium or an external storage medium, or for enabling only a proper sewing machine owner who has stored the pattern data to read the pattern data from the external storage medium.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a household sewing machine capable of sewn embroidery, not only a practical pattern such as zigzag sewing or straight-line sewing can be sewn, but also an embroidery frame driving mechanism for independently moving and driving an embroidery frame in two orthogonal directions. The sewing machine motor and the embroidery frame drive mechanism are driven based on the sewing data of the desired embroidery pattern selected via the display so that the embroidery pattern can be attached to the work cloth attached to the embroidery frame. Can be colorfully sewn in multiple colors.

[0003] Accordingly, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
In the description of Japanese Patent No. 123471 and Japanese Patent No. 25661650, a ROM provided in a control device and a detachable RO
The M card stores pattern data (including display data for displaying the embroidery patterns and sewing data for forming the stitches) relating to each of the plurality of embroidery patterns, and displays the shapes of the plurality of embroidery patterns on the display. A list is displayed and the selected embroidery pattern is sewn. The types and number of patterns stored in the ROM card are also increased, and pattern data of people (animals, robots, etc. (commonly known as characters)) that are famous in television, movies, and the like are also stored.

In many cases, sewing machine manufacturers sell pattern data related to these characters as ROM cards exclusively for the characters with the permission of the copyright owner of the characters. Only for the owner of the sewing machine, a desired character can be designated and sewn from the characters recorded on the ROM card. Further, depending on the model of the sewing machine, a plurality of patterns such as characters read from a ROM card are combined, and the pattern data of the combined pattern is
The data can be stored in a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory built in the sewing machine.

[0005] By the way, a trader who creates and sells various colorful embroidery pattern data such as "flower pattern" and "animal"
The sewing data of the new embroidery pattern is created by an embroidery pattern creation device and an embroidery pattern editing device, such as a personal computer, and the display data is created.These display data and the sewing data are associated with the pattern name. A floppy disk is written via a floppy disk drive, and the embroidery floppy disk is sold.

Therefore, recently, a floppy disk drive device has been mounted on a home-use embroidery sewing machine, and a purchased embroidery floppy disk has been mounted on the floppy disk drive device and written on the floppy disk. Embroidery data can be sewn, and a user's favorite unique embroidery pattern can be easily and cheaply sewn. By mounting the floppy disk drive on the sewing machine, for example, the selected "animal", "character pattern", and "frame pattern" can be combined by editing work, and the combined pattern can be recorded on a floppy disk. In response, various techniques have been proposed for easily reproducing a combination pattern read from the floppy disk.

For example, in the control device of the embroidery sewing machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 10-118365, the pattern data created by the editing process includes the embroidery area and the size of the embroidery frame at the time of creating the pattern data. Data (specific information) is added and stored on a floppy disk, and when reading pattern data from the floppy disk, whether or not the pattern data can be used is determined based on the specific data, and a compatible embroidery sewing machine is used. A technique is described in which pattern data is read only when it is created.

In the pattern sewing machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-156075, when a plurality of sewing pattern data are stored in an internal memory, the shape of the cloth presser and the work to be sewn are made to correspond to each of the sewing pattern data. Of the sewing pattern data according to the sewing conditions such as the specifications of the sewing machine and the sewing machine, and if the sewing pattern selected at the time of sewing is invalid because it does not match the sewing conditions, the sewing pattern A technique that prohibits sewing based on data is described.

[0009]

As described above, in the control device of the embroidery sewing machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-118365, the pattern data created by the editing process includes information such as the embroidery area and the size of the embroidery frame. Since only the unique data of the sewing machine is added and written to the floppy disk, the storage of the combination pattern including the character on the floppy disk cannot be restricted by the unique data of the sewing machine alone. That is, as long as the unique information is matched, the character pattern can be easily duplicated via the floppy disk, so that the character can be easily sewn to a person other than the legitimate sewing machine owner.

Therefore, when storing pattern data of a combination pattern including a character to be copyrighted on a floppy disk, the storage of all the pattern data of the combination pattern is completely prohibited, thereby preventing unauthorized use of the character. It will be possible to prohibit certainty However, a legitimate sewing machine owner
There is a problem in that it is not possible to read a combination pattern including a character created by oneself and stored on a floppy disk and to sew the pattern.

Further, since the combination pattern including the previously sewn character cannot be stored in the floppy disk, a series of editing operations such as selecting and editing each embroidery pattern are required to sew the combination pattern. Is performed from the beginning, there is a problem that the work of reproducing the previously sewn combination pattern is troublesome and the workability is reduced.

Furthermore, in the pattern sewing machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-156075, when a plurality of sewing pattern data are stored in an internal memory, only the valid or invalid of the sewing pattern data is set. The invalidation setting alone cannot restrict the storage of the character in the internal memory, especially the nonvolatile memory such as the flash memory. That is, since the character pattern data can be stored in the non-volatile memory of the sewing machine, there is a problem that a ROM card dedicated to the character can be lent to another person in order, thereby making the problem of unauthorized use possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to reliably prevent a predetermined pattern from being duplicated by storing it in a non-volatile storage medium with a built-in sewing machine or an external storage medium. The purpose is to be able to easily read and read from a medium, to reliably prevent unauthorized use by anyone other than the owner of the predetermined pattern, and to enhance the reproducibility of a self-made combination pattern including the predetermined pattern.

[0014]

An embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1 is provided with display means including a display, and reads pattern data from a pattern storage medium storing pattern data of an embroidery pattern or an external pattern recording medium. In a sewing machine capable of editing an embroidery pattern via a display, when storing pattern data read from a pattern storage medium or an external pattern recording medium in a non-volatile storage medium or an external storage medium built in the sewing machine, a predetermined pattern When the pattern data is included, a storage control means for storing only the pattern data of the embroidery pattern other than the predetermined pattern in the built-in nonvolatile storage medium or the external storage medium is provided.

When the pattern data read from the pattern storage medium or the external pattern storage medium is stored in a nonvolatile storage medium such as a flash memory built in the sewing machine, or when stored in an external storage medium such as a floppy disk, When the read pattern data includes the pattern data of the predetermined pattern, only the pattern data of the normal embroidery pattern other than the predetermined pattern which is not inconvenient to store is stored in the built-in nonvolatile storage medium or the external storage medium. It can be stored and saved. Since only a predetermined pattern is not stored in the pattern data read from the built-in nonvolatile storage medium or the external storage medium, the pattern data created by the user (combination pattern of the ordinary pattern and the predetermined pattern) is stored. When reproducing, pattern data of a predetermined pattern may be added to the read pattern data.

Here, when the storage control means determines that the pattern is a predetermined pattern on the basis of identification data attached to the pattern data (claim 2 dependent on claim 1), the storage control means determines whether the pattern is a predetermined pattern. Thus, it can be easily determined whether or not the pattern is a predetermined pattern.

Further, when pattern data is read from the pattern storage medium or the external pattern recording medium, identification data accompanying the pattern data is detected, or the built-in nonvolatile storage medium or the external storage medium is stored by the storage control means. If the warning means for warning when identification data accompanying the pattern data is detected when the pattern data is stored in the memory (claim 3 dependent on claim 2) is provided, the pattern storage medium or an external When reading pattern data from a pattern recording medium,
Alternatively, when the pattern data is stored in the built-in nonvolatile storage medium or the external storage medium, it is easily recognized that the predetermined pattern is included by an audible or visual warning by the warning unit.

When the warning means displays a message indicating that a predetermined pattern is included on the display (claim 4 dependent on claim 3), the warning means displays a warning message displayed on the display. It can be clearly seen that the read pattern includes a predetermined pattern.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sewing machine capable of performing embroidery sewing, comprising display means including a display, reading pattern data from a pattern storage medium storing an embroidery pattern data or an external pattern recording medium, and performing embroidery via the display. In a sewing machine capable of editing a pattern, an information storage memory storing unique information specific to the sewing machine, and a pattern of a predetermined pattern when storing pattern data read from a pattern storage medium or an external pattern recording medium in an external storage medium. When data is included, storage control means for adding the unique information stored in the information storage memory and storing the data in an external storage medium is provided.

Since information unique to the sewing machine is stored in the information storage memory, when storing the pattern data read from the pattern storage medium or the external pattern recording medium in the external storage medium, the pattern data of a predetermined pattern is stored. Is included in the pattern data, the unique information of the information storage memory is added to the pattern data, and the pattern data is stored in the external storage medium. That is, even when the pattern data stored in the external storage medium includes a predetermined pattern, all of the pattern data including the predetermined pattern can be stored in the external storage medium.

Here, when the pattern data is read from the external storage medium, the unique information attached to the pattern data is compared with the unique information in the information storage memory. Prohibit reading,
In the case where a read determination unit that permits reading of the pattern data only when the two pieces of unique information match is provided (claim 6 dependent on claim 5), when reading the pattern data from the external storage medium, When the unique information of the data and the unique information of the sewing machine are the same, that is, when the pattern data is read by the sewing machine storing the pattern data, the reading is possible, and the sewing can be performed. That is, when the pattern data is read by a sewing machine other than the sewing machine storing the pattern data, the reading is prohibited and sewing cannot be performed.

When the reading determination means prohibits the reading of the pattern data, a warning means for issuing a warning that the unique information does not match is provided.
Alternatively, according to claim 7), it is possible to warn that the pattern data cannot be read by a sewing machine other than the sewing machine storing the pattern data, by an audible or visual warning by the warning means.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to an electronically controlled sewing machine in which various embroidery patterns can be sewn in addition to practical patterns by detachably mounting an embroidery frame driving device (so-called embroidery device). It is an example. The electronically controlled sewing machine M is, as shown in FIG.
And a pillar 2 erected from the right end of the bed 1 and an arm 3 extending leftward from the upper end of the pillar 2 so as to face the bed 1.

The bed 1 accommodates a feed dog vertical movement mechanism (not shown) for moving the feed dog up and down, a feed dog front and rear movement mechanism (not shown) for moving the feed dog back and forth, and cooperates with the sewing needle 6. A thread catcher (for example, a horizontal shuttle) is provided.
The pedestal 2 is provided with a ROM card 40 as a pattern storage medium storing pattern data (sewing data and pattern display data) of a large number of embroidery patterns that are optionally added, and an internal card connector 13 (FIG. 2). (See FIG. 2) is formed. Further, a floppy disk drive 29 for detachably mounting a pattern floppy disk MFD (hereinafter simply referred to as a floppy), which is an external pattern recording medium on which an embroidery pattern is recorded, is provided.

The arm 3 has a needle bar drive mechanism for vertically moving a needle bar 5 having a sewing needle 6 attached to a lower end thereof, and a needle bar swinging mechanism for swinging the needle bar 5 in a direction perpendicular to the cloth feeding direction (shown in the drawing). And a balance driving mechanism (not shown) that moves the balance up and down in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle bar 5. The feed dog vertical movement mechanism, the needle bar drive mechanism, and the balance drive mechanism are driven by a sewing machine motor 17, the needle bar swing mechanism is driven by a needle bar swing stepping motor 18, and the feed dog longitudinal movement mechanism is a feed dog. It is driven by a driving stepping motor 19 (see FIG. 2). The head 4 of the arm 3 is provided with a start / stop button 12 for a start / stop switch 12a for instructing start and stop of the sewing operation.

A large liquid crystal display 10 is provided on the front surface of the pillar 2.
Various stitch patterns such as practical patterns and embroidery patterns, as well as pattern names and various messages are displayed. A touch key 11 made of a transparent electrode is provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal display 10 so as to correspond to each of a plurality of embroidery patterns and display positions of function names indicating pattern names and functions. The instruction of the function can be realized by pressing the touch key 11 corresponding to the embroidery pattern, the pattern name or the function name.

At the left end of the bed 1, a free bed called a free arm is formed, and an embroidery frame drive mechanism 30 is detachably mounted on the free bed to enable embroidery sewing. . The embroidery frame drive mechanism 30 includes a main body case 31, an embroidery frame 32 on which a work cloth is detachably mounted, and a Y-direction drive unit including a Y-direction drive mechanism for driving the embroidery frame 32 in the Y direction (front-back direction). 33 and this Y
An X-direction drive mechanism for driving the direction drive unit 33 in the X-direction (left-right direction), and an X-direction drive mechanism housed in the main body case 31. The X-direction drive mechanism is a first stepping motor 34. The Y-direction drive mechanism is driven by the second stepping motor 35 (see FIG. 2).

When the embroidery frame drive mechanism 30 is mounted on the free bed, the first and second stepping motors 34 and 35 are provided.
Is electrically connected to the control device C of the sewing machine M via the connector 14, and the control device C controls the driving of the first and second stepping motors 34 and 35 to move the embroidery frame 32 on which the work cloth is set in the X direction. Embroidery sewing while independently moving and driving in the Y and Y directions. Next, a control system of the electronically controlled sewing machine M will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control device C comprises an input interface 21, a CPU 22, a ROM 23 and an R
A computer including an AM 24, a flash memory (corresponding to a non-volatile storage medium built into the sewing machine) 25 capable of storing edited and electrically rewritable pattern data, a computer including an output interface 26 and the like, and a floppy disk drive (FDD) It has a floppy disk controller (FDC) 28 for driving the drive 29 and a bus 27 such as a data bus connecting these. The input interface 21 includes a start / stop switch 12a, a touch key 11,
A timing signal generator 16 for detecting a plurality of rotation phases of the main shaft of the sewing machine and the like are connected.

The output interface 26 has a motor 1
7 to 19, a display controller (LCDC) 20 for a liquid crystal display (LCD) 10, and first and second stepping motors 34 and 35 of an embroidery frame drive mechanism 30 are connected via a connector 14. The ROM 41 of the ROM card 40 is connected to the bus 27 via the connector 13.
And the FDC 28 is also connected to the bus 27.

In the ROM 23, in addition to a general control program for sewing control and display control for sewing a practical pattern, a read control program for reading data from a floppy MFD for a pattern or a normal floppy FD, and data to a floppy FD. , A control program for editing control such as enlargement, reduction and rotation of the selected embroidery pattern via the liquid crystal display 10, and a control program for embroidery sewing control for sewing the selected embroidery pattern A control program for sewing machine control, which will be described later, which is unique to the present application, is stored in advance.

Further, the pattern data memory 23 of the ROM 23
As shown in FIG. 3, a includes a character pattern data composed of display data relating to each of the character patterns of numbers and alphabets and sewing data thereof, and a practical pattern composed of display data relating to each of a plurality of practical patterns and the sewing data thereof. Pattern data and pattern data of a large number of relatively frequently used embroidery patterns (first embroidery pattern, second embroidery pattern, third embroidery pattern,...) Are stored. The embroidery patterns are grouped by type and stored with a pattern number.

That is, since the pattern data of each embroidery pattern has the same configuration, the pattern data of the first embroidery pattern will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the pattern data includes the embroidery pattern and a plurality of embroidery patterns included in the embroidery pattern. Starting with pattern display data for displaying color-specific pattern parts, sewing data for embroidery sewing, and display information for screen display related to pattern selection, other than the selected embroidery pattern and embroidery area other than color The auxiliary information display data for displaying additional information such as display information during sewing including characters, numbers, and symbols is stored separately. Furthermore,
When the embroidery pattern is a copyright pattern that is subject to copyright, copyright identification data is added to the pattern data.

In the display data of the first embroidery pattern, for example, the embroidery pattern of “bear” shown in FIGS. 7 and 12 is a copyright pattern, so the copyright identification data and the first to third color-specific pattern portions And bit data (dot data) of the rectangular frame to display the rectangular frame surrounding the outer peripheral portion of each color-specific pattern portion.
Bit data and the like of the third color-specific pattern portion are stored. When the sewing data is, for example, for three colors, the first
To the third color-specific pattern portion. The display data of the accompanying information stores display data for characters and function names to be displayed on various display screens. Here, in the sewing data for each color-specific pattern portion, a stop code SC for thread change, sewing time data, and the like are stored, respectively. However, the end code EC is stored at the end of the sewing data of the final pattern portion.

A plurality of ROM cards 40 are prepared for each pattern type, and the ROM 41 of the ROM cards 40 has a large number of relatively infrequently used embroidery patterns (first embroidery patterns) like the ROM 23. , Embroidery patterns, second embroidery patterns, third embroidery patterns,...) Are stored. (See FIG. 3). However, for a copyright pattern to be copyrighted, copyright identification data is added to the pattern data.

The RAM 24 is appropriately provided with memories (memory such as flags, pointers, counters, memories, registers, buffers, etc.) necessary for the above-described various controls, such as a memory for storing sewing data of embroidery patterns to be used for sewing. Have been. Here, in the pattern floppy MFD, the pattern name of the embroidery pattern and the pattern data including the display data and the sewing data for the embroidery pattern are recorded in association with each other. That is, an embroidery pattern recorded on the floppy MFD is selected by its pattern name. However, in the present embodiment, no copyright pattern is recorded in the pattern floppy MFD at all.

Next, the routine of the sewing machine control executed by the control device C will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. However, it is assumed that an embroidery edit mode for editing by combining a plurality of selected embroidery patterns is set. Also, the reference symbol Si (i = 1, 2, 3,...)
・) Indicates each step. When this control is started by turning on the power, an initialization process such as clearing each memory of the RAM 24 and initializing the stepping motors 34 and 35 of the embroidery frame driving mechanism 30 is executed (S1). A menu screen for designating the type (classification) of the pattern is displayed on the liquid crystal display 10 (S2).

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, character designating keys 11a to 11d for selecting character patterns such as hiragana, katakana, alphabet, etc. according to the typeface, and figurative designating keys 11e to 11g for selecting figurative patterns are mounted. A menu screen including a card designation key 11h for selecting an embroidery pattern recorded on the ROM card 40 and a floppy designation key 11i for selecting an embroidery pattern recorded on the mounted floppy MFD is displayed. However, these designation keys 11a
Reference numerals 11i to 11i denote touch keys forming function keys in cooperation with characters and patterns displayed on the screen.

Therefore, when the internal pattern is selected by operating the image designating key 11e of "animal" (S3: Yes),
As shown in FIG. 7, a pattern data memory 23 inside the sewing machine is provided.
A list of patterns related to "animals", "vehicles", and "confectionery" included in "a" is displayed. For example, the pattern key 11j is operated to select the figurative pattern "bear" (S4). As a result, the copyright data is provided in the pattern data of the selected pattern, and when the copyright pattern is used, a warning message "Data related to this pattern cannot be stored in memory,
Is it OK? Is displayed for a predetermined time (S5), an editing screen is displayed as shown in FIG. 8, and the arrangement and size of the pattern "bear" displayed in the sewing area 10a are changed. An editing process is performed (S6).

At this time, when the editing process is completed by the completion key 11k and the process returns to S2, as shown in FIG. 9, a figurative pattern "bear" is displayed in the sewing area 10a of the menu screen. Hereinafter, similarly, the character designation key 11
When the character selection screen of FIG. 10 is displayed by the operation of c, the edit screen shown in FIG. 11 is displayed again by selecting the character string "HAND MADE" and operating the enter key 11m, and the sewing area 10a is displayed in the sewing area 10a. The figurative pattern "bear" and the character string "H"
“AND MADE” is displayed.

Further, when a desired "heart frame" is selected from the frame pattern displayed by operating the figure designating key 11f and the editing process is completed (S3: No, S7: No, S9: No, S11:
Yes), as shown in FIG. 12, a combination pattern 4 in which the figurative pattern "bear" and the character string "HAND MADE" are surrounded by a "heart frame".
5 is displayed in the sewing area 10a, and a pattern confirmation screen having three color-specific patterns included in the "bear" is displayed on the liquid crystal display 10 (S12).

Here, on the pattern confirmation screen shown in FIG. 12, the storage key 1 for storing the pattern data of the edited pattern in the data floppy FD or the flash memory 25 is displayed.
1n and its floppy FD or flash memory 25
Since the read key 11o for reading the pattern data of the embroidery pattern stored in the memory is displayed in close proximity and simultaneously, the operability of the storage process and the read process is improved. However, the pattern data is stored in the floppy FD when the floppy FD for data is mounted on the floppy disk drive 29, but is stored in the flash memory 25 when the floppy FD is not mounted.

When the storage key 11n is operated after the data floppy FD is mounted on the floppy disk drive 29, and the pattern data of the combination pattern 45 created by editing is stored in this floppy FD (S13: N
o, S15: No, S17: Yes), when the copyright identification data is not detected in any of the pattern data of the combination pattern 45 (S18: No), the message “in storage” is displayed as shown in FIG. The data is displayed in a window, and the pattern data of all the patterns of the combination pattern 45 is stored in the floppy FD (S21).

By the way, when the pattern data of the combination pattern 45 is stored (S17: Yes), when the copyright identification data is detected in the pattern data of any one of the combination patterns 45, that is, in any one of the combination patterns 45, If this is a copyright pattern that is the subject of copyright (S18: Yes), as shown in FIG. 14, the warning message "The pattern that is subject to copyright cannot be stored. Only the other patterns are stored." It is displayed on the screen (S19), and only the pattern data of the embroidery pattern other than the copyright pattern is stored in the floppy FD (S2).
0).

That is, in the present embodiment, the pattern data relating to the character string "HAND MADE" and the pattern "heart frame", excluding the pattern data relating to the image pattern "bear", which is a copyright pattern, from the combination pattern 45 are stored in the floppy FD. Will be stored. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the copyright pattern from being copied to the floppy FD by storage, and it is possible to reliably prevent the copyright pattern from being sewn to anyone other than the owner of the legal copyright pattern. In FIG. 14, a warning message is issued when a non-stored copyright target pattern is included in the combination pattern to be stored. The information may be displayed on the display 10.

As a result, it is possible to clearly inform the user of the copyrighted pattern that cannot be stored. At this time, the read key 11o is operated and the floppy FD
When reading the pattern data of the embroidery pattern from (S15:
Yes), read processing control (see FIG. 5) is executed (S16). However, when a data floppy FD is mounted on the floppy disk drive 29, the pattern data is read from the floppy FD.
When the floppy FD is not mounted, the data is read from the flash memory 25.

When this control is started, first, as shown in FIG. 15, an external pattern reading screen is displayed (S2).
Five). In the external pattern reading screen, a numerical value indicating the amount of the pattern data is displayed in the pocket where the pattern is stored based on the pattern data stored in the floppy FD. Next, a pattern is selected by operating the pocket key 11p corresponding to the desired pocket (S26). As shown in FIG. 16, display data of the pattern is read from the floppy FD and the sewing area 10 is selected.
(a) (S27).

At this time, when the pattern selection is confirmed by operating the read key 11o (S28: Yes), the pattern data (sewing data) of the pattern is read and stored in the sewing data memory, and this control is ended. Then, the process returns to S12 of the sewing machine control, and the pattern confirmation screen shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. Here, when the sewing process is started by operating the start / stop switch 12a (S13: Yes),
A sewing process is executed (S14), and the process returns to S2 upon completion of the sewing process. As a result, by sewing control,
The sewing process is executed by reading stitch data for each stitch from the sewing data memory.

When the pattern stored in the ROM card 40 is selected by operating the card designation key 11h when the menu screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed (S3: No, S7:
Yes), similar to the internal pattern selection, as shown in FIG. 7, a list of patterns related to “animals”, “vehicles”, and the like included in the mounted ROM card 40 is displayed, and the pattern key 11j is operated. Desired pattern is selected (S
8), S5 and subsequent steps are executed in the same manner as described above.

On the other hand, when the menu screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed and the pattern recorded on the floppy MFD is selected by operating the floppy designation key 11i (S3: No, S
7: No, S9: Yes), as shown in FIG. 17, the pattern names of the embroidery patterns relating to “animals”, “vehicles”, and the like included in the floppy MFD for the mounted pattern are displayed in a list. When a desired embroidery pattern is selected by operating the key 11q (S10), S5 is executed, a figure based on the display data of the pattern is displayed on the editing screen shown in FIG. 8, and a pattern editing process is executed. (S6). Here, the liquid crystal display 10, the LCDC 20, the display control program, and the like correspond to the display means, and particularly the steps S17 to S
18, S20 and the control device C correspond to the storage control means, and especially S19 of the sewing machine control corresponds to the warning means.

As described above, the pattern data read from the pattern data memory 23a of the ROM 24, the ROM card 40 or the pattern floppy disk MFD is stored in the flash memory 25 or the floppy disk FD built in the electronically controlled sewing machine M. At this time, when the pattern data of the copyright pattern that is the subject of the copyright is included, only the pattern data of the embroidery pattern other than the copyright pattern is stored in the flash memory 25 or the floppy disk FD. By storing in the flash memory 25 or the floppy disk FD only the pattern data of the remaining ordinary embroidery patterns excluding the copyright pattern that causes inconvenience, the copy of the copyright pattern can be reliably prevented.

Further, it is possible to surely prevent a person other than the owner of the copyright pattern from sewing the copyright pattern. Further, since only the copyright pattern is not stored in the pattern data read from the flash memory 25 or the floppy disk FD, the pattern data created by the user (the combination pattern of the ordinary pattern and the predetermined pattern) is stored. When reproducing, only the pattern data of the copyright pattern needs to be added to the read pattern data. Further, since the copyright pattern is determined based on the copyright identification data attached to the pattern data, it is possible to easily determine whether the pattern is a copyright pattern based on the copyright identification data.

Further, when the pattern data is read from the pattern data memory 23a, the ROM card 40, or the pattern floppy disk MFD, or when the pattern data is stored in the flash memory 25 or the floppy disk FD,
Since a warning message indicating that the copyright pattern is included is displayed on the liquid crystal display 10, the displayed warning message clearly indicates that the read pattern includes the copyright pattern.

[Alternative Embodiment] FIGS. 18 to 21 By the way, when the control of the sewing machine is partially changed and the copyright data is included in the pattern data stored in the floppy FD, the unique information of the sewing machine is used. May be stored together, and when the pattern data is read from the floppy FD, the pattern data may be read only when the unique information attached to the pattern data matches the unique information on the sewing machine side. However, steps S31 to S48 are the same as steps S1 to S18 in the above embodiment, and thus description thereof will be omitted, and modified S49 to S50 and read control will be described.

That is, as shown in FIG. 18, the serial number: BM9901 is stored in the unique information memory 25a of the flash memory 25.
Information unique to the sewing machine M such as 28 is stored. And
When the pattern data of the combination pattern 45 displayed in the sewing area 10a of the pattern confirmation screen is stored (S47: Yes), when the copyright identification data is not detected in any of the pattern data of the combination pattern 45 (S47: Yes). (S48: No), the pattern data of the combination pattern 45 is stored in the floppy FD (S50). However, when the copyright identification data is detected in the pattern data of any one of the combination patterns 45 (S
48: Yes), the unique data such as the serial number is added to the pattern data and stored in the floppy FD (S49).

Next, when the pattern data of the embroidery pattern is read from the floppy FD by operating the reading key 11o (S45: Yes), the reading process is controlled (see FIG. 20).
Is executed (S46). When the reading control is started, S55 to S57 are executed in the same manner as S25 to S27 described above, and when the pattern data of the pattern to be selected does not have any unique information (S58: No), the pattern data Does not include the copyright pattern, the reading of the pattern data is not prohibited, and when the pattern selection is confirmed by the operation of the reading key 11o (S6
0: Yes), the pattern data of the pattern is read and stored in the sewing data memory, this control ends, and the process returns to S42 of the sewing machine control.

However, when unique information is attached to the pattern data of the pattern to be selected (S58: Ye
s) If the unique information attached to the pattern data matches the unique information of the sewing machine stored in the unique information memory 25a (S59: Yes), the pattern data is created and stored by the sewing machine. When the pattern data is read, the owner of the copyright pattern is sewing, so reading is permitted, the pattern data can be read and sewn, and the original combination pattern including the copyright pattern can be reproduced become.

If the two pieces of unique information do not match (S59: No), reading of the pattern data (sewing data) of the pattern including the copyright pattern is prohibited (S61), and as shown in FIG. A warning message "Pattern data cannot be read because it is not a sewing machine storing pattern data!" Is displayed on the screen (S62), and the process returns to S55. As described above, when reading the pattern data with a sewing machine other than the sewing machine storing the pattern data, sewing is performed with a sewing machine owned by a person other than the owner of the copyright pattern, so reading of the pattern data is prohibited, It is possible to reliably prevent unauthorized use by persons other than the owner of the copyright pattern.

Here, the liquid crystal display 10 and the LCDC
20 and a display control program correspond to display means,
The unique information memory 25a of the flash memory 25 corresponds to the information storage memory, and particularly the sewing machine control of S47 to S48 and S49.
And the control device C correspond to storage control means, read control in particular S58 to S59, S61 and the control device C correspond to read determination means, and read control particularly S62 and the like correspond to warning means.

As described above, when the pattern data read from the pattern data memory 23a of the ROM 24, the ROM card 40, or the pattern floppy disk MFD is stored in the floppy disk FD, the copyright pattern which is the subject of the copyright is stored. When the pattern data is included, the unique information stored in the unique information memory 25a is added and stored on the floppy disk FD.
Even when the copyright data is included in the pattern data stored in D, all the pattern data including the copyright pattern can be stored in the floppy disk FD by adding the unique information of the sewing machine M.

When reading the pattern data from the floppy disk FD, if the unique information attached to the pattern data does not match the unique information on the sewing machine M, the reading of the pattern data is prohibited. Is read only when the pattern data matches, so that when the pattern data is read by the sewing machine M in which the pattern data is written and stored, the pattern data is read by the owner of the copyright pattern. The sewing can be read and sewn, and a self-made combination pattern including a copyright pattern can be reproduced.

When the pattern data is read by a sewing machine other than the sewing machine M which stores the pattern data, the sewing is performed by a person other than the owner of the copyright pattern. Unauthorized use of the copyright pattern of a person other than the pattern owner can be reliably prevented.

The present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be embodied in variously modified forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. 1) The floppy disk drive 29 may be provided at an arbitrary portion other than the pillar 2, or may be provided separately from the sewing machine M. 2) As the predetermined pattern, other than the copyright pattern, for example, an original pattern made by the user may be used. 3) Instead of displaying a warning message on the liquid crystal display 10, a warning may be issued by generating a warning sound or a warning message using a speaker or a buzzer.

4) As an external storage medium, besides the floppy disk FD, a RAM card, CD-ROM, DV
D (digital video disk), laser disk, or the like may be used. 5) The present invention is also applied to a case where the electronically controlled sewing machine M capable of sewing embroidery is connected to an external personal computer or the Internet, and display data and sewing data are transmitted and received from these personal computers and the Internet via communication means. can do.

[0065]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a sewing machine provided with display means including a display and capable of editing an embroidery pattern, a predetermined pattern data is stored in a nonvolatile storage medium built in the sewing machine or stored in an external storage medium. When the pattern data of the pattern is included, the storage control means for storing only the pattern data of the embroidery pattern other than the predetermined pattern is provided. By storing only the pattern data of the ordinary embroidery pattern in a built-in nonvolatile storage medium or an external storage medium, it is possible to reliably prevent a predetermined pattern from being duplicated.

Further, it is possible to reliably prevent the sewing of the predetermined pattern from being performed by a person other than the owner of the predetermined pattern. Further, since only a predetermined pattern is not stored in the pattern data read from the built-in nonvolatile storage medium or the external storage medium, only the pattern data of the predetermined pattern needs to be added. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the storage means determines whether the pattern is a copyright pattern based on the copyright identification data attached to the pattern data. Can be easily determined. The other effects are the same as those of the first aspect.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when pattern data is read from the pattern storage medium or the external pattern recording medium, identification data accompanying the pattern data is detected, or the built-in nonvolatile When the pattern data is stored in the non-transitory storage medium or the external storage medium, a warning unit is provided to warn when identification data accompanying the pattern data is detected. When reading the data, or when storing the pattern data in the built-in nonvolatile storage medium or the external storage medium, it is easy to recognize that a predetermined pattern is included by an audible or visual warning. Other effects are the same as those of the second aspect.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the warning means displays on the display a message indicating that the predetermined pattern is included. It can be clearly seen that the pattern is included. The other effects are the same as those of the third aspect.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in a sewing machine provided with display means including a display and capable of editing an embroidery pattern, the pattern data of a predetermined pattern is stored in the information storage memory and the pattern data stored in the external storage medium. When included,
Since the storage control means for adding and storing the unique information is provided, even when the pattern data to be stored in the external storage medium includes a predetermined pattern, by adding the unique information of the sewing machine, the predetermined pattern can be obtained. Can be stored in the external storage medium.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the pattern data is read from the external storage medium, the reading of the pattern data is prohibited if the unique information attached to the pattern data does not match the unique information of the sewing machine. However, since the reading determination means for permitting the reading of the pattern data only when the two pieces of unique information match is provided, when reading the pattern data with the sewing machine storing the pattern data, the owner of the predetermined pattern is sewn. In this case, the pattern data can be read and sewn, and a self-made combination pattern including a predetermined pattern can be reproduced.

When the pattern data is read by a sewing machine other than the sewing machine storing the pattern data, the sewing is performed by a person other than the owner of the predetermined pattern. Unauthorized use of a predetermined pattern by a person other than the owner can be reliably prevented. The other effects are the same as those of the fifth aspect. According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, when the reading determination unit prohibits the reading of the pattern data, the warning unit that issues a warning that the unique information does not match is provided. By such a warning, it is possible to warn that the pattern data cannot be read by a sewing machine other than the sewing machine storing the pattern data. Other claim 5
Or, the same effect as 6 can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronically controlled sewing machine capable of performing embroidery sewing according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the electronically controlled sewing machine.

FIG. 3 is a table illustrating a data configuration of a pattern data memory.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of sewing machine control.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a reading process control.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of a menu screen for selecting a pattern type.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a pattern group of a figurative pattern;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display example of an editing screen on which a selection pattern is displayed.

FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6, including a selection pattern.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a character selection screen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 8 displaying a combination pattern;

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a combination pattern and a pattern portion for each color of “bear”.

FIG. 13 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 12 during storage.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example of a warning message when a pattern is stored.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example of an external pattern reading screen.

FIG. 16 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 15 when a pattern is read.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a pattern selection screen based on a pattern name.

FIG. 18 is a table illustrating a data configuration of a unique information memory.

FIG. 19 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 according to another embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 5 according to another embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a warning message when a pattern is read.

[Explanation of symbols]

 M Electronically controlled sewing machine capable of sewing embroidery 10 Liquid crystal display 22 CPU 23 ROM 23a Pattern data memory 24 RAM 25 Flash memory 25a Specific information memory C Controller MFD floppy disk for pattern FD floppy disk for data

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A sewing machine comprising display means including a display, reading pattern data from a pattern storage medium storing pattern data of an embroidery pattern or an external pattern recording medium, and editing the embroidery pattern via a display. When the pattern data read from the pattern storage medium or the external pattern recording medium is stored in the non-volatile storage medium or the external storage medium built in the sewing machine, when the pattern data of the predetermined pattern is included, a pattern other than the predetermined pattern is used. An embroidery sewing machine characterized by comprising storage control means for storing only the pattern data of the embroidery pattern in the built-in nonvolatile storage medium or the external storage medium. 2. The embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage control means determines that the pattern is the predetermined pattern based on identification data accompanying the pattern data. 3. When the identification data accompanying the pattern data is detected when the pattern data is read from the pattern storage medium or an external pattern recording medium, or the built-in nonvolatile storage medium or 3. The embroidery sewing machine according to claim 2, further comprising a warning unit for warning when identification data accompanying the pattern data is detected when storing the pattern data in the external storage medium. 4. The sewing machine according to claim 3, wherein the warning unit displays a message indicating that a predetermined pattern is included on the display. 5. A sewing machine comprising display means including a display, reading pattern data from a pattern storage medium or an external pattern recording medium storing pattern data of an embroidery pattern, and editing the embroidery pattern via a display. An information storage memory storing unique information specific to the sewing machine; and when storing pattern data read from the pattern storage medium or the external pattern recording medium in the external storage medium, when pattern data of a predetermined pattern is included. An embroidery sewing machine, further comprising storage control means for adding unique information stored in the information storage memory and storing the added information in an external storage medium. 6. When pattern data is read from the external storage medium, unique information attached to the pattern data is compared with unique information in an information storage memory, and when the two pieces of unique information do not match, reading of the pattern data is performed. 6. The embroidery sewing machine according to claim 5, further comprising a reading determination unit that prohibits the reading of the pattern data and permits reading of the pattern data only when the two pieces of unique information match. 7. The embroidery sewing device according to claim 5, further comprising a warning unit for issuing a warning that the unique information does not match when the reading of the pattern data is prohibited by the reading determination unit. Possible sewing machine.