JP2014045873A - Embroidery data processing device, embroidery data processing program, and sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an embroidery data processing device, an embroidery data processing program and a sewing machine, capable of expressing an embroidery pattern in a wide variety by using more many colors, and capable of acquiring various color arrangement patterns easily.SOLUTION: An embroidery data processing device includes color storage means for storing a plurality of colors which are defined beforehand. The embroidery data processing device executes: a processing for dividing an embroidery pattern into a plurality of partial regions based on embroidery data; and a processing for randomly extracting colors used as thread color data specifying colors of the partial regions out of a plurality of colors stored in the color storage means, for each of the partial regions, and allocating them.

Description

  The present invention relates to an embroidery data processing apparatus, an embroidery data processing program, and a sewing machine that process embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with a sewing machine.

  Conventionally, there is a sewing machine that sews an embroidery pattern based on embroidery data. In such a sewing machine, embroidery data of a plurality of embroidery patterns is stored in a storage device built in the sewing machine or an external storage device such as a memory card. The user selects a desired embroidery pattern from a plurality of embroidery patterns. The sewing machine reads the embroidery data of the selected embroidery pattern and embroidery the embroidery pattern on the work cloth while transferring the embroidery frame holding the work cloth by the transfer mechanism.

  By the way, the embroidery pattern includes a pattern composed of a plurality of color-specific pattern parts sewn with different colors (thread colors) and a pattern embroidered with a single color. The color of the pattern portion by color in the former embroidery pattern is set in advance to a prescribed color. Further, the embroidery data editing apparatus stores color arrangement data indicating a preferable combination of colors in advance, and the embroidery data for each color of the embroidery pattern is based on the color arrangement data and the cloth data indicating the color of the cloth (work cloth). There is one in which the color of the pattern portion is set (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-57262

In the embroidery data editing apparatus of Patent Document 1, the color of the pattern portion for each color of the embroidery pattern is uniquely determined based on the color of the fabric and the color arrangement data. However, the user does not want to restrict the color of the color-specific pattern part by the color of the fabric, but wants to sew with a favorite color or an unusual color that is not a “specified color” for each color-specific pattern part. In some cases. However, in order to specify the color of such an embroidery pattern, it is necessary to read out the data for each color pattern portion one by one and check and specify the corresponding thread color data, which is troublesome and cumbersome. is there.
In the case of an embroidery pattern sewn with a single color, the user cannot change to an embroidery pattern sewn with multiple colors.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to embroidery data that can express a variety of embroidery patterns using more colors and can easily obtain a variety of color arrangement patterns. A processing apparatus, an embroidery data processing program, and a sewing machine are provided.

  To achieve the above object, an embroidery data processing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention processes embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with a sewing machine, and a plurality of embroidery patterns are processed based on the embroidery data. A pattern dividing unit that divides the image into partial areas, a color storage unit that stores a plurality of predefined colors, and a plurality of patterns stored in the color storage unit for each of the partial areas divided by the pattern dividing unit. And assigning means for randomly extracting and assigning colors to be used as thread color data for specifying the color of the partial area from the colors.

  According to the embroidery data processing apparatus of the first aspect, the embroidery pattern can be divided into a plurality of partial areas, and the colors extracted by the assigning unit can be assigned to the partial areas to perform random color arrangement. Therefore, even if the original embroidery data is a single color embroidery pattern, it can be divided into embroidery patterns using many colors. Further, the troublesome work such as confirmation and designation of the thread color data can be omitted, and the embroidery pattern can be easily colored. With regard to the embroidery pattern, it is possible to have a color scheme that is accidental or unexpected, and a variety of color scheme patterns that are not confined to the prescribed color scheme can be obtained.

External perspective view of sewing machine showing one embodiment Block diagram showing electrical configuration Conceptual diagram for explaining the storage area of the sewing machine RAM The figure which shows an example of the embroidery pattern before the division | segmentation displayed on the display (A) And (b) is explanatory drawing of the process divided | segmented into a some partial area, and the process colored with respect to these partial areas (A) is a schematic diagram showing enlarged satin stitches in the vicinity of the embroidery start point, and (b) and (c) are enlarged views showing stitches in the vicinity of the dividing line as an explanatory diagram of the process of dividing the embroidery pattern. Pattern diagram (A) And (b) is a figure which shows an example of the light / dark level table in the case where the number of divisions is the total number of partial areas and five. Flow chart showing the overall process flow for embroidery pattern division and color scheme Flow chart for setting process of dividing line Flowchart for embroidery pattern division processing Flow chart related to partial area color arrangement processing Flow chart of color arrangement processing in one direction in embroidery pattern Flow chart of processing to assign colors that gradually increase from light color peak Flow chart of processing for assigning colors that lighten sequentially from the dark peak Flow chart of color arrangement processing to the other direction side in the embroidery pattern 14 equivalent diagram Figure 13 equivalent Conceptual diagram for explaining the color arrangement processing of an embroidery pattern composed of a large number of partial areas (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the change form of a dividing line.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a household sewing machine (hereinafter referred to as a sewing machine M) will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, the sewing machine M includes a bed portion 1 that extends in the left-right direction, a leg column portion 2 that rises upward from the right end portion of the bed portion 1, and an arm portion 3 that extends to the left from the upper portion of the leg column portion 2. Are integrally provided. A sewing machine main shaft (not shown) is provided in the arm portion 3 so as to extend in the left-right direction. A sewing machine motor 4 (see FIG. 2) that rotates the sewing machine main shaft is disposed in the pedestal 2.

A needle bar 5 a on which a sewing needle 5 is mounted and a presser bar (not shown) provided with a presser foot 6 are provided at the tip of the arm part 3. Although not shown, a needle bar drive mechanism that moves the needle bar up and down based on the rotation of the main spindle of the sewing machine in the arm 3 and swings the needle bar in a direction (left and right direction) perpendicular to the cloth feed direction. There are provided a needle bar swinging mechanism for moving the balance, a balance driving mechanism for moving the balance up and down in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle bar, a presser bar driving mechanism for moving the presser bar up and down, and the like.
The arm part 3 is provided with a cover 3a that opens and closes the upper surface side. An accommodation portion 10a for accommodating the yarn spool 10 is provided in the central portion on the front side of the arm portion 3 in a state where the cover 3a is opened. The upper thread extending from the thread spool 10 is supplied to the sewing needle 5 via a thread supply path including the balance and the like.

  On the front side of the arm unit 3, various switches such as a start / stop switch 8a for instructing start and stop of the sewing operation of the sewing machine M, and a speed adjustment knob for setting a sewing speed (rotation speed of the main spindle of the sewing machine). 8b is provided. The direction in which the user (user) is located with respect to the sewing machine M, that is, the switch (or the following display means) side of the sewing machine M is the front, and the opposite direction is the rear. The side on which the pedestal 2 is located is the right side, and the opposite side is the left side.

A large display 9 having a vertically long shape and capable of full color display is provided on the front surface of the pedestal 2. The display 9 is a display means composed of a liquid crystal color display, for example, and can display many colors. The display 9 has various sewing patterns such as a practical pattern and an embroidery pattern (see FIG. 4), function names for executing various functions necessary for the sewing work, and a setting screen for performing settings relating to the color arrangement processing described later. Etc. are displayed. Further, on the front surface of the display 9, a touch panel 9a (see FIG. 2) having a plurality of touch keys made of transparent electrodes is provided. When the touch key is pressed with a user's finger or a touch pen (not shown) (hereinafter referred to as touch operation), selection of the sewing pattern, instruction of various functions, setting of various parameters, and the like are possible. .
A card slot 12 into which a memory card 11 (shown only in FIG. 2) in which embroidery data of various embroidery patterns is stored is provided on the right side surface of the pedestal 2.

A needle plate (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the bed 1. Although not shown in the drawings, the bed portion 1 is located below the needle plate and accommodates a cloth feed mechanism for moving the feed dog in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction, a lower thread bobbin, and a sewing needle. 5, a horizontal rotary hook that forms a seam, a thread trimming mechanism that cuts an upper thread and a lower thread, and the like are disposed.
An embroidery frame transfer device 13 is detachably mounted on the left side portion of the bed portion 1. The embroidery frame transfer device 13 includes a main body portion 14 having the same height as the upper surface of the bed portion 1 and a movable portion 15 provided on the upper surface portion of the main body portion 14 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. A carriage 17 is provided on the movable portion 15 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. An embroidery frame 16 that holds a work cloth CL to be sewn is detachably mounted on the carriage 17. An X-direction transfer mechanism (not shown) that drives the carriage 17 in the left-right direction together with the movable portion 15 is provided in the main body portion 14. A Y-direction transfer mechanism (not shown) that moves the carriage 17 in the front-rear direction is provided in the movable portion 15. The embroidery frame 16 is driven on the basis of the embroidery data of the embroidery pattern by driving the respective drive motors of the X-direction transfer mechanism and the Y-direction transfer mechanism (X-axis motor 18 and Y-axis motor 19 described later, see FIG. 2). It is moved in the X direction which is the left-right direction or the Y direction which is the front-rear direction.

Next, the configuration of the control system of the sewing machine M will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG.
The control device 21 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and has a CPU 22, a ROM 23, a RAM 24, an EEPROM 25, a card slot 12, an input interface 27a, an output interface 27b, a bus 28 connecting them, and the like. A start / stop switch 8a and a touch panel 9a are connected to the input interface 27a. Connected to the output interface 27b are drive circuits 31, 32, 33, and 34 for driving the sewing machine motor 4, the X-axis motor 18, the Y-axis motor 19, and the display 9, respectively. The control device 21, the display 9, and the drive circuit 34 correspond to display means. The embroidery data creation device 30 is composed of the control device 21, the touch panel 9a, the display 9, the drive circuit 34, and the like.

  The ROM 23 stores embroidery data, an embroidery data processing program, a sewing control program, a display control program, and an all-thread information table. Among these, the embroidery data processing program is a program for causing a computer to function as various processing means for creating embroidery data. The all-thread information table is all information related to a plurality of types of threads used for embroidery sewing, and includes thread color information and product numbers, which will be described later, and the display control program controls the display 9. Further, the ROM 23 stores template pattern data defining various dividing lines for dividing an embroidery pattern to be described later (the dividing lines L1 to L9 in FIG. 5 and the dividing lines L11 to L11 in FIG. 19A). L16, see the dividing lines L21 to L23 in FIG. 19B). These various programs and data may be stored in other internal storage means including the EEPROM 25 or the like, or external storage means such as the memory card 11. For example, when the embroidery data processing program is stored in the external storage means, the control device 21 reads the program onto the RAM 24 and executes it.

  The RAM 24 has a storage area for temporarily storing the above programs and data, various setting values input by operating the touch panel 9a, the calculation results calculated by the control device 21, and the like. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the RAM 24 has a program storage area 241, a setting storage area 242, an embroidery data storage area 243, a flag storage area 244, a palette storage area 245, a color information storage area 246, and image display data. A plurality of storage areas such as a storage area 247, a work area 248, and an extracted data storage area 249 are provided. The program storage area 241 stores various programs read from the ROM 23 or the like. The setting storage area 242 stores setting values that are referred to when the program is executed. The embroidery data storage area 243 stores data serving as a source (reference) when creating embroidery data. The flag storage area 244 stores various flags used when the program is executed. The palette storage area 245 stores a color selected from a palette table described later.

  The color information storage area 246 includes a shading buffer for storing data used for the color scheme of the embroidery pattern. As will be described in detail later, the shading buffer is configured as a storage area for storing the data divided into a plurality of groups for each shading level of the color. The extracted data storage area 249 temporarily stores a randomly extracted color. The image display data storage area 247 stores image data and display settings for the screen displayed on the display 9, and the work area 248 preliminarily stores setting values and the like when various programs are executed.

  The embroidery data will be described by taking an example of the “flower” embroidery pattern 40 displayed on the screen 100 of the display 9 shown in FIG. The “flower” embroidery pattern 40 is composed of a plurality of color-specific pattern parts sewn in different colors (thread colors). In this embodiment, the embroidery pattern is an embroidery pattern sewn in a single color for the sake of simplicity. And The embroidery data is data for sewing the embroidery pattern by the sewing machine M, mask data indicating the vertical and horizontal sizes of the embroidery pattern 40, and a needle indicating the needle drop position in the closed region 400 of the embroidery pattern 40. It includes drop position data, a code indicating the end of the data, and the like. The mask data is data of a minimum rectangular frame F that surrounds the outline of the embroidery pattern 40 as shown in FIG. That is, the mask data indicates the minimum value and the maximum value in the X coordinate of the contour of the embroidery pattern 40 and the minimum value and the maximum value in the Y coordinate of the contour.

  The needle drop position data is, for example, a set of data indicating the needle drop position (feed amount in the XY direction of the work cloth CL) for each stitch. The needle drop position data is set so that the needle drop position is arranged at least on the outline of the embroidery pattern 40 and the inside of the closed region 400 is filled (filled) with, for example, satin stitches. The needle drop position data of the embroidery pattern 40 includes, for example, the point having the smallest X coordinate (the leftmost point in FIG. 5) in the closed region 400 as the embroidery start point P1, and the point having the largest X coordinate as the embroidery end point Pe. Is set. Therefore, as schematically shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 6A, the satin stitch is formed by filling the closed region 400 from the left side. In the figure, symbols P1, P2, P3,... Correspond to the needle drop order.

  The embroidery data includes thread color data for specifying the color of the closed region 400 of the embroidery pattern 40 and image data (for example, bitmap data (not shown)) for displaying the embroidery pattern 40 on the display 9. The thread color data is set as an RGB value, for example, indicating the thread color used for sewing the closed region 400. For example, when “red” thread color data is given as RGB values, the embroidery pattern 40 is displayed in “red” on the screen 100 of the display 9. The thread color data may be data specifying the color of the closed region or a partial region described later. For example, data representing the color of “red” in each pixel of the bitmap data related to the closed region 400 may be used. Including.

  The EEPROM 25 stores color information assigned to the embroidery pattern 40 as the thread color data, and corresponds to a color storage means together with the RAM 24. The color information is information relating to the thread color of the thread spool 10 that can be used in the sewing machine M, for example, and is defined in advance with RGB values. Specifically, for example, a palette table including RGB values for 300 colors and 1 to 300 color numbers for each palette associated with the RGB values is stored in the EEPROM 25. The colors of the palette table are identified by palette-specific color numbers for the 300 colors.

  In the present embodiment, in addition to RGB values, HSV values defined by hue (Hue), saturation (Saturation), and lightness (Value) in the HSV space corresponding to the RGB values are used. The HSV value is a value calculated by a known calculation method based on the RGB value by the control device 21, and is represented by a hue value H, a saturation value S, and a lightness value V. In this case, the hue is a type of color such as red, purple, and blue, and the value of H is in the range of 0 to 360, for example. The saturation is the vividness of the color, and the value of S is in the range of 0.0 to 1.0, for example. The brightness is the brightness of the color, and the value of V is in the range of 0.0 to 1.0, for example.

The color information can be classified into a plurality of categories. For example, in addition to “gradation”, “Vivid” and “soft” classification criteria are prepared. In these categories, threshold values indicated by the HSV values are set, and each color information is classified by threshold value for each category.
That is, “gradation” is a category defined by thresholds H _{G1 to} H _G2 of a predetermined hue level centered on the hue level of one color of each color information (see step D1 in FIG. 11). For this reason, a color belonging to the “gradation” category exhibits a color gradation that falls within a range of red corresponding to the threshold value H _G1 to blue corresponding to the threshold value H _G2 for a certain color, for example, purple.

  “Vivid” is a color that is classified by setting a threshold value related to the saturation value S, and is a category that is composed of numerical values having a saturation value S higher than the threshold value in each color information. . All the colors belonging to the “Vivid” category have a vivid and clear color tone and a relatively high saturation level. “Soft” is a color that is classified by setting a lower limit and an upper limit of a threshold value related to the saturation value S, and the saturation value S in each color information is a color in a range of the lower limit and the upper limit of the threshold value. It is a category that consists of. All the colors belonging to the “soft” category exhibit a soft hue as a whole with no great difference in the level of saturation. Information relating to the above threshold values of “gradation”, “vivid”, and “soft” is stored in the EEPROM 25, for example.

  Further, the control device 21 of the present embodiment divides the embroidery pattern 40 into a plurality of partial areas 401 to 410 as shown in FIG. Then, the colors used as the thread color data of these partial areas 401 to 410 are randomly extracted from the colors belonging to the above-mentioned categories or the colors of the shaded buffers, and the partial areas 401 to 410 are according to a predetermined arrangement rule. An allocation process is performed in accordance with the positions of As a result, the embroidery data of the embroidery pattern 40 that is sewn with a plurality of thread colors in a balanced color arrangement can be easily obtained based on the embroidery data of the single color embroidery pattern 40.

  That is, the control device 21 sets a rectangular frame F including the embroidery pattern 40 as shown in FIG. 5A based on the mask data and the template pattern data, and within the rectangular frame F, for example, 10 etc. Dividing lines L1 to L9 that are divided so as to be divided are set. Further, the control device 21 sequentially reads the needle drop position data and collates it with the position information of the dividing lines L1 to L9, thereby dividing one closed region 400 into the first partial region 401 to the tenth partial region 410. Create needle entry position data.

On the other hand, when the “gradation” category is set, the control device 21 creates a light / dark level table for determining the light / dark level LV based on the saturation value S for colors belonging to the category. As will be described in detail later, the number of divisions D of the light and dark level LV is arbitrarily set within the range of the total number x of the partial areas 401 to 410 (x ≧ D ≧ 2). For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, when the number of divisions of the light / dark level LV is set to coincide with the total number x of the partial areas 401 to 410, the saturation value S in the light / dark level table is set to the partial areas 401 to 401. It is represented by a saturation unit U _X divided (divided) by the total number x of 410. Thus, the saturation S is 0% Super _{U X%} less range gray levels LV1, _{U X%} ultra 2U _X% less range gray level LV2, ..., (x-1 ) U X% more than 100% The following range is set to the light / dark level LVx. Although not described in detail, in the present embodiment, the gray level LV is determined based on the lightness value V for an achromatic color (white, black, gray) having a saturation value S of 0%. For example, white is divided into light and shade levels LV1, and black is divided into light and shade levels LVx. Further, the shading level is not limited to the classification based on the saturation value or the lightness value, and may be set using RGB values.

  The control device 21 stores the RGB values of the colors belonging to the above categories in groups of LV1 to LVx for each light / dark level in the light / dark buffer (the color information storage area 246 of the RAM 24). In this case, the RGB values of a plurality of colors belonging to each group are stored in the shade-specific buffer together with the shade-specific color numbers respectively associated with the RGB values. In this way, the control device 21 distributes the colors belonging to the pallet table or the above-described category to a plurality of groups according to the number of divisions based on shading.

  Further, the control device 21 is configured as a random number generating means for generating random numbers for randomly assigning colors in the assignment process. As will be described in detail later, the control device 21 uses a random number to select the thread color from among the colors belonging to the corresponding light and shade level LV according to a predetermined arrangement rule in correspondence with the positions of the partial areas 401 to 410. Colors used as data are randomly extracted and assigned.

Next, the operation of the embroidery data processing program will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 17, focusing on the color scheme relating to the thread color data. 8 to 17 are flowcharts showing a processing procedure executed by the control device 21 based on the embroidery data processing program.
The user touches the touch panel 9a, reads embroidery data from the ROM 23, and displays a pattern selection screen (not shown) on the display 9 according to the embroidery data. When the user selects a desired embroidery pattern from a plurality of embroidery patterns on the pattern selection screen by a touch operation, the screen is switched to the enlarged display screen 100 of FIG. 4 displaying the embroidery pattern. Thereby, the embroidery data processing program is started for the selected embroidery pattern. As shown in FIG. 8, in the embroidery data processing program, a process of setting a dividing line for the same color closed area in the embroidery pattern (step A1) and a process of dividing the closed area into a plurality of partial areas by the dividing line. (Step A2) and a process (Step A3) for arranging colors for each of the divided partial areas are executed. Hereinafter, steps A1 to A3 will be described in detail by taking as an example the case where the embroidery pattern 40 is selected.

  FIG. 9 shows the flow of the dividing line setting process in step A1. First, when there is no user designation for dividing the embroidery pattern 40 (NO in step B1), the control device 21 reads dividing line template pattern data from the ROM 23 (step B2). In this case, based on the template pattern data and the mask data of the embroidery pattern 40, the dividing lines L1 to L9 that divide the rectangular frame F as the boundary frame shown in FIG. (Steps B3 and B5). The dividing lines L1 to L9 are, for example, arranged in the rectangular frame F at equal intervals in the left-right direction from the embroidery start point P1 to the embroidery end point Pe, and the rectangular frame F is divided into sections A1 to A10 having a predetermined size. To do.

  On the other hand, the user can touch the touch panel 9a in step A1 to specify a desired dividing line L from among various dividing line patterns and the number of divisions by the dividing line L (YES in step B1). Step B4). Based on the type and number of division lines L that are designated, the control device 21 divides the inside of the rectangular frame F or sets the division lines L in parallel. For example, when the dividing line L pointing in the vertical direction and the number of divisions “10” are designated, the control device 21 divides the length of the upper side (or the lower side) of the rectangular frame F by the number of divisions, and the calculated value Is set as the interval between the dividing lines L, the rectangular frame F is divided into the same areas A1 to A10 as described above (step B5).

  Next, the process shifts to the dividing process of step A2 in which the closed area 400 of the embroidery pattern 40 is divided into a plurality of partial areas 401 to 410 by the dividing lines L1 to L9 (see FIG. 10). In the dividing process, the control device 21 acquires the first needle drop position data in the needle drop order and collates with the coordinate data of the dividing lines L1 to L9, so that the needle drop position P1 is within the rectangular frame F. It is identified whether it is in the area A1 to A10 (steps C1 and C2). The needle drop position is in the leftmost area A1 in FIG. 5 and is the embroidery start point P1 described above (YES in step C3).

  Therefore, the control device 21 acquires the subsequent second needle drop position data, and identifies which zone A1 to A10 the needle drop position P1 is in the same manner as the first needle drop position P1 (step C1, C2). Here, it is determined whether or not the identified area of the second needle drop position P1 matches the area A1 of the first needle drop position P2, and the areas of both needle drop positions P1 and P2 match with A1. If yes, the process returns to step C1 again (YES in step C3). As described above, steps C1 to C3 are repeatedly executed until it is determined that the third and subsequent needle drop positions P3 do not coincide with the area of the previous needle drop position (NO in step C3). The

  Here, in the schematic diagram of FIG. 6B, it is assumed that a dividing line L1 passing between the needle drop positions indicated by reference numerals P16 and P17 is set. In this case, the area A2 of the needle drop position P17 does not match the area A1 of the needle drop position P16 one stitch before (NO in step C3). At this time, the control device 21 sets the first partial area 401 in the section A1 up to the needle drop position P17 one stitch before, and adds a “stop code” as the end of the needle drop position data (step C4, FIG. 6 ( c)). Alternatively, the control device 21 calculates the coordinates of the intersection (see FIG. 6B) between the line segment connecting the needle drop positions P16 and P17 and the dividing line L1. Needle drop position data having the intersection as the end point of the needle drop position in the first partial area 401 and a “stop code” are added, and the needle having the intersection as the start point P1 of the needle drop position in the second partial area 402 is added. Drop position data may be added.

  Also after the needle drop position P17, that is, the right zone after the zone A2 (NO in step C5), steps C1 to C3 are executed for each stitch according to the needle drop order. Each time the needle drop position identified in step C2 does not coincide with the area of the needle drop position immediately before that stitch and crosses the dividing line (NO in step C3), the same as in the first partial region 401. "Stop code" is added to (step C4). In this way, the needle drop position data of the embroidery pattern 40 is read for each stitch and the steps C1 to C5 are repeatedly executed, whereby the first part is obtained as a data group to which “stop codes” are added for each section. The area 401, the second partial area 402,..., And the tenth partial area 410 are divided in this order so as to execute the sewing operation (see FIG. 5A). Then, when the control device 21 reads up to the needle drop position data of the embroidery end point Pe described above (YES in step C5), the dividing process is ended and the process proceeds to step A3.

  In the embroidery pattern 40 of FIG. 5, one partial region (for example, the second partial region 402) is composed of a plurality of regions 402a and 402b that are separated from each other. In such a case, regarding the partial area 402, the “jump sewing code” is combined with the “stop code” so that the sewing operation is sequentially performed between the areas 402a and 402b by so-called jump sewing. Add it. The configuration related to jump stitching is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-003608 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-279069 filed by the present applicant, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 11 shows the flow of color arrangement processing in step A3 executed after the above-described division processing. In the color arrangement process, when the “gradation” category is set, colors belonging to the category are extracted (step D1).
That is, the control device 21 generates random numbers from 1 to 300 corresponding to the number of colors in the palette table, for example. Next, the palette-specific color numbers 1 to 300 in the palette table that match the generated random number are collated, and the RGB values corresponding to the palette-specific color numbers are extracted. Further, the control device 21 calculates an HSV value based on the extracted RGB values, and sets a range (threshold values H _G1 and H _G2 ) having the hue value H as a center value. Then, the hue value H is calculated based on the RGB value of color number 1 for each palette, and it is determined whether or not the hue value H is within the range of the thresholds H _{G1 to} H _G2 . Here, when the hue value H is within the range of the threshold values H _{G1 to} H _G2 for the color of color number 1 by palette, it is selected as a color belonging to the “gradation” category (stored in the palette storage area 245 of the RAM 24). Is not selected if it is outside the range of the thresholds H _{G1 to} H _G2 .

Similarly to the palette-specific color number 1, the colors after the palette-specific color number 2 are also stored in the palette storage by calculating whether the hue value H is within the range of the thresholds H _{G1 to} H _G2. Whether there is storage in area 245 is determined. In this way, when the “gradation” category is set, a color belonging to the “gradation” category is selected (updated) from the 300 colors in the palette table, and the updated contents are stored in the palette storage area 245. Remembered.

  And the control apparatus 21 arbitrarily determines any two partial areas among the partial areas 401-410 in the embroidery pattern 40 using a random number (step D2). One of the partial areas is a partial area for arranging the color of the highest light and shade level (dark color peak Hp) in the embroidery pattern 40, and the other partial area is the lowest light and shade level (light color peak Lp). It is a partial area for arranging colors. Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 5A, it is assumed that the light color peak Lp is determined in the third partial region 403 and the dark color peak Hp is determined in the seventh partial region 407, respectively.

  In step D3, the saturation value S is divided by the number of partial regions from the light color peak Lp to the dark color peak Hp (in this case, five from the third to seventh partial regions 403 to 407) to obtain a saturation unit. Find U. As a result, a light / dark level table divided by the saturation unit U (density unit) according to the positions of the partial regions 403 and 407 to be the light color peak Lp and the dark color peak Hp is created and the color classification process is executed.

  Specifically, as shown in the shading level table of FIG. 7B, the control device 21 divides the saturation value S into five corresponding to the third to seventh partial regions 403 to 407 ( The number of divisions D = 5) and the saturation unit U are set to 20%. In the color classification process, the control device 21 reads out the RGB value corresponding to the palette-specific color number 1 in the palette table updated in step D1. Next, the control device 21 calculates a saturation value S based on the read RGB values and collates the gray level table. As a result, the color of palette-specific color number 1 is stored in the shade-specific buffer of the color information storage area 246 as a new shade-specific color number 1 color at the corresponding shade level LV. The RGB values are also read out for colors with palette-specific color numbers of 2 and later, and new color-specific color numbers are assigned to the corresponding light-dark levels LV and stored in the light-dark buffer. In this way, the color of the palette table updated in step D1 is newly assigned with a color code for each density group LV1 to LV5 and stored in the density buffer.

Then, the control device 21 randomly colors each of the partial areas 401 to 410 in correspondence with the positions of the partial areas 403 and 407 where the light color peak Lp or the dark color peak Hp is based on the data of the above-described dark and light buffers. (Step D4 ~).
That is, first in step D4, the control device 21 refers to the shade-specific buffer in the RAM 24 and generates a random number within the range of the total number of colors belonging to the shade level LV1. For example, when the total number of colors, that is, the maximum value of the color number for each shade is 25, random numbers are generated in the range of 1-25. Next, the control device 21 collates the color numbers classified by shade that match the random numbers generated at the shade level LV1, and extracts the color (RGB value) of the corresponding shade-specific color number. As a result, for the third partial region 403 having the light color peak Lp, the color used as the thread color data is randomly extracted from the colors belonging to the lowest lightness level LV1. The extracted color is stored in the extracted data storage area 249 of the RAM 24 as a color assigned to the third partial area 403.

  In step D5, the color arrangement target is set to the fourth partial region 404 that has moved from the third partial region 403 of the light color peak Lp to the dark peak Hp side by one (right adjacent in FIG. 5B). Then, a color is randomly extracted from the colors belonging to LV2 that is one higher than the light and shade level LV1 of the third partial region 403 previously arranged (step D6). The extracted color is stored in the extracted data storage area 249 as a color assigned to the fourth partial area 404 (step D7). Subsequently, the color arrangement target is set to the fifth partial area 405 on the right side of the fourth partial area 404 (step D5) in order to sequentially perform color arrangement toward the dark color peak Hp side (NO in step D8). Then, the color assigned to the fifth partial area 405 is randomly extracted from the colors belonging to LV3 that is one higher than the light and shade level LV2 of the fourth partial area 404 and stored in the extracted data storage area 249 (step D6, D7).

  In this way, steps D5 to D8 are repeatedly executed, so that the colors of the light and shade levels LV2, LV3, and LV4 are assigned to the fourth partial region 404, the fifth partial region 405, and the sixth partial region 406. The color of the highest lightness level LV5 is assigned to the seventh partial region 407 having the peak Hp (YES in step D8). As a result, each of the thread color data from the third partial region 403 of the light color peak Lp to the seventh partial region 407 of the dark color peak Hp is assigned a color that darkens in a gradation according to the position of the partial regions 403 to 407. It is done. Thereafter, in Step D9 and Step D10, the left partial areas 401, 402 and the right partial areas 408 to 410, which are left uncolored in the embroidery pattern 40, are respectively colored.

FIG. 12 shows the flow of color arrangement processing of the left partial areas 401 and 402 according to step D9. First, in step E1, the region _TL to be color-coded is one adjacent to the opposite side of the dark peak Hp from the third partial region 403 of the light color peak Lp (the left adjacent in FIG. 5B). Two partial areas 402 are set. Then, for the partial regions 402 and 401 on the left side of the light color peak Lp in the embroidery pattern 40, a gradation-like color scheme is formed that gradually increases toward the left side using the colors extracted in steps D4 to D8 (step E2, FIG. 13).

That is, the control device 21 in step F1, the current color scheme target region _{T L} serving partial region 402 is set to a color arrangement initiation region _{S L} (see Figure 5 (b)). Then, the control unit 21, the number N _L of partial areas from the color arrangement initiation region S _L to color the target region T _L, i.e. the number N _L of partial areas having been subjected to the color on the left side than the partial region 403 of the light-colored peak Lp Calculate (step F2). Then, (N _L +1) adjacent colors from the partial region 403 of the light color peak Lp among the already colored partial regions 403 to 407 are stored in the extracted data storage region 249 as colors to be assigned to the coloring target region _TL. (Step F3). Therefore, for the second partial region 402 in steps F2 and F3, N _L = 0, and the same color as the fourth partial region 404 on the right side of the light color peak Lp is assigned (FIG. 5B). reference).

Thereafter, in step F4, it is determined whether or not Nc color arrangements have been completed in the partial regions 402 and 401 on the left side of the light color peak Lp. Here, the number Nc is the number (Nc = 3) of the partial regions 404 to 406 sandwiched between the partial region 403 of the light color peak Lp and the partial region 407 of the dark color peak Hp. In step F5, it is determined whether the color arrangement target region _TL is the leftmost partial regions 401 and 407 in the embroidery pattern 40. For the second partial region 402, only one (<Nc (three)) color scheme is finished (NO in step F4), and does not correspond to the leftmost partial regions 401 and 407 (step F5). NO). Accordingly, the color arrangement target region _TL is set to the first partial region 401 on the left side of the partial region 402 (return to step F6 and step F2).

Also for the first partial region 401, N _L is calculated in step F2 (in this case, N _L = 1), and the same color as that of the partial region 405 on the right by (N _L +1) from the partial region 403 of the light color peak Lp. Is assigned (step F3). In the example of the embroidery pattern 40 described above, there are only two partial regions 402 and 401 on the left side of the light color peak Lp (NO in step F4). Therefore, when the color arrangement of the first partial area 401 is completed, it is determined that the color arrangement to the left end of the embroidery pattern 40 is completed (YES in step F5, YES in step E3 in FIG. 12), and proceeds to step D10 in FIG. Transition. At this time, the color arrangement in which the colors of the light and shade levels LV3, LV2, LV1, LV2, LV3, LV4, and LV5 are arranged in order from the left side is performed over the first partial region 401 to the seventh partial region 407.

Unlike the example of the embroidery pattern 40 described above, the number of partial regions on the left side of the light color peak Lp may be equal to or greater than the number Nc of partial regions between both peaks Hp and Lp (see the conceptual diagram of FIG. 18). In this case, the steps F2 to F6 are repeatedly executed, and in the partial region on the left side of the light color peak Lp, when the same number of colors as the number Nc of the partial regions between the peaks Hp and Lp is finished (Nc = N _L , step F4). YES), the process proceeds to step E3 in FIG. If the last color-targeted region _TL is not the leftmost partial region in the embroidery pattern (NO in step E3), coloration is further performed on the left adjacent partial region (steps E4 to E4).

That is, after the Nc = N _L (three in FIG. 18) coloration is performed in the partial region on the left side of the light color peak Lp, the color of the dark color peak Hp is further set to the color arrangement target region _{TL on the} left side. The same color is arranged (step E4). Thereby, the color of the dark color peak Hp is symmetric with respect to the light color peak Lp in the embroidery pattern. If the partial area of the dark color peak Hp that is colored in step E4 is not the leftmost partial area in the embroidery pattern (NO in step E5), the color arrangement target area _TL is further set to the left (step E6). The process proceeds to step E7.

FIG. 14 shows a flow of processing for assigning a color that becomes lighter after the dark color peak Hp in step E7. In this respect, step E7 is different from step E2 (steps F1 to F6 in FIG. 13) in which a color that gradually increases after the light color peak Lp is assigned. Specifically, in step G1, the current color arrangement target area T _L is set as the color arrangement start area S _L ′ (see FIG. 18). Next, the number N _L ′ of partial areas from the color arrangement start area S _L ′ to the color arrangement target area T _L is calculated (currently N _L ′ = 0, step G2). In the partial region between the peaks Hp and Lp, the color of the lightness level LV4 that is adjacent to the partial region of the light color peak Lp by (Nc−N _L ′), that is, right by 3 is displayed in the color arrangement start region S. _The color to be assigned to _L ′ is stored in the extracted data storage area 249 (see step G3, FIG. 18).

Even when the color arrangement start area S _L ′ is colored, the same number of color arrangements as the number Nc of the partial areas between the peaks Hp and Lp are not finished (NO in step G4), and the leftmost part of the embroidery pattern If it is not an area (NO in step G5), the color arrangement target area _TL is moved to the left of the color arrangement start area S _L ′ (step G6). Thus, by repeatedly executing Steps G2 to G6, the same color as the partial region between the peaks Hp and Lp, that is, the light and dark levels LV4 and LV3, with respect to the partial region on the left side from the color arrangement start region S _L ′. , LV2 are sequentially arranged.

Thus, when the same number of colors as the partial region between the peaks Hp and Lp is finished (Nc = N _L 'YES in step G4), the process proceeds to step E8 in FIG. If the last target area _TL that has been colored is not the leftmost partial area in the embroidery pattern (NO in step E8), the color adjacent to the left is set as the coloration target area _TL , and the same color as the light color peak Lp is colored ( Step E9, see FIG. 18). If the partial area of the light color peak Lp colorized in step E9 is not the leftmost partial area in the embroidery pattern (NO in step E10), the color arrangement target area _TL is moved to the left adjacent partial area (step E11), and step E2 Return to Further, the left partial region also becomes darker in sequence toward the opposite side (left side) to the initially set dark color peak Hp (left side) with reference to the initially set light color peak Lp (step E2, E4), or a color that becomes lighter sequentially. (Steps E7 and E9) are alternately performed. When the coloring is performed up to the left end of the embroidery pattern (YES in any of steps E3, E5, E8, and E10), the process proceeds to step D10.

FIG. 15 shows the flow of the color arrangement process for the right partial area according to step D10. First, at step H1, the region T _R to be color target, the light-colored peak Lp from dark peak Hp initially set to set in the partial region of the next one minute to the opposite side (next to the right in FIG. 18). Then, for the partial region on the right side of the dark color peak Hp, a gradation-like color arrangement that gradually becomes lighter toward the right side is performed using the already extracted color (step H2, see FIG. 16).

That is, the control device 21 in Step I1, the current color scheme target region _{T R,} sets the color scheme initiation region _{S R} (see Figure 18). Then, the number N _R of the partial region from the color arrangement initiation region S _R to color the target region T _R, that is, calculates the number N _R of the partial region having been subjected to the color on the right side than the dark peak Hp initially set (step I2 ). Then, both peaks Hp, the partial region of the dark peak Hp among the partial region between Lp (N R ₊₁₎ pieces worth next, that is, the color of the adjacent left, the extracted data storage area as a color to be assigned to color the target region T _R It memorize | stores in 249 (step I3). Therefore, when color coloration initiation region _{S R} in step _{I2, I3 (N R = 0} ), is assigned the same color (gray level LV4) of the left next to the partial region of the dark peak Hp (Fig. 18 reference).

Furthermore, even if color color scheme initiation region S _R, the peak Hp, not after the same number of colors as the number Nc of the partial region between Lp (NO in step I4), and the right end of the partial region in the embroidery pattern If not (nO at step I5), right next to the color target area _{T R} color arrangement initiation region _{S R} is transferred (step I6). Thus, by step I2~I6 is repeatedly performed with respect to color initiation region S _L from the left side of the partial region, the peak Hp, using the color of partial areas between the Lp, the color of the color scheme comprising successively lighter Performed (see FIG. 18).

In this regard, in the example of the embroidery pattern 40, when the same number of colors as the number Nc of the partial areas between the peaks Hp and Lp is finished (Nc = N _R , YES in step I4), all the partial areas 401 to 410 are displayed. It is determined that the color arrangement has been completed (YES in step H3 in FIG. 15), and this process ends (END). In this case, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the control device 21 covers the first partial area 401 to the tenth partial area 410 in order from the left to the lightness levels LV3, LV2, LV1, LV2, LV3, LV4, LV5, and LV4. , LV3, and LV2 are arranged on the screen 100 of the display 9 after the color arrangement.

Unlike the example of the embroidery pattern 40, as shown in FIG. 18, the number of partial regions on the right side of the initially set dark color peak Hp may be greater than or equal to the number Nc of partial regions between the peaks Hp and Lp. is there. In this case, in the partial region on the right side of the dark color peak Hp, when the same number of colors as the number Nc of the partial regions between the peaks Hp and Lp is finished (Nc = N _R , YES in step I4), FIG. The process proceeds to step H3. Finally, the target region T _R that color scheme is, if not at the right end of the partial region in the embroidery pattern (NO in step H3), sequential color scheme is carried out for further right of partial regions (step H4~).

That is, after the color of the Nc = N _R number (in FIG. 18, three) has been performed, further the next right as color arrangement target region T _R, to color the same color as the color of light-colored peak Lp (step H4). As a result, the color of the light color peak Lp is symmetric with respect to the initially set dark color peak Hp. The partial area of the light-colored peak Lp was color in step H4 is, if not at the right end of the partial region in the embroidery pattern (NO at step H5), and set the color target area T _R further next right (step H6), Control goes to step H7.

FIG. 17 shows the flow of processing for assigning a color that gradually increases after the light color peak Lp in step H7. In this respect, step H7 is different from step H2 (steps I1 to I6 in FIG. 16) in which a lighter color is sequentially added following the dark color peak Hp. More specifically, in step J1, the current color scheme target region _{T R,} sets the color scheme initiation region _{S R} '(see FIG. 18). Next, the number N _R ′ of partial areas from the color arrangement start area S _R ′ to the color arrangement target area T _R is calculated (currently N _R ′ = 0, step J2). Then, among the partial regions between the peaks Hp and Lp, the color (Nc−N _R ′) adjacent to the partial region of the dark peak Hp, that is, the color adjacent to the left by three (the color of the light and dark level LV2), The color to be assigned to the color arrangement start area S _R ′ is stored in the extracted data storage area 249 (see step J3, FIG. 18).

Further, even when the coloring start region S _R ′ is colored, the same number of colorings as the number Nc of the partial regions between the peaks Hp and Lp are not finished (NO in step J4), and the right end portion of the embroidery pattern If not region (nO in step J5), color target area _{T R} is moved next to the right of the color start region _{S R} '(step J6). Thus, by repeatedly executing Steps J2 to J6, the same color as the partial region between the peaks Hp and Lp, that is, the light and dark levels LV2 and LV3, with respect to the partial region on the right side from the color arrangement start region S _R ′. , LV4 colors are sequentially arranged.

As a result, when the same number of colors as the partial region between the peaks Hp and Lp is finished (Nc = N _R ′ YES in step J4), the process proceeds to step H8 in FIG. Finally, the target region T _R that color scheme is, if not at the right end of the partial region in the embroidery pattern (NO at step H8), further next right as color arrangement target region T _R, to color the same color as the dark peak Hp (Step H9, see FIG. 18). Step H9 subregion of dark peak Hp was color scheme is, if not at the right end of the partial region in the embroidery pattern (NO in step H10), transferred to a partial region of the adjacent right color target area T _R (step H11), step Return to H2. Further, with respect to the right partial region, the color gradually becomes lighter toward the opposite side (right side) from the initially set light color peak Lp (right side) with reference to the initially set dark color peak Hp (steps H2 and H4). Are arranged alternately (steps H7 and H9).

  By executing the steps H2 to H11, all the color arrangements to the right end of the embroidery pattern are completed (YES in any one of the steps H3, H5, H8, and H10), and this process is ended (END). In this way, by executing the embroidery data processing program, embroidery data assigned to each partial region so as to change in gradation is created using the randomly extracted color as thread color data (see FIG. 18). The embroidery pattern is displayed on the screen 100 of the display 9 in a color assigned to the thread color data for a plurality of partial areas.

  The control device 21 related to the execution of steps A1 and A2 described above corresponds to a pattern dividing unit that divides an embroidery pattern into a plurality of partial areas based on the embroidery data. Further, the control device 21 according to the execution of the step A3, for each partial region divided by the pattern dividing unit, specifies a color of the partial region from among a plurality of colors stored in the color storage unit This corresponds to assigning means for randomly extracting and assigning colors used as data.

As described above, the embroidery data creation apparatus 30 according to the present embodiment divides the original embroidery data into a plurality of partial areas by the pattern dividing means, and the divided partial areas are stored in the color storage means. A color used as thread color data for specifying the color of the partial area is randomly extracted from the plurality of colors and assigned by the assigning means.
According to this, the embroidery pattern can be divided into a plurality of partial areas, and the colors extracted by the assigning means can be assigned to the partial areas to perform random coloring. Therefore, even if the original embroidery data is a single color embroidery pattern, it can be divided into embroidery patterns using many colors. Further, the troublesome work such as confirmation and designation of the thread color data can be omitted, and the embroidery pattern can be easily colored. With regard to the embroidery pattern, it is possible to have a color scheme that is accidental or unexpected, and a variety of color scheme patterns that are not confined to the prescribed color scheme can be obtained.

  The assigning means assigns a plurality of colors randomly extracted from the color storage means in correspondence with the positions of the plurality of partial areas according to a predetermined arrangement rule. According to this, it is possible to perform color arrangement with regularity according to the positions of the plurality of partial areas. Accordingly, for example, even when a single color embroidery pattern is divided and random color arrangement is performed, a color arrangement pattern with a sense of unity as a whole can be obtained.

The arrangement rule is to arrange a plurality of colors randomly extracted from the color storage means based on the color density. According to this, it is possible to easily obtain embroidery data in which shades of colors corresponding to the positions of the respective partial areas are added to each partial area.
The arrangement rule is to arrange a plurality of colors randomly extracted from the color storage means so as to change in a gradation. According to this, for example, as shown in FIG. 5B and FIG. 18, it is possible to assign a color that becomes darker or lighter in stages according to the positions of the plurality of partial regions. Therefore, it is possible to easily obtain a color tone indicating gradation according to the positions of the plurality of partial areas while making the embroidery pattern a random color scheme.

The control device 21 divides the embroidery pattern into a plurality of parts by using a boundary frame (boundary frame setting means for setting the rectangular frame F and a dividing line for dividing the boundary frame) that includes the embroidery pattern based on the original embroidery data. (See Steps B1 to B5 and Steps C1 to C5.) According to this, the dividing line is set according to the size of the embroidery pattern, and the embroidery pattern is set appropriately. Can be divided into
The dividing line setting means sets one or more dividing lines for dividing the boundary frame so as to be substantially equally divided (see dividing lines L1 to L9 in FIG. 5A). According to this, it is possible to obtain a partial area of an expected size substantially equally divided by the dividing line for the embroidery pattern, and to achieve a good color balance in combination with the arrangement rule.

The dividing line setting means sets a plurality of dividing lines arranged in parallel at substantially equal intervals. According to this, it can be set as the arrangement line of the dividing line with the good appearance like the above-mentioned dividing lines L1-L9 or the curved dividing line (refer FIG. 19) mentioned later.
The display means displays the embroidery pattern in a color assigned to the thread color data of a plurality of partial areas. According to this, for the embroidery data processed in the above steps A1 to A3, the color of the pattern part by color can be easily grasped visually.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
The embroidery data creation device is not limited to the configuration provided in the sewing machine M, but a so-called personal computer device main body (may be a dedicated machine) and a mouse, keyboard, memory card connector, display, etc. connected to the device main body. You may comprise. Also, unlike the present embodiment, when the sewing machine M and the embroidery data creation device are configured separately, the sewing machine M and the embroidery data creation device may be connected by wire or wireless to transmit and receive data. .

The arrangement rule may arrange a plurality of colors randomly extracted from the color storage unit based on the color of the color. For example, in the step D3, instead of the gray level table, a hue level table in which the hue values H of 0 to 360 are divided in units of hues according to the positions of the partial areas where the peaks Lp and Hp are generated may be created. . In this case, for example, the lowest hue level is made to correspond to the peak Lp and the highest hue level is made to correspond to the peak Hp by using the threshold values H _{G1 to} H _G2 . In step D4, a process of randomly extracting and assigning a color to be used as thread color data from the colors belonging to the lowest hue level to the partial region having the peak Lp is executed. As described above, in the color arrangement processing of the partial area (step A3), by performing color arrangement using the hue level table, it is possible to obtain a hue (color) indicating gradation corresponding to the position of the partial area.

  In step D1, a color belonging to the “gradation” category is selected, and a gray level table is created for the selected color. However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, a color belonging to the category “Vivid” or “Soft” is selected in Step D1, or all the colors of the palette table are directly used without going through Step D1, and a tone level table, a hue level table, etc. A level-specific table may be created.

  The dividing line only needs to be used for dividing the embroidery pattern into a plurality of partial areas, and is not limited to the linear dividing lines L1 to L9 shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 19 (a), a plurality of concentric circles in the rectangular frame F may be set as the dividing lines L11 to L16 set to diameters that are substantially equally spaced from each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 19B, a plurality of curves forming a so-called sine curve in the rectangular frame F may be set as dividing lines L21 to L23 set so as to be parallel to each other at substantially equal intervals. Further, the direction in which the dividing lines L1 to L9 extend may be a horizontal direction or an oblique direction instead of the vertical direction. Moreover, the shape of the dividing lines L11 to L16 may be an ellipse, or may be set so as to be gradually decentered instead of being arranged concentrically. The above “substantially equal intervals” and “substantially equal divisions” do not exclude equal intervals and equal divisions, and the plurality of dividing lines are set so as to equally divide the inside of the rectangular frame F and to be arranged at equal intervals. May be. The boundary frame is not limited to the rectangular frame F, and may be any shape that includes an embroidery pattern.

  In the present embodiment, the embroidery pattern 40 is an embroidery pattern sewn with a single color. However, when the embroidery pattern is an embroidery pattern composed of a plurality of color-specific pattern parts sewn with different colors (thread colors), the embroidery pattern 40 The pattern portion may be divided into a plurality of partial areas and the same color arrangement process may be performed. Alternatively, after the embroidery data of an embroidery pattern composed of a plurality of color-specific pattern portions is converted into embroidery data that is sewn with a single color, the same color arrangement processing may be performed.

The color storage means is not limited to the RAM 24 or the EEPROM 25, but other internal storage means built in the sewing machine or the embroidery data creation apparatus, or an external storage detachably attached to the sewing machine or the embroidery data creation apparatus. It may be a means.
The recording medium on which the embroidery data processing program is recorded is not limited to the ROM 23, and may be various recording media such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a DVD, and a memory card. In this case, the program of the recording medium is read and executed by a computer such as the dedicated machine, so that the same operations and effects as in the above-described embodiment are obtained.

M sewing machine F boundary frames L1 to L9, L11 to L16, L21 to L23 Dividing line 9 display (display means)
21 Control device (pattern dividing means, assigning means, boundary frame setting means, dividing line setting means, display means)
24, 25 Color storage means 30 Embroidery data creation device 34 Drive circuit (display means)

Claims (11)

An embroidery data processing device for processing embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern with a sewing machine,
Pattern dividing means for dividing the embroidery pattern into a plurality of partial areas based on the embroidery data;
Color storage means for storing a plurality of predefined colors;
Allocation by randomly extracting and assigning a color to be used as thread color data for specifying a color of the partial area from among a plurality of colors stored in the color storage means for each partial area divided by the pattern dividing means Means,
An embroidery data processing apparatus comprising:   2. The embroidery data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the assigning means assigns a plurality of colors randomly extracted from the color storage means in accordance with positions of the plurality of partial areas according to a predetermined arrangement rule. .   3. The embroidery data processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the arrangement rule arranges a plurality of colors randomly extracted from the color storage unit based on color shades.   3. The embroidery data processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the arrangement rule arranges a plurality of colors randomly extracted from the color storage unit based on the color of the color.   5. The embroidery data processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the arrangement rule arranges a plurality of colors randomly extracted from the color storage means so as to change in a gradation. The pattern dividing means includes
Boundary frame setting means for setting a boundary frame including the embroidery pattern based on the embroidery data;
6. A dividing line setting unit that divides the embroidery pattern into the plurality of partial areas by dividing lines that divide the boundary frame set by the boundary frame setting unit. An embroidery data processing device according to claim 1.   7. The embroidery data processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the dividing line setting means sets one or more dividing lines that divide the boundary frame so as to be substantially equally divided.   The embroidery data processing apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the dividing line setting means sets a plurality of dividing lines arranged in parallel at substantially equal intervals.   The embroidery data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the embroidery pattern in a color assigned to the thread color data of the plurality of partial areas.   An embroidery data processing program for causing a computer of the embroidery data processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 to function as the various processing means.   A sewing machine comprising the embroidery data processing device according to claim 1.

Images