JPH04126186A - Embroidery data display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To recognize the order of forming stitches by displaying the work of forming stitches in the work order corresponding to the display command of the stitch forming to be regulated by one unit in plural embroidery data. CONSTITUTION:A ROM 12 and RAM 14 are connected to a CPU 10 by a bus (shared signal transmission line) 16. In the outline data storage area of the RAM 14, outline data to be transferred from an auxiliary storing means 28 are stored, and the data are composed of plural coordinates to regulate the outline of embroidery. In an embroidery data storage area, embroidery data composed of class data and coordinate data transferred from the auxiliary storing means 28 are stored according to the work order. The ROM 12 stores a stitch forming work order display routine. A CRT display is used for display, and the embroidery data are read out in the order of the stitch forming work by operating a serial key and a space key and displayed for one embroidery data or for one of the stitch forming work. By operating a clear key, the display on a screen is erased, and only the stitch forming work regulated by one embroidery data can be displayed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery data display device, and more particularly to displaying the order of stitch forming operations.

When filling the conventional technical pattern with embroidery stitches, the special public law Sho 60-42740
As described in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-279381 filed by the present applicant, a pattern is sometimes divided into a plurality of blocks and embroidery is applied to each block. In this case, the embroidery data that defines the block is created for each of the plurality of blocks, and is stored in the embroidery data storage means in accordance with the stitch formation work order, and when the embroidery is executed, the embroidery data is sequentially read out. each block is filled with embroidery stitches. Furthermore, when embroidering a pattern by dividing it into multiple blocks, running stitches may be used. Running stitches are stitches that pass through the inside of the pattern and go from one point on the outline of the pattern to another. Running stitches prevent the embroidery thread from protruding from the pattern (the direction of embroidery progress cannot be changed). Even if the pattern has a complicated shape, it can be filled in with stitches without cutting the embroidery thread.When performing running stitches, in addition to the embroidery data that defines the blocks, the embroidery data that defines the route of the running stitches can be used. Data is created, and the embroidery data is stored in the embroidery data storage means in accordance with the stitch formation work order.

When creating a plurality of embroidery data and filling a pattern with embroidery stitches in this manner, it is convenient for the operator to know in advance the shape of the pattern and the state in which it is divided into blocks. For this reason, the embroidery data processing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-279381 is provided with a CRT display to display the outline of the pattern and the blocks formed by dividing the pattern.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with this embroidery data processing device, all outlines and blocks of one pattern are displayed at once, so it is not possible to know the order of stitch formation operations, and
There was also a problem in that it was not possible to understand how the data was arranged in order to predict the finished stitch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an embroidery data display device capable of displaying the stitch formation work order to an operator.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the embroidery data display device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. (b) embroidery data storage means 1 for storing data in accordance with the stitch formation work order;
(C) a display means 2 for displaying a stitch forming operation performed according to the embroidery data; (C) a command means 3 for instructing display of a stitch forming operation defined by one unit of a plurality of embroidery data;
(d) Display control means 4 for displaying the stitch forming operations on the display means 2 in the order of the stitch forming operations in accordance with the commands from the command means 3;
It is configured to include.

Note that "stitch forming work" here refers to filling blocks formed by dividing the pattern with embroidery stitches, performing running stitches, moving the sewing needle, etc., and the form of the display is based on the actual In the case of blocks, only the boundary lines of the blocks may be displayed, or a combination of characters and figures may be displayed. The operator only needs to know in what order the stitches are formed for each part of the pattern.

Furthermore, "one unit" refers to one embroidery data out of multiple embroidery data created for one pattern;
It may be a group of embroidery data of a fixed number, a group of embroidery data of the same type of seam forming work, or other embroidery data.

Functions and Effects of the Invention In the embroidery data display device configured as described above, stitch forming operations are displayed on the display section 2 in the order of the stitch forming operations in accordance with commands from the command section 3.

Therefore, the operator can know the stitch formation work order by looking at the display, and can easily perform necessary processing such as making corrections if necessary.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embroidery data processing device equipped with a data display device, which is an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a CPU (central processing unit) 10 is connected to a ROM (read-only storage means) 12 and a RAM (readable/writable storage means) 14 through a hub (shared signal transmission path) 16. The CPU10 further includes a display means control circuit 18. Auxiliary storage means control circuit 20. Via the input means control circuit 22 and the position designation input means control circuit 24,
Display means 26. Auxiliary storage means 28. Input means 3
0 and position designation input means 32 are connected. The input means 30 includes an imaging device and a keyboard 34 (see FIG. 3). The imaging device is a television camera, image sensor, etc. that reads images, and the keyboard 34 has many key switches operated by the operator to control the operation of the CPU10, such as a serial key, a cancel key, and a space key. It is provided. The functions of the serial key, clear key, cancel key, and space key will be detailed later. The display means 26 includes a CRT display 36 (see FIG. 3) that displays images captured by the imaging device, and a pattern is displayed on the CRT display 36 as shown in FIG. A display surface 3.8 and a data display surface 40 on which data such as coordinates and stitch type are displayed are provided. Further, the position designation input means 32 is a CRT
It includes a mouse 42 (see FIG. 3) or a light pen for specifying a position on the pattern display surface 38 of the display 36. The present embroidery data processing device may be used by being directly connected to the embroidery sewing machine, or may be provided separately from the embroidery sewing machine and used independently. In the latter case, the created data is recorded on a recording medium such as a floppy disk or a magnetic tape, and the embroidery sewing machine is equipped with a reading device for these recording media.

As shown in FIG. 4, the RAM 14 includes an outline data storage area 50. Embroidery data storage area 52. Undisplayed first data position storage area 54° Type data storage area 56. Coordinate data storage area 58 and end flag 6
0 etc. are provided together with a working area. The outline data stored in the auxiliary storage means 28 is transferred and stored in the outline data storage area 50.

Outline data is data that defines the outline of a pattern to be filled with embroidery stitches, and is composed of a plurality of coordinates.

In addition, the embroidery data storage area 52 includes an auxiliary storage means 2.
The embroidery data transferred from 8 is stored. The embroidery data consists of type data and coordinate data, and is stored in accordance with the order of stitch formation operations. The type data is data that indicates the type of sewing to be performed, and in this embodiment, there are four types: "block", "run", "needle movement", and "end". In this example, the pattern is divided into triangular or square blocks, and a "block" is a stitch that alternately connects two opposing sides that define a block to form stitches, filling the block with embroidery stitches. ``Hashiri'' means formation work.
means a seam forming operation in which the position of the needle is changed while forming the seam. "Needle movement" means changing the position of the needle without forming a stitch, and "end" means that the embroidery data created for the pattern has ended.

Further, the coordinate data includes data of two points.

When multiple blocks are successively filled with embroidery stitches, four points are required to define the first block of the block sequence consisting of the multiple blocks.
In the case of a subsequent block, two points are common to the previous block, and the block can be defined by setting two points. Therefore, two pieces of embroidery data are created for the first block in the block row (the same applies when the blocks are embroidered individually without forming a row), and one piece of embroidery data is created for the following blocks.

Note that the two points stored for this one piece of embroidery data are two points located in a direction intersecting the embroidery progress direction (the direction in which the block is filled with embroidery stitches). Furthermore, the running stitch route is defined by multiple specified points, and running stitches are performed by connecting these specified points with multiple stitches, but the coordinate data that makes up the embroidery data for running stitches are adjacent to each other. A plurality of pieces of embroidery data are created for one run. Furthermore, the coordinate data constituting the embroidery data for needle movement consists of the coordinates of the start position and end position of needle movement, and one piece of embroidery data is created for one needle movement.

Taking the pattern 70 shown in FIG. 5 as an example, this pattern 70 is divided into a plurality of blocks 72 as shown in FIG. 6, and is filled with embroidery stitches by combining "blocks" and "runs". Blocks 72 formed by dividing the pattern 70 are divided into a plurality of block rows, and when forming a seam, a running stitch is first performed from point A to point C via point B shown in FIG. Embroidery is continuously performed on a block row consisting of four blocks 72 within the area defined by point B-J. Therefore, the embroidery data is as shown in FIG.
First, a running stitch connecting points A and B and a running stitch connecting points B and C are created, and then a block 72 defined by point C2 and point E is created. This block 72 is triangular, but in such a case, it is assumed that there are two points (point D in this case) out of the three points that define the block 72, and a total of four points define the block 72. be made to be done. Therefore, first, embroidery data including the coordinates of point C2 is created as coordinate data, and then embroidery data including the coordinates of point 89 is created. Although coordinate symbols are shown in FIG. 7 along with the type data and coordinate data, the coordinate symbols are shown to make it easier to understand the correspondence between the embroidery data and the pattern 70, and are not used in actual embroidery. Not included in the data.

When the CRT display 36 is instructed to display the outline of the pattern 70, an outline 74 is displayed as shown in FIG. In addition, the pattern 70 is divided into a large number of blocks 72 and the running sewing path 76 is also
In response to these display commands, the display as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. However, these outlines 74. Since the blocks 72 and running stitch paths 76 are displayed for the entire pattern 70 at once, the operator does not know in what order stitches will be formed on the pattern 70.

Therefore, in this embroidery data processing device, the ROM12
A seam forming work order display routine shown in flowcharts in FIGS. 8 to 11 is stored in , and blocks, running sewing routes, etc. are displayed in accordance with the seam forming work order. Hereinafter, the display of the stitch forming work order will be explained based on this flowchart.

First, step 31 (hereinafter abbreviated as Sl).

The same goes for other steps. ), outlines of a plurality of patterns to be filled with embroidery stitches, including the pattern 70, are displayed on the pattern display surface 38 of the CRT display 36. Next, in S2, among the plurality of patterns,
A determination is made as to whether or not a pattern whose stitch forming work order is desired to be displayed has been selected. The pattern is selected by operating the mouse 42, and if it is selected, S2 is YES.
Then, in S3, it is determined whether embroidery data has been created for the selected pattern.

This determination is made based on whether or not embroidery data for the selected pattern is stored in the embroidery data storage area 52. If there is no embroidery data, S4 is executed and an instruction to select a pattern again is sent to the embroidery data storage area 52. It is displayed on the display surface 38.

If there is embroidery data, all the patterns displayed on the pattern display surface 38 are erased in S5, and then S6 is executed.
Among the embroidery data set for the selected pattern (here it is assumed that pattern 70 in FIG. 5 has been selected),
The address where the first embroidery data is stored is stored in the undisplayed first data position storage area 54.

Next, step 37 is executed, and it is determined whether or not there has been any key operation. If there is a key operation, S7 becomes YES, and it is determined in S8 whether or not the operated key is a cancel key.

The cancel key is a key that commands to stop displaying the stitch forming work order for the selected pattern, and if the cancel key is operated, the end flag 60 is set in S9.
is turned on. Then, in S10, the pattern display surface 3
After all the patterns displayed in 8 are erased, it is determined in Sll whether the end flag 60 is ON or not, but this determination is YES and the execution of the stitch forming work order display routine is completed. .

If the operated key is not the cancel key, S8 is NO.
Then, in 312, it is determined whether or not it is a serial key. If the serial key is operated now, S12 becomes YES, S13 is executed, and stitch forming operations defined by a plurality of embroidery data are successively displayed. This display is performed according to the stitch forming work continuous display routine shown in FIG. 9, and first, at 5101, a stitch forming work defined by one piece of embroidery data is displayed.

This display is performed according to the routine shown in FIG.
In 301, the type data and coordinate data in the undisplayed leading data (embroidery data stored at the address stored in the undisplayed leading data position storage area 54 among the embroidery data whose stitch forming work has not yet been displayed) are Each type data storage area 56. It is stored in the coordinate data storage area 58. Next, in 5302, the type data is “
A determination is made as to whether the block is a "block" or not.

Taking pattern 70 as an example, since running stitches are performed first, the type data in the undisplayed first data is "running", and 53
The determination in step 02 is NO, and step 3304 is executed. 53
In 04, it is determined whether the type data is "running", but the determination is YES, and 3305 is executed.
Two coordinates A stored in the coordinate data storage area 58,
A line segment connecting B is displayed as a dashed line on the pattern display surface 38.

The seam forming process called running stitch is displayed as a line.

After the display, step 5307 is executed, and the coordinates A and B are displayed on the data display screen 40, as well as the type data in the embroidery data to be displayed next. Since the running stitch connecting points A and B is followed by the running stitch connecting points B and C,
The type data in the next embroidery data is "running" and "Next is running" is displayed, and the operator can refer to this display when selecting the next key.

When the stitch forming operation defined by one piece of embroidery data is displayed in this way, step 5102 is executed next, and the contents of the undisplayed leading data position storage area 54 are updated for one piece of embroidery data. After that, in 5IO3, it is determined whether the type data in the undisplayed first data is end data. If it is end data, 5103 will be YES and 5
After the end flag 60 is turned ON in step 104, step 311 is executed, and the execution of the stitch forming work order display routine is completed. In pattern 70, after running stitches connecting points A and B, running stitches connecting points B and C are performed, so the next undisplayed first data is not the end data, and 5103 is NO.
Then, in 5105, it is determined whether the type data in the undisplayed leading data is the same as the type data stored in the type data storage area 56. 2 running stitches
Since the embroidery continues, the determination is YES, and 5IOI is executed again, and the contents of the type data storage area 56 and coordinate data storage area 58 are rewritten to the contents stored in the next embroidery data, and points B and C are The connecting line is displayed as a dashed line on the pattern display surface 38. Next to the running stitch connecting points B and C is the embroidery of block 72 defined by points C, D, and H, 5103. ! 5105 is NO, 3106 is executed, and the end flag 60 is
After is turned off, Sll is executed, and the execution of the routine returns to S7 to wait for the next key operation.

If the next key operated is also a serial key, S
8 becomes No, 312 becomes YES, and S13 is executed again. However, since the type data of the embroidery data is "block" this time, step 5303 is executed in the stitch forming work display routine shown in FIG. is displayed. For blocks, the stitch forming work of filling the blocks with embroidery stitches is displayed by indicating the block boundaries, and is distinguished from running stitches by changing the type of displayed line segment. Block 72 has four consecutive filters. 5105 is YES, and 3101 is executed four more times, resulting in a line segment ED as shown in FIG.

GF, IH, and JB are sequentially displayed with broken lines. Then, the type data of the next embroidery data is "running", so it is 510.
5 becomes No, and the execution of the routine returns to S7. By operating the serial key, stitch forming operations defined by multiple embroidery data of the same type are displayed consecutively. In this case, multiple consecutive embroidery data of the same type are patented. This means "one unit" within the scope of the claims. Although this is not the case for pattern 70, if the type data is "needle movement", 3304 of the stitch forming work display routine becomes No, 5306 is executed, and the two coordinates are connected with a chain double-dashed line. are displayed on the pattern display surface 38. The execution of "needle movement" is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

Next, a case where the space key is operated will be explained. In this case, step 314 becomes YES, and step 515 displays a single seam forming operation.

This display is performed according to the stitch forming work single display routine shown in FIG. Line segments of a type corresponding to the type of stitch to be formed are displayed on the pattern display surface 38. After displaying, step 5202 is executed, and after the contents of the undisplayed leading data position storage area 54 are updated for one embroidery data, step 5203 is executed.
At , it is determined whether the undisplayed first data is the end data. If it is the end data, the end flag 60 is set in 5204, the determination in 311 becomes YES, and the stitch forming work order display routine ends. Also, if it is not the end data, the end flag 6 is set in 5205.
Since 0 is turned off, the judgment of Sll becomes No, and the next key operation is waited. If the space key is operated again next time, only the stitch forming operation defined by one piece of embroidery data will be displayed. Ru. If you operate the space key,
The stitch forming operations defined by one piece of embroidery data can be displayed one by one, and in this case, one piece of embroidery data is "one unit" within the scope of the claims.

Also, if the clear key is operated, S16 is YES.
S, and the display on the pattern display surface 38 is completely erased in S17. The running route and the boundary line of the block 72 that were displayed before the clear key was operated are erased. In this case, the end flag 60 is 51 in 313.
Since it has been turned off by executing step 06 or executing step 5205 in S15, 311 becomes NO, and the next key operation is awaited. Then, when the serial key or space key is operated and the stitch forming operations are displayed, only the stitch forming operations defined by the embroidery data read after the clear key operation are displayed. The Rukoto.

In this way, by operating the serial key and space key, the embroidery data is read out in the order of stitch formation operations, and the stitch formation operations are displayed for one embroidery data or one type of stitch formation operation order. The operator can display the stitch forming work on the pattern display surface 38 by operating these keys as appropriate, and can view the stitch forming work order. In the case of pattern 70,
If the clear key was not operated during the 13th
figure.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the seam forming operation is
' will be displayed sequentially.

In addition, since the screen display is cleared when the clear key is operated, it is possible to display only the stitch forming operations defined by one piece of embroidery data, and it is also possible to display stitch forming operations of the same type consecutively. You can also display only those. For example, when running stitches and block embroidery are performed alternately, only the running stitch route or only the block boundary lines can be displayed.

As is clear from the above explanation, in this example,
Auxiliary storage means 28. The embroidery data storage area 52 constitutes the embroidery data storage means 1, the CRT display 36 constitutes the display means 2, the serial key and space key provided on the keyboard 34 constitute the command means 3, and the RO
M12 S1~Si7.3101~5106.3201
5205 and 5301 to 5307, and the CPU 10 and RAM 14 that execute these steps constitute the display control means 4.

In the above embodiment, data is displayed and updated by operating the serial key and space key provided on the keyboard 34, and the seam forming operation to be displayed is specified and commanded. ,
The designation and the command may be performed by different operations by the operator. For example, a means for specifying embroidery data that defines the seam forming operation to be displayed and a means for instructing the execution of display are provided, and the execution of the display is instructed when the embroidery data is specified. .

After the embroidery data to be displayed is specified by the specifying means, it is also possible to display the stitch forming operations based on the specified embroidery data in sequence every time a certain period of time elapses. In this case, means for issuing a signal every predetermined period of time constitutes a display command means.

Further, in the embodiment described above, different types of seam forming operations are distinguished and displayed by changing the type of line, but they may be displayed in different colors to distinguish them.

Furthermore, although the seam forming work is displayed by lines in the above embodiments, it may be displayed by data. For example, a sixth pattern may be displayed on the pattern display surface 38.
As shown in the figure, the outline and division state of the pattern are displayed, and the embroidery data is displayed in association with the position within the pattern.

In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing an embroidery data processing device equipped with an embroidery data display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a CRT display of the embroidery data display device. FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of a portion of the RAM of the embroidery data processing device related to displaying the stitch forming work order. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the outline of the pattern displayed by the embroidery data display device, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the pattern divided into a plurality of blocks. FIG. 7 is a table showing part of the embroidery data created for the pattern shown in FIG. Figure 8,
FIG. 9, FIG. 10, and FIG. 11 respectively show the routines stored in the ROM of the embroidery data processing device.
3 is a flowchart showing a routine related to displaying a stitch forming work order. FIGS. 12, 13, 14, and 15 are diagrams each showing a case where the pattern shown in FIG. 5 is displayed according to the process of the stitch forming work order display routine.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Embroidery data storage means for storing a plurality of embroidery data created to fill a pattern with embroidery stitches according to the order of stitch formation operations, and a display for displaying stitch formation operations performed according to the embroidery data. means for instructing display of a stitch forming operation defined by one unit of the plurality of embroidery data; and a commanding means for instructing display of a stitch forming operation defined by one unit of the plurality of embroidery data; An embroidery data display device comprising: display control means for sequentially displaying data.