A method and the device for acquiring and processing measurement quantities in a sewing machine (1) using at least one camera (25), situated on a sewing machine (1), for the acquisition and processing of image data for sewing machine elements and sewing elements. An image processing unit connected downstream from the camera (25) processes the images supplied by the camera (25), taking into account data stored in a target quantity memory, and influences the behavior of the machine control unit dependent on the result of the processing.

A method and the device for acquiring and processing measurement quantities in a sewing machine (1) using at least one camera (25), situated on a sewing machine (1), for the acquisition and processing of image data for sewing machine elements and sewing elements. An image processing unit connected downstream from the camera (25) processes the images supplied by the camera (25), taking into account data stored in a target quantity memory, and influences the behavior of the machine control unit dependent on the result of the processing.

Software converts a photographic image into realistic and customized embroidery. Software reads photographic image, down-sampling or up-sampling so that a single pixel has a Density, One Grayscale image is created to calculate derivatives for each pixel using Sobel operator to calculate angle and magnitude and stores in a Sobel table. One Color Image is created to materialize and reduce color selection. A series of polylines are calculated to connect same-color pixels using the pixel's angle from the Sobel table. Polylines are reduced to a manageable size first by multiplying all points by Density resulting in stitch data in physical units, and by using a series of rules and formulas involving angles and magnitudes of each pixel from the Sobel table, Commands are appended to an embroidery machine to generate the final embroidery.

Software converts a photographic image into realistic and customized embroidery. Software reads photographic image, down-sampling or up-sampling so that a single pixel has a Density, One Grayscale image is created to calculate derivatives for each pixel using Sobel operator to calculate angle and magnitude and stores in a Sobel table. One Color Image is created to materialize and reduce color selection. A series of polylines are calculated to connect same-color pixels using the pixel's angle from the Sobel table. Polylines are reduced to a manageable size first by multiplying all points by Density resulting in stitch data in physical units, and by using a series of rules and formulas involving angles and magnitudes of each pixel from the Sobel table, Commands are appended to an embroidery machine to generate the final embroidery.

In a sewing machine, an arm includes, on one side thereof in a first direction, a head. A needle bar is disposed at the head to reciprocally move in a second direction. A feed mechanism feeds a workpiece from one side toward the other side of the head in a third direction. The projection unit disposed at the head projects a projection image toward a bed. The projection unit includes an emitter for projecting image light of the projection image. The photographing unit disposed at the head captures a photographing target. The photographing unit includes an incident portion on which light reflected by the photographing target is incident. The emitter and the incident portion are disposed further toward the one side of the arm in the first direction than the needle bar, and further toward the one side of the head in the third direction than the needle bar.

A sewing machine includes a display which displays a pattern and a marking. A marking-data disposing position specifier specifies the disposing position of another pattern relative to the pattern. A marked pattern replicator displays, on the display, plural marked patterns that are the patterns on which the corresponding markings are disposed. The positions where the plural marked patterns are displayed are set based on the markings of the plural marked patterns. After the display positions of the plural marked patterns are set, the marking of the marked pattern is deleted. Accordingly, pattern data of a new pattern is created.

A sewing machine includes a display which displays a pattern and a marking. A marking-data disposing position specifier specifies the disposing position of another pattern relative to the pattern. A marked pattern replicator displays, on the display, plural marked patterns that are the patterns on which the corresponding markings are disposed. The positions where the plural marked patterns are displayed are set based on the markings of the plural marked patterns. After the display positions of the plural marked patterns are set, the marking of the marked pattern is deleted. Accordingly, pattern data of a new pattern is created.

In a method for controlling sewing operation of a sewing machine, a stitch needle completes an in-and-out movement on a fabric with a first tension applied to an upper thread when the stitch needle, with respect to a fabric-feeding mechanism, is at a first relative position corresponding to a first pattern part of a predetermined stitch pattern. Afterward, the stitch needle is moved, with respect to the fabric-feeding mechanism, to a second relative position corresponding to a second pattern part of the predetermined stitch pattern, and completes an in-and-out movement on the fabric at the second relative position with a second tension, which is greater than the first tension, applied to the upper thread.

In a method for controlling sewing operation of a sewing machine, a stitch needle completes an in-and-out movement on a fabric with a first tension applied to an upper thread when the stitch needle, with respect to a fabric-feeding mechanism, is at a first relative position corresponding to a first pattern part of a predetermined stitch pattern. Afterward, the stitch needle is moved, with respect to the fabric-feeding mechanism, to a second relative position corresponding to a second pattern part of the predetermined stitch pattern, and completes an in-and-out movement on the fabric at the second relative position with a second tension, which is greater than the first tension, applied to the upper thread.

With an embroidery design connecting data generating apparatus, an image acquisition unit acquires an image of an embroidery frame mounting a cloth having a portion where an embroidery design has been sewn. A display unit displays the image of the cloth having such an embroidery-sewn portion acquired by the image acquisition unit and an image of an embroidery design to be sewn to the cloth. An embroidery design data editing unit edits the embroidery design image such that it is connected with the already-sewn embroidery design in a state in which the image of the cloth having the embroidery-sewn portion is displayed on the display unit. Such an arrangement prevents the occurrence of overlapping or gaps after embroidery designs are sewn even if accumulated shrinkage occurs in the sewing operation, or slight alignment errors occur in position or rotation when the cloth is mounted on the embroidery frame.