Apparatus for processing embroidery data

An apparatus for processing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus comprising:

• dividing means for dividing, based on image data representing an original image comprising a plurality of outline-bounded regions each of which is bounded by at least one outline thereof, said original image into said plurality of outline-bounded regions, and producing a plurality of sets of outline data each set of which represents at least one outline of a corresponding one of said outline-bounded regions;
• a display device including a screen, for simultaneously displaying, on said screen, a first image and a second image based on first image data and second image data, respectively, said first image data including said each set of outline data, so that said first image includes said at least one outline of said corresponding one outline-bounded region, said second image including a sewing-parameter table containing a plurality of parameter items relating to the control of the sewing machine to form, on said work sheet, said embroidery corresponding to said original image;
• and
• a parameter specifying device which is operable by a user for specifying a content of each of said parameter items displayed on said screen, with respect to said corresponding one outline-bounded region simultaneously displayed on the screen, while the user views said one outline-bounded region on the screen, so that the specified parameter contents are displayed in relation with the corresponding parameter items and so that said specified parameter contents are utilized to process said embroidery data.

A method of processing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the method comprising the steps of:

• dividing, based on image data representing an original image comprising a plurality of outline-bounded regions each of which is bounded by at least one outline thereof, said original image into said plurality of outline-bounded regions, and producing a plurality of sets of outline data each set of which represents at least one outline of a corresponding one of said outline-bounded regions,
• simultaneously displaying, on a screen of a display device, a first image and a second image based on first image data and second image data, respectively, said first image data including said each set of outline data, so that said first image includes said at least one outline of said corresponding one outline-bounded region, said second image including a sewing-parameter table containing a plurality of parameter items relating to the control of the sewing machine to form, on said work sheet, said embroidery corresponding to said original image, and
• a user operating a parameter specifying device to specify a content of each of said parameter items displayed on said screen, with respect to said corresponding one outline-bounded region simultaneously displayed on the screen, while the user views said one outline-bounded region on the screen, so that the specified parameter contents are displayed in relation with the corresponding parameter items and so that said specified parameter contents are utilized to process said embroidery data.

An apparatus for processing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus comprising;

• dividing means for dividing, based on image data representing an original image comprising a plurality of outline-bounded regions each of which is bounded by at least one outline thereof, said original image into said plurality of outline-bounded regions, and producing a plurality of sets of outline data each set of which represents at least one outline of a corresponding one of said outline-bounded regions;
• a display device including a screen, for simultaneously displaying, on said screen, a first image and a second image based on first image data and second image data, respectively, said first image data including said each set of outline data, so that said first image includes said at least one outline of said corresponding one outline-bounded region, said second image including a sewing-parameter table containing a plurality of parameter items relating to the control of the sewing machine to form, on said work sheet, said embroidery corresponding to said original image;
• and
• a parameter specifying device which is operable by a user for specifying a content of each of said parameter items displayed on said screen, with respect to said corresponding one outline-bounded region simultaneously displayed on the screen, while the user views said one outline-bounded region on the screen, so that the specified parameter contents are displayed in relation with the corresponding parameter items and so that said specified parameter contents are utilized to process said embroidery data,
• said parameter specifying device comprising a cursor which is movable on said screen of said display device, and a cursor moving device which is operable by said user for moving said cursor to designate each of said parameter items on said screen and specifying a value of said each parameter item currently designated by said cursor,
• said cursor moving device comprising a mouse including a first key operable for changing a current value of said each parameter item designated by said cursor, to a new value, and a second key operable for fixing a current value of said each parameter item designated by said cursor.

An apparatus for processing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus comprising:

• dividing means for dividing, based on image data representing an original image comprising a plurality of outline-bounded regions each of which is bounded by at least one outline thereof, said original image into said plurality of outline-bounded regions, and producing a plurality of sets of outline data each set of which represents at least one outline of a corresponding one of said outline-bounded regions;
• a display device including a screen, for simultaneously displaying, on said screen, a first image and a second image based on first image data and second image data, respectively, said first image data including said each set of outline data, so that said first image includes said at least one outline of said corresponding one outline-bounded region, said second image including a sewing-parameter table containing a plurality of parameter items relating to the control of the sewing machine to form, on said work sheet, said embroidery corresponding to said original image;
• a parameter specifying device which is operable by a user for specifying a content of each of said parameter items displayed on said screen, with respect to said corresponding one outline-bounded region simultaneously displayed on the screen, while the user views said one outline-bounded region on the screen, so that the specified parameter contents are displayed in relation with the corresponding parameter items and so that said specified parameter contents are utilized to process said embroidery data;
• producing means for producing said embroidery data based on said each set of outline data and sewing-parameter data representing said specified parameter contents for said corresponding one outline-bounded region;
• and
• a utilizing device which utilizes said embroidery data produced by said producing means to control the sewing machine to form said embroidery on said work sheet,
• said utilizing device comprising a recording device which records said embroidery data in an external memory which is removable from the embroidery-data processing apparatus, by the user, to control the sewing machine to form said embroidery on said work sheet.