Needle Point Path Editing for Embroidery Design Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Generating embroidery machine files is a cumbersome process, especially when converting digital graphical primitives into linear needle point paths, which are ill-suited for typical embroidery designs, and requires significant skill or manual programming.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves identifying needle point paths on a 2D plane, displaying them on a touch screen for editing, converting edited portions into graphics regions, performing graphic interpolation, and generating new needle point paths based on stitch points, allowing users to draw designs directly and convert them into embroidery machine files.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If digital graphical primitives are converted into needle point paths, then embroidery designs can be created from graphical images, but the conversion process is ill-suited and produces poor quality results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary conversion process that transforms graphical image data into needle point path data through multiple processing stages including sampling, smoothing, and stitch type assignment. This intermediary representation layer bridges the gap between graphical primitives and embroidery machine instructions, enabling quality conversion while maintaining design fidelity.
2Manufacturing precision
If embroidery machine files are generated manually by programmers, then precise control over needle points is achieved, but the process is cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of programming needle points with an automated computational system. The system automatically generates needle point paths from graphical images using algorithms for sampling, smoothing, and stitch calculation, eliminating the need for manual programmer intervention while maintaining precision through systematic computational methods.
3Manufacturing precision
If skilled artisans manually manipulate fabric around a stationary needle, then high skill-level embroidery can be produced, but the process requires significant skill and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the embroidery design system to serve itself by automatically converting graphical images into machine-executable needle point paths without requiring skilled human operators. The system performs all necessary transformations, calculations, and optimizations autonomously, freeing users from the need for embroidery craftsmanship skills while maintaining design quality.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein describe techniques for editing a needle point path displayed on a touch screen. For example, a stylus can be used to select a portion of the needle point path which can then be moved, rotated, shrunk/enlarged, deleted, replaced, copied, etc. The embodiments herein may convert the selected portion of the needle point path into a graphics region which can then be manipulated. Once edited, the path can then be added back to the needle point path.