Sewing Machine Composite Imaging via Movable Frame
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sewing machines equipped with cameras can only capture a limited image range of the needle drop point and its vicinity, leading to lower resolution images when using wide-angle lenses or fish-eye lenses, and potential distortion when combining images from multiple cameras, which increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A sewing machine with an embroidery frame moving device, an image pickup device, a position information storage device, and a composite image generation device that acquires and combines partial images to generate a wide-range composite image without the need for multiple cameras or high-cost lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of moving object
If a wide-angle lens or fish-eye lens is used to obtain an image of a wider range, then the imaging range is improved, but the image resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wide-range imaging task into multiple segments by capturing several partial images at different positions. The embroidery frame is moved to multiple predetermined positions, and a single camera captures partial images at each position. These segmented partial images are then combined to form a complete wide-range composite image, achieving both wide coverage and high resolution without needing expensive wide-angle lenses.
2Area of moving object
If multiple cameras are disposed to obtain images of a wider range, then the imaging range is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms a static multi-camera system into a dynamic single-camera system. Instead of using multiple fixed cameras simultaneously, the invention uses a single camera combined with a movable embroidery frame that moves to multiple predetermined positions. This dynamic approach allows one camera to capture multiple partial images that are then combined, achieving the same wide-range imaging capability as multiple cameras but with reduced device complexity and cost.
3Area of moving object
If images from multiple cameras are combined to obtain a wider range image, then the imaging range is improved, but image distortion occurs at peripheral portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the movable embroidery frame as a reference copy mechanism. By moving the frame to predetermined positions and capturing partial images at each position, the system creates multiple copies of the work cloth at different locations. These partial image copies are then aligned and combined based on the known frame positions, ensuring accurate alignment without the peripheral distortion problems that occur when combining images from multiple fixed cameras.
Data Source
AI summary
A sewing machine includes an embroidery frame moving device that moves an embroidery frame holding a work cloth, an image pickup device that picks up images of an upper surface of a bed portion of the sewing machine, a position information storage device that stores position information indicating predetermined positions to which the embroidery frame is to be moved, a partial image acquisition device that causes the embroidery frame moving device to move the embroidery frame to the respective predetermined positions indicated by the position information, causes the image pickup device to pick up images at the respective predetermined positions, and acquires the images picked up by the image pickup device as partial images, and a composite image generation device that generates a composite image by combining the partial images acquired by the partial image acquisition device.