Touchscreen Sewing Pattern Editing for Precise Needle Drop Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sewing machines face usability issues in creating and editing sewing data due to the difficulty in accurately adjusting needle drop points on a touch panel, where the points are either obscured by finger touch or require enlarged views that compromise the overall pattern overview.

Innovation Solution

A sewing data creation device and program that utilize a touch panel interface with a rendering region for needle drop points, a pattern element identifying unit, a touch detecting unit, a needle drop point moving unit, and a finalizing unit to allow precise adjustment of needle drop points without the need for eight-direction cursor buttons, using a preview region for overall pattern visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the needle drop point is displayed as a very small point on the touch panel, then the overall pattern view is maintained, but the user cannot accurately touch and adjust the needle drop point because it is hidden by the finger

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle drop point adjustment precisionVSAvoidneedle drop point touchability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a temporary marker as an intermediary element. When the user touches the screen, a temporary marker appears at the touch position and moves with the finger, serving as a visible guide that helps the user accurately target and adjust the needle drop point without needing to directly touch the small point itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy or representation of the needle drop point's position through the temporary marker. This marker replicates the function of the needle drop point in terms of visibility and interactability, allowing the user to operate on the marker instead of the small, invisible point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If an enlarged view of the area around the needle drop point is displayed, then the user can accurately adjust the needle drop point, but the user loses the overview of the overall pattern

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle drop point adjustment precisionVSAvoidoverall pattern overview

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic display system that adapts the view based on user interaction. The display can switch between showing the overall pattern overview and providing an enlarged view of the area around the needle drop point, allowing the user to access both perspectives as needed during the adjustment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a dimensional layer to the interface by introducing the temporary marker that operates in the same visual space as the needle drop point but provides enhanced visibility. This allows the user to maintain the overall view while having a visible reference point for precise adjustment without needing to switch to an enlarged view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If eight-direction cursor buttons are displayed on the touch panel, then the user can adjust the needle drop point, but the display region for the pattern view is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveneedle drop point adjustabilityVSAvoidpattern view display region

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the adjustment function from the traditional eight-direction cursor buttons and relocates it to the touch interaction area. By using the temporary marker that appears when the user touches the screen, the adjustment functionality is removed from the fixed button layout and integrated into the natural touch movement area, thereby freeing up space for pattern display.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the touch area multi-functional by allowing it to serve both as the display region for the pattern view and as the interaction area for needle drop point adjustment. The temporary marker enables the same screen space to fulfill both purposes simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate cursor buttons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12577714B2Sewing data creation device, program, and sewing machine

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 JANOME CORP

AI summary

A sewing data creation device includes: a display control unit that causes a touch panel display to display an edit screen including a rendering region for displaying multiple needle drop points forming sewing data; a needle drop point identifying unit that identifies a user-selected needle drop point as a target needle drop point; a touch detecting unit that detects contact of an instructing member with a position in the edit screen other than the target needle drop point with the target needle drop point being identified; a needle drop point moving unit that moves the position of the target needle drop point in the rendering region to be linked with motion of the instructing member being in contact with the edit screen; and a needle drop point finalizing unit that, when the contact of the instructing member is no longer detected, finalizes the position of the target needle drop point.