Sewing Machine Stitch Status Monitoring via Dual-Protocol Codes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sewing machine monitoring systems face challenges with real-time remote monitoring of stitching progress due to limitations in wireless communication, data load on hardware, and poor visibility of video transmission, especially when the user is mobile or communication is interrupted.

Innovation Solution

A stitchwork status checking apparatus that uses different communication protocols for status and stitchwork data, employing CRC codes for data integrity and consistency checks, allowing real-time monitoring via a portable device connected via a wireless network, ensuring reliable data transfer and synchronization with the sewing machine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If video data is transmitted via wireless communication to monitor stitching progress, then real-time monitoring is enabled, but data quantity becomes remarkably large causing heavy load on hardware resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemonitoring reliabilityVSAvoiddata quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential monitoring information (stitching progress status) from the complete video data, transmitting only this extracted status information via wireless communication while the sewing machine continues stitching. This eliminates the need to transmit large volumes of video data while still providing effective monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The monitoring function is segmented from the stitching function. The sewing machine performs stitching while a separate monitoring system tracks progress status independently. This segmentation allows the monitoring data to be minimal (only status changes) rather than continuous video streams, dramatically reducing data quantity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If wireless communication is used for monitoring, then user mobility is improved, but communication errors occur when connection is lost requiring manual re-establishment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser mobilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system automatically handles communication re-establishment when connection is lost. The control unit detects communication errors and automatically re-establishes the wireless connection without requiring user intervention, making the system self-service oriented and maintaining reliability while preserving user mobility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback monitoring of communication status. When communication quality deteriorates or connection is lost, the system receives feedback about the error condition and automatically responds by re-establishing connection, ensuring reliable operation even with mobile wireless usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If video transmission is used for monitoring, then stitching progress can be observed, but communication line is occupied affecting other wireless communications

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation visibilityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential progress information from video data, transmitting only status updates (e.g., stitching completion percentage, current pattern position) rather than continuous video streams. This extraction approach provides sufficient information visibility while occupying minimal communication bandwidth, allowing other wireless communications to proceed simultaneously without interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If monitoring is implemented with wired connection between sewing machine and monitor, then data transmission reliability is improved, but user movable range is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoiduser mobility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless communication system. The control unit transmits monitoring data wirelessly to the portable terminal, eliminating physical cable constraints and enabling user mobility while maintaining data transmission reliability through error correction and automatic reconnection mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8972039B1Stitchwork status checking system, stitchwork status checking apparatus, stitchwork status checking method and stitchwork status checking program

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 JANOME CORP

AI summary

A stitchwork status checking apparatus includes a stitchwork data receiver unit that receives stitchwork data on a stitchwork pattern selected and currently stitched by a sewing machine, a converter unit that converts the received stitchwork data into a unique code, a status data receiver unit that receives a unique code converted based on the stitchwork data currently stitched by the sewing machine, and a code comparator unit that compares a code converted by the converter unit with a code received by the status data receiver unit. The stitchwork data receiver unit receives the stitchwork data through a transmission protocol that surely transmits data to a transmission destination. The status data receiver unit receives the code through a transmission protocol that transmits data to a transmission destination within a short time.