Producing an object-based design description file for an embroidery pattern from a vector-based stitch file
First Claim
1. A method of operating a computer to produce an object-based design description file for an embroidery pattern, from a vector-based stitch file describing the pattern as a sequence of stitches, the method comprising the steps ofanalyzing the vector-based stitch file to identify stitch points qualifying as embroidery edge points at which the stitch direction substantially reverses;
- producing a list of said identified edge points in the order of corresponding stitch points in the vector-based stitch file, further analyzing the vector-based stitch file to identify groups of successive edge points in the list of said identified edge points wherein the edge points of each group define a respective embroidery region containing only contiguous area filling type stitches, and generating from co-ordinate positions of edge points in each identified group an object describing the respective embroidery region for the object-based design description file.
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Abstract
A computer is operated to produce an object-based design description file for an embroidery pattern from a vector-based stitch file describing the pattern as a sequence of stitches. The stitch file is analyzed to identify the stitch points qualifying as embroidery edge points at which the stitch direction substantially reverses. A list of these edge points is produced and the stitch file is further analyzed to identify groups of successive edge points in the list wherein the edge points of each group define an embroidery region of area filling type stitches. An object describing the respective embroidery region is then generated from the co-ordinate positions of edge points in a group.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of operating a computer to produce an object-based design description file for an embroidery pattern, from a vector-based stitch file describing the pattern as a sequence of stitches, the method comprising the steps of
analyzing the vector-based stitch file to identify stitch points qualifying as embroidery edge points at which the stitch direction substantially reverses; -
producing a list of said identified edge points in the order of corresponding stitch points in the vector-based stitch file, further analyzing the vector-based stitch file to identify groups of successive edge points in the list of said identified edge points wherein the edge points of each group define a respective embroidery region containing only contiguous area filling type stitches, and generating from co-ordinate positions of edge points in each identified group an object describing the respective embroidery region for the object-based design description file. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
a) identifying as sample edge points stitch points for which the stitch angle between the stitches on either side of the respective stitch point is smaller than a precalculated threshold value, and b) finding pairs of consecutive stitch points forming a complex edge in which the aggregate stitch angle of the respective pair is less than a precalculated threshold value and identifying the stitch point of each said pair which has the smaller stitch angle as a complex edge point. -
3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said groups of edge points are identified by defining an edge point in the list as an end of group edge point if the edge point meets at least one of a set of group termination conditions, said set of group termination conditions including at least one of:
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a) the nearest following stitch point which forms at least part of an identified edge is not preceded in the sequence of stitches in the stitch file by a run stitch or another stitch point forming at least part of an identified edge;
b) the edge angle of the edge point has the same sign as the immediately preceding edge point in the list, the edge angle being the angle described at the respective edge point from the line to the preceding edge point to the line to the next edge point;
c) the edge length from the edge point to the next edge point in the list differs by more than a predetermined fraction from the preceding edge length from the edge point to the preceding edge point;
ord) the co-ordinates of the edge point are substantially the same as the co-ordinates of the next but one edge point in the list.
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4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the identified groups of edge points are categorized as FILL-type if less than a predetermined percentage less than 30% of the edge points in a respective said group correspond to consecutive stitches in the stitch file, and are otherwise categorized as SATIN-type.
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5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the FILL angle of each FILL-type group is determined by taking an average of the angles relative to a predetermined co-ordinate direction of the edge lines between consecutive edge points, over at least a central portion of the edge points of the group.
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6. A method as claimed in claim 5, when dependent on claim 2, wherein, for a simple edge point, the line used for taking said average is the line through the simple edge point bisecting the line joining the respective preceding and following edge points.
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7. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein two identified groups of similar type which directly follow one another in the edge point list are merged to form a single group if the two groups meet predetermined merge criteria.
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17. Computer apparatus programmed to produce an object-based design description file for an embroidery pattern from a vector-based stitch file denoting the pattern as a sequence of stitches, by processing the stitch file in accordance with the method of any one of claims 1-16.
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18. A computer readable data carrier containing program instructions which control a computer to perform the method claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16.
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19. A computer readable data carrier containing an object-based design description file for an embroidery pattern, which file has been produced by method of any one of claims 1 to 16.
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20. A computer readable data carrier containing an object-based design description file for an embroidery pattern, in accordance with claim 19, wherein the object-based design description file has been modified using an embroidery design program operating on said object-based design description file.
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21. A computer readable data carrier containing a vector-based stitch file created from an object-based design description file for an embroidery pattern produced by the method of any one of claims 1 to 16.
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22. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identified groups of edge points are categorized as FILL-type if less than a predetermined percentage less than 30% of the edge points in a respective said group correspond to consecutive stitches in the stitch file, and are otherwise categorized as SATIN-type.
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23. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the identified groups of edge points are categorized as FILL-type if less than a predetermined percentage less than 30% of the edge points in a respective said group correspond to consecutive stitches in the stitch file, and are otherwise categorized as SATIN-type.
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24. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein two identified groups of similar type which directly follow one another in the edge point list are merged to form a single group if the two groups meet predetermined merge criteria.
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25. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein two identified groups of similar type which directly follow one another in the edge point list are merged to form a single group if the two groups meet predetermined merge criteria.
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8. A method of operating a computer to produce an object-based design description file for an embroidery pattern, from a vector-based stitch file describing the pattern as a sequence of stitches, the method comprising the steps of
analyzing the stitch file to identify groups of successive stitches in the stitch file which correspond to respective embroidery regions containing only contiguous area filling type stitches, defining outlines of the embroidery regions from co-ordinate portions of selected stitch points from the respective groups of stitches, merging the outlines of embroidery regions corresponding to successive said groups in the stitch file, if the successive said groups meet predetermined merge criteria, to define merged outlines, and generating from said merged outlines and remaining unmerged outlines corresponding objects describing the respective embroidery regions for the object-based design description file.
Specification