Patent ID: 6192292
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: D05B

Abstract:
An embroidery data processor for processing image data to form an embroidery pattern, the embroidery data processor comprising:a thinning unit that reduces thickness of lines in the image data to produce thin-line image data including at least one thin-line outline defining a bounded region corresponding to a region of the embroidery pattern;a thin-line following unit that follows the at least one thin-line outline to search for branch lines connected to the at least one thin-line outline and extending into the bounded region; anda branch deleting unit that deletes any branch lines discovered by the thin-line following unit;wherein the branch deleting unit deletes any connecting branch lines that connect the at least one thin-line outline with a closed loop within the bounded region;wherein the thin-line following unit follows pixels of the at least one thin-line outline and further comprising: a closed loop processor that detects the closed loop when the thin-line following unit follows a pixel of the at least one thin-line outline twice; andfurther comprising a timing means for controlling the thin-line following unit to search for branch lines before the closed loop processor operates to detect the closed loop.