Abstract:
A text-to-speech system for a stitcher includes a tablet device in operative communication with the stitcher; the tablet device further comprising a display screen; a memory; a microprocessor; communication module; a command input device; a speaker; and a text-to-speech algorithm. An associated method includes the steps of accepting a command for operation of the stitcher from a user; transmitting the command to the text-to-speech algorithm; and producing an audible confirmation of the command through the speaker.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/719,191, filed Oct. 26, 2012. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to stitching or sewing machines and, more particularly, to a hands-free control system for same. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Stitchers and sewing machines are increasingly complex pieces of machinery that frequently offer multiple modes of operation and varying features for use. Prior art stitchers and sewing machines utilize a variety of control mechanisms to allow a user to select modes of operation and available features and to generally control the machine. Those control mechanisms generally include a control panel of some type; in some cases push buttons or a touch screen device. 
         [0004]    However, a shared point of these prior art control mechanisms is the lack of audible, verbal confirmation of machine control commands input by a user. 
         [0005]    Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a control system for a stitcher or sewing machine that provides audible, verbal command confirmation to a user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    One aspect of the invention generally pertains to a voice command system for a stitcher that provides audible, verbal command confirmation to a user. 
         [0007]    In accordance with one or more of the above aspects of the invention, there is provided a text-to-speech system for a stitcher that includes a tablet device in operative communication with the stitcher; the tablet device further comprising a display screen; a memory; a microprocessor; a communication module; a command input device; a speaker; and a text-to-speech algorithm. 
         [0008]    In accordance with another aspect, there is provided an associated method that includes the steps of accepting a command for operation of the stitcher from a user; transmitting the command to the text-to-speech algorithm; and producing an audible confirmation of the command through the speaker. 
         [0009]    These aspects are merely illustrative of the innumerable aspects associated with the present invention and should not be deemed as limiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0010]    Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a stitcher according to an embodiment of the present system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a control system for a stitcher according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a flow diagram for the operation of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    In the following detailed description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific delays. For example, the invention is not limited in scope to the particular type of industry application depicted in the figures. In ether instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  illustrates a standard long-arm stitcher  10  including a base  12 , an arm  14 , and a take up lever box  16 . Although the present invention is described with respect to a long-arm stitcher, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that the present invention is also applicable to standard sewing machines. Moreover, the present invention is capable of operating with both commercial and household long-arm stitchers and sewing machines. The arm  14  is coupled to the base  12  at a back end  18  of the stitcher  10 . A first portion  20  of the arm  14  extends upward from the base  12 , and a second portion  22  of the arm  14  extends from the first portion  20  substantially parallel to the base  12 . The take up lever box  16  is disposed on the arm  14  at a stitching end  24  of the stitcher  10  that is opposite the back end  18 . The stitching end  24  of the stitcher  10  forms a workspace  26  where a fabric is stitched by an operator of the stitcher  10 . The stitching end includes a needle bar  28  having a needle  30  inserted therein and a hopping foot  32  each extending downward toward a needle plate  34  disposed on the base  12 . The needle plate  34  is attached to a square throat plate  36 . The throat plate  36  is configured to be removed to provide access to a rotary hook assembly (not shown) positioned within the base  12  below the throat plate  36 . 
         [0016]    During operation, the needle bar  28  moves up and down thereby moving the needle  30  to form a stitch in the fabric. The needle bar  28  can be adjusted up or down to provide a proper machine timing height. A small hole in the needle plate  34  restricts movement of the thread as the stitch is formed. The hopping foot  32  raises and lowers with the movement of the needle  30  to press and release the fabric as the stitch is formed. The hopping foot  32  is designed to be used with rulers and templates and has a height that can be adjusted for proper stitch formation. A control box  48  is provided to control the operation of the stitcher  10 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates a control system for the stitcher  10 . The control system includes a tablet device  50  that is in operative communication with the stitcher via a communication module that is hardwired or wireless, for example, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. In a preferred embodiment, the tablet device  50  is an Android®-based device. The tablet device  50  is provided with a microphone  52  to receive ambient noise, including voice commands from a user. The tablet device  50  is also provided with a screen  54 , which may be a touch screen for an alternate mode of command input. The tablet device  50  further has a microprocessor (not shown) for operation of the device  50  and a memory. The tablet device SO is capable of displaying a series of menus and machine operation options on the screen  54 . 
         [0018]    The tablet device  50  is programmed to provide hands-free manipulation of the modes of the stitcher  10 , as well as requests for functions such as “needle up”, “needle down”, “single stitch”, and others. The tablet device  50  prompts the user to speak a command and then listens for a resulting command from the user. After receiving the command through its microphone  52 , the tablet device interprets the voice command. If the tablet device  50  is able to interpret the voice command, the command is executed according the flow chart in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0019]    First, the device  50  digitizes the voice command. The device  50  transmits the digitized command to a speech recognition algorithm. The algorithm may be resident on the device&#39;s processor or memory, or the device may transmit the voice command to a remote system having such an algorithm. In one embodiment, the device  50  utilizes its wireless connection to transmit the voice command to Google&#39;s® speech recognition algorithm via the Internet. The speech recognition algorithm converts the digitized speech to a list of words. The speech recognition algorithm provides an array of possible words or phrases spoken. In a preferred embodiment, the array is an ASCII array. The array is then parsed by the device  50  to identity recognized commands. A list of recognized commands is maintained in the memory of the device  50 , and the array is compared to this list to find matches. 
         [0020]    Once a match is found within the list of recognized commands, the device  50  performs the identified command. The command may be a machine operation mode change or a command to manipulate the machine in some way such as raising or lowering the needle or making a single stitch. Once the command is initiated by the device  50 , it returns to its ready state to receive another command. 
         [0021]    The device  50  preferably is capable of interpreting voice commands in a variety of languages. In a preferred embodiment, the device  50  utilizes the voice recognition intent function of the Android API. 
         [0022]    As noted above, the device  50  may offer the user the option to control machine functions by voice command or manual selection via a touch screen. In either case, in a preferred embodiment of the system, the device  50  is further provided with a speaker and a text-to-speech algorithm. In a preferred embodiment, the text-to-speech algorithm is function of the Android operating system. The device  50  is thereby capable of provided audible feedback to the user via a speaker  56  to confirm the selection of commands by either voice command or manual selection. Following receipt of any command, the system responds verbally with words that describe the requested function or mode change. 
         [0023]    The preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in the best mode known to the inventors. However, as various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiment, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.