Electronically controlled sewing machine

An electronically controlled sewing machine indicates which of the basic operations for the machine is possible or impossible in a readily identifiable manner to a user, thereby improving the ease of operation of the machine. A start/stop button is illuminated with steady green light, that is, a first illuminated state, when a presser foot is at a pressing position and a needle bar is within a threading possible range. When the presser foot is at a withdrawn position and the needle bar is within the threading possible range, the start/stop button is illuminated with red flicker, that is, a second illuminated state. When the presser foot is at the pressing position and the needle bar is out of the threading possible range, the start/stop button is illuminated with green flicker, that is, a third illuminated state. When the presser foot is at the withdrawn position and the needle bar is out of the threading possible range, the start/stop button is illuminated with steady red light, that is, a fourth illuminated state. The indications by the different illuminated states make it easy for the operator to recognize which of the basic operations, including needle thread placement, needle threading, and so on, is possible or impossible. Alternatively, the indications can be provided by sound signals or messages presented on a display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to an electronically controlled sewing machine and, 
more particularly, to a technology that makes it possible, by using an 
informing device, to know which of various basic operations of the sewing 
machine, including the threading through a needle and the setting of a 
work cloth to a sewing position, is possible or impossible. 
2. Description of the Related Art 
Conventional home-use electronically controlled sewing machines provide 
various practical patterns, such as straight stitching and zigzag 
stitching; various character patterns, such as Japanese phonetic 
characters, that is, "hiragana" and "katakana", and Roman letters; and 
various embroidery patterns including symbols, marks, and images, which 
are pre-stored in a pattern data memory provided in a ROM (non-volatile 
memory) of a control unit. A desired pattern or embroidery pattern can be 
found and selected by a user displaying patterns on a display panel and 
switching display screens. After selecting a desired pattern, the user 
simply operates a start switch, so that the sewing machine motor is 
immediately driven to form the selected pattern in a work cloth. 
However, an inexperienced user who has just bought an electronically 
controlled sewing machine may well be unfamiliar with the names of parts, 
such as "presser foot" and "thread take-up lever", and also unfamiliar 
with various basic operations involved in using a sewing machine, such as 
the needle thread placement, bobbin thread preparation, and bobbin 
replacement. A latest-model electronically controlled sewing machine is 
equipped with many functions, so that the handling of the machine is 
complicated. Therefore, when a user who has just bought an electronically 
controlled sewing machine actually performs an action such as needle 
thread placement or bobbin thread preparation, the user needs to 
frequently refer to the instruction manual to follow the described 
procedures step by step and thereby manage to place the needle thread at 
designated positions, to wind a thread around a bobbin, set the bobbin in 
a bobbin case, and mount it in the shuttle body. 
After the needle thread and the bobbin thread have been made ready, a 
desired stitching pattern must be selected. Actual stitching will be 
started only after the user performs further operations, for example, 
raises the presser foot, inserts a work cloth between the presser foot and 
the needle plate, lowers the presser foot onto the work cloth, and then 
operates the stitching start switch. To perform these operations, too, the 
user may well have to keep the instruction manual nearby and to refer to 
the described procedures step by step. 
As stated above, a user unfamiliar with the names of the parts of a sewing 
machine and the basic operations to use the machine is often uncertain 
whether, for example, it is possible to place a needle thread at the 
designated positions or to pass the needle thread through the needle eye, 
with the needle bar and the thread take-up lever being at the present 
positions, or whether it is possible to replace the bobbin shuttle. 
However, the sewing machine itself does not indicate or display any 
information regarding whether it is possible to perform a basic operation 
as mentioned above. As a result, the user may possibly look at the 
instruction manual again and again and/or perform the operations by trial 
and error. Moreover, knowing that the sewing machine is "electronically 
controlled" may add to the inexperienced user's uncertainty about things 
that the user sees or performs. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an electronically 
controlled sewing machine that visually or aurally informs a user which of 
the basic operations of the sewing machine is possible or impossible, 
thereby improving the ease of operation, particularly, for inexperienced 
users. 
In accordance with the invention, an electronically controlled sewing 
machine includes a needle bar holding a needle at a lower end portion of 
the needle bar, a needle bar drive mechanism that drives the needle bar at 
least in up-down directions, a detection device that detects a position of 
the needle bar, and an informing device that receives a detection signal 
from the detection device and informs the user, in an identifiable manner, 
whether the position of the needle is within a predetermined position 
range above a needle plate. 
When the position of the needle bar is detected by the detection device, 
the informing device, receiving the detection signal from the detection 
device, informs the user whether the position of the needle or the needle 
bar is within the predetermined position range above the needle plate, in 
an identifiable manner using, for example, different color illuminations 
or sound. These identifiable indications make it easy for the user to 
realize whether the position of the needle is within the predetermined 
range above the needle plate. That is, the user is informed of which of 
the basic operations in the sewing machine, including the passing of a 
needle thread through the thread take-up lever and/or the needle eye, and 
the replacement of a shuttle bobbin, is possible or impossible. 
In the electronically controlled sewing machine of the invention, the 
predetermined position range of the needle may be a range in which at 
least one of needle threading, work cloth setting, and bobbin replacement 
is possible. 
Therefore, even if the predetermined position range of the needle is 
narrow, at least one of the needle threading, the work cloth setting and 
the bobbin replacement becomes possible simply by manually moving the 
needle bar so that the informing device informs or indicates to the user 
the needle is within the predetermined position range, in a manner 
specific to the situation. 
The informing device may use a plurality of light-emitting diodes that emit 
different color lights for identifiable indications. 
The informing device indicates whether the needle is within the 
predetermined position range in an identifiable manner using different 
color lights emitted by the light-emitting diodes. Therefore, based on the 
color illumination, the user can easily realize whether the needle is 
within the predetermined position range. 
The informing device may be incorporated into a switch button for operating 
a stitching start switch that outputs a stitching start instruction. 
Normally, the switch button for operating the stitching start switch to 
output the stitching start instruction is disposed at a position such that 
the button is easy to operate and easy to see. Therefore, incorporated 
into the switch button, the informing device can effectively inform the 
user of the position of the needle. 
The informing device may be provided near a switch button for operating a 
stitching start switch that outputs a stitching start instruction. 
Because the switch button for operating the stitching start switch so as to 
output the stitching start instruction is normally disposed at such a 
position that the button is easy to operate and easy to see, the informing 
device, disposed near the switch button, can effectively inform the user 
of the position of the needle. 
The informing device may change at least one of a sound length and a sound 
pitch for identifiable indications. 
Therefore, the informing device informs the user whether the needle is 
within the predetermined position range, in an identifiable manner by 
changing sound length or pitch, so that based on the sound indication, the 
user can easily realize whether the needle is within the predetermined 
position range. 
The electronically controlled sewing machine of the invention may further 
include a stitching permitting device that cooperates with the informing 
device and permits stitching to be started if stitching is possible. 
The stitching permitting device, cooperating with the informing device, 
permits stitching to be started, if the needle is within the predetermined 
position range and operations such as thread placement, needle threading, 
and bobbin replacement, have been performed so that stitching is possible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described hereinafter with 
reference to the accompanying drawings. 
In the embodiments, the invention is applied to an electronically 
controlled embroidery-type sewing machine that is equipped with an 
embroidering device and is capable of forming various embroidery patterns. 
Referring to FIG. 1, an electronically controlled embroidering machine M 
has a machine bed 1, a column 2 standing from a right-side end portion of 
the bed 1, and an arm 3 extending from an upper end portion of the column 
2 leftwards and facing the bed 1. 
The bed 1 houses various mechanisms, such as a feed dog up-down movement 
mechanism (not shown) for moving a feed dog up and down, a feed dog 
back-forth movement mechanism (not shown) for moving the feed dog back and 
forth, and a loop capturing device (for example, a vertical axis rotating 
hook or shuttle) that houses a shuttle bobbin and cooperates with the 
needle 6. 
The arm 3 houses, at least, a needle bar up-down drive mechanism (not 
shown) for moving a needle bar 5 up and down together with the needle 6 
connected to a lower end portion of the needle bar 5, a needle bar 
oscillating mechanism (not shown) for oscillating the needle bar 5 in 
directions perpendicular to the cloth feeding directions, a presser 
mechanism for moving a presser foot 7 via a presser bar between a pressing 
lower position and a withdrawn upper position in accordance with the 
operation of a presser lever (not shown), a thread take-up lever drive 
mechanism (not shown) for moving a thread take-up lever 8 up and down 
synchronously with the up-down movements of the needle bar 5, and a bobbin 
winding mechanism for winding a thread on a bobbin 10. The needle bar 
up-down drive mechanism and the needle bar oscillating mechanism 
correspond to a needle bar drive mechanism. 
A bobbin winder spindle 11 of the bobbin winding mechanism is projected 
upward from the arm 3, for detachably supporting the bobbin 10. A thread 
can be wound on the bobbin 10 set on the bobbin winder spindle 11 without 
rotating a machine main shaft, by sliding the bobbin winder spindle 11 
together with the bobbin 10 laterally to a predetermined winding position, 
and then operating a start/stop button 12. The feed dog up-down movement 
mechanism, the needle bar up-down drive mechanism and the thread take-up 
lever drive mechanism are driven by a machine motor 44. The needle bar 
oscillating mechanism is driven by a needle bar oscillating stepping motor 
45, and the feed dog back-forth movement mechanism is driven by a feed dog 
stepping motor 46 (see FIG. 2). 
A head portion 4 of the arm 3 is provided with the start/stop button 12 for 
operating a start/stop switch 12a for instructing start and stop of a 
stitching operation. The start/stop button 12 is disposed at such a 
position that the start/stop button 12 is easy to see and to operate. The 
start/stop button 12 has a built-in color light-emitting diode (LED) 
device 48 made up of at least two light-emitting diodes, that is, a red 
light-emitting diode and a green light-emitting diode. Therefore, when the 
red light-emitting diode is driven, the start/stop button 12 is 
illuminated with red light. When the green light-emitting diode is driven, 
the start/stop button 12 is illuminated with green light. When the red and 
green light-emitting diodes are driven, the start/stop button 12 is 
illuminated with orange light. 
A large-size liquid crystal display 13 is provided on a front face of the 
arm 3, for displaying various stitching patterns including saving stitch 
patterns, embroidery patterns, and messages. The liquid crystal display 13 
carries on its front face a touch panel 14 that functions as touch keys. 
The touch panel 14 has band-like vertical and horizontal transparent 
electrodes at positions corresponding to, for example, the display 
positions of various embroidery patterns and function names indicating 
various functions. Therefore, a desired embroidery pattern or a desired 
function can be selected or instructed by pressing a touch key 14 
corresponding to the embroidery pattern or the name of the function. 
A left-side end portion of the bed 1 is formed as a free bed portion 
generally termed a free arm. The free bed portion removably supports an 
embroidering device 20. 
The embroidering device 20 has a body case 21, an embroidery frame (not 
shown) for removably holding a work cloth, and a housing case 22 housing a 
Y-axis drive mechanism for moving the embroidery frame in the directions 
of a Y-axis (forward and backward). An X-axis drive mechanism is housed in 
the body case 21 for moving the housing case 22 together with the Y-axis 
drive mechanism disposed therein in the directions of the X-axis 
(rightward and leftward). The X-axis drive mechanism is driven by an 
X-axis drive motor 23, and the Y-axis drive mechanism is driven by a 
Y-axis drive motor 24 (see FIG. 2). 
When the embroidering device 20 is mounted on the free bed portion, the 
X-axis and Y-axis drive motors 23, 24 become electrically connected to a 
control unit 30 of the electronically controlled embroidering machine M 
via a connector 37, so that the connected state of the embroidering device 
20 is detected. Thus, an embroidery ready state is set where the control 
unit 30 can drive and control the drive motors 23, 24 so as to move the 
embroidery frame together with the work cloth in the X-directions and 
Y-directions independently from each other while performing an embroidery 
stitching operation. 
The control system of the electronically controlled embroidering machine M 
will next be described. 
Referring to FIG. 2, the control unit 30 has an input interface 31, and a 
control portion including a CPU 32, a ROM 33 and a RAM 34, and an output 
interface 35, and a bus 36 connecting these components. The input 
interface 31 is connected to the start/stop switch 12a, the touch panel 
(touch keys) 14, a timing signal generator 40 for detecting a plurality of 
rotation phases of the machine main shaft, a needle bar sensor 41, a 
bobbin winding state detecting sensor 42, and a presser position detecting 
sensor 43. 
The needle bar sensor 41 is an optical sensor made up, for example, of a 
photo-interrupter, light source and light detector. The needle bar sensor 
41 is disposed so as to face a sector-shaped blocking plate (not shown) 
mounted on the machine main shaft. When detection light is blocked by the 
blocking plate (photo-interrupter), that is, when the needle bar 5 is 
within a threading possible range (corresponding to a predetermined range 
of the needle bar 5) of about 10.degree. to about 50.degree. in phase 
angle as indicated in FIG. 3, with the uppermost position of the needle 
bar 5 being defined as 0.degree., the needle bar sensor 41 outputs a 
high-level needle bar signal NS. The threading possible range is a narrow 
range (corresponding to, for example, about 1 cm in a vertical direction) 
extending from a position slightly below the uppermost position of the 
needle bar 5 to a position at which the eye of the needle 6 is 
appropriately above the needle plate of the bed 1, that is, a position 
range where the thread take-up lever 8 protrudes forward of the arm 3 and 
a thread can be most easily passed through the needle eye. 
The bobbin winding state detecting sensor 42 is provided so as to cooperate 
with the bobbin winder spindle 11. When the bobbin winder spindle 11 is 
slid to the predetermined winding position, the bobbin winding state 
detecting sensor 42 outputs a winding state detection signal. The presser 
position detecting sensor 43 cooperates with the presser bar. When the 
presser foot 7 is moved to the predetermined withdrawn position above the 
needle plate, the presser position detecting sensor 43 outputs a detection 
signal indicating the ascent of the presser foot 7. 
The output interface 35 is connected to, at least, the machine motor 44, 
the needle bar oscillating stepping motor 45, the feed dog stepping motor 
46, a liquid crystal display controller (LCDC) 47 for the liquid crystal 
display 13, the color LED device 48 incorporated in the start/stop button 
12, a buzzer 49, and the connector 37 connected to the X-axis drive motor 
23 and the Y-axis drive motor 24 of the embroidering device 20. 
The ROM 33 stores pattern selection control programs for selecting 
practical (standard sewing) stitches and various embroidery patterns; 
general control programs for display control or drive control for driving 
the various motors 44-46, 23, 24 in order to stitch a selected stitch or 
embroidery pattern; an edit control program for editing a selected 
embroidery pattern on the liquid crystal display 13, for example, setting 
a size of the pattern or changing a stitching position; and control 
programs for stitch control according to the invention (described below). 
Also stored in the ROM 33 are various pattern data, including display data 
and stitch data, with regard to a plurality of stitch patterns, character 
patterns, and embroidery patterns. The pattern data in the ROM 33 are 
grouped according to the types of patterns and assigned with pattern 
numbers. 
The RAM 34 is provided with memories (including flag, pointer, counter, 
register, and buffer memories) needed for the aforementioned controls. 
The stitching control routine executed by the control unit 30 will be 
described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 4. 
When the embroidering machine M is powered on so that the stitching control 
routine is started, the control unit 30 performs initialization in step 
S10, for example, the memories of the RAM 34 are cleared. Subsequently in 
step S11, a pattern selecting screen is displayed. In step S12, the 
operator indicates, using the touch panel 14, that he/she wants to select 
by operating an appropriate touch key on the touch panel 14. If the 
determination is affirmative (YES in step S12), the control unit 30 
performs a pattern select operation in step S13. 
FIG. 5 shows an example of the pattern selecting screen on the liquid 
crystal display 13, where two styles of each Japanese character and ABC 
for selecting character patterns, PRACTICAL for selecting practical 
patterns, various embroidery symbols and pictures of a panda, figures, 
flowers, etc. are displayed in separate boxes 14a through 14h, for 
selecting embroidery patterns, respectively. The separate boxes 14a 
through 14h act as pattern select keys because the screen of the liquid 
crystal display 13 is formed of touch panel switches as described 
previously. Therefore, a user can select a desired pattern by touching the 
corresponding one of separate boxes 14a through 14h. 
In step S14, it is determined whether the bobbin winding state has been 
established, on the basis of the detection signal from the bobbin winding 
state detecting sensor 42. If the determination in step S14 is affirmative 
(Yes), the operation jumps to step S22, in which the control unit 30 
causes the color LED device 48 to produce orange light, that is, a fifth 
illuminated state of the start/stop button 12, by simultaneously driving 
the green light-emitting diode and the red light-emitting diode of the 
color LED device 48. 
The start/stop button 12, disposed at an easy-to-see position, is 
illuminated with orange color light, so that the user readily recognizes 
that the bobbin winding state has been established. 
Subsequently in step S23, it is determined whether a drive instruction is 
inputted to start the machine motor 44 by the user operating the 
start/stop button 12. If the determination in step S23 is affirmative 
(Yes), the operation proceeds to step S24, in which the control unit 30 
drives the machine motor 44 to wind a bobbin thread on the bobbin 10. 
Subsequently in step S25, it is determined whether a drive stop 
instruction is inputted by the user operating the start/stop button 12 
when the bobbin winding has been completed. If the determination in step 
S25 is affirmative (Yes), the control unit 30 stops driving the machine 
motor 44 in step S26. 
If it is determined in step S14 that the bobbin winding state has not been 
established (NO in step S14), the operation proceeds to step S15, in which 
it is determined whether the needle bar signal NS is at the high level, 
that is, whether the needle bar 5 is within the threading possible range. 
If the determination in step S15 is affirmative (Yes), it is determined in 
step S16 whether the presser foot 7 is at the pressing position on the 
basis of the detection signal from the presser position detecting sensor 
43. If the determination in step S16 is affirmative (Yes), the operation 
proceeds to step S18, in which the control unit 30 causes the start/stop 
button 12 to be illuminated with steady green light, that is, a first 
illuminated state, by driving the green light-emitting diode but not 
driving the red light-emitting diode. Subsequently in step S19, a 
stitching permitting mode is set. 
That is, the start/stop button 12 is illuminated with steady green light 
when the needle bar 5 is within the threading possible range and the 
presser foot 7 is at the pressing position. Therefore, by the green 
illumination of the start/stop button 12, the user readily realizes that 
it is possible to pass a thread through the eye of the needle 6 and to 
perform stitching while it is not possible to set or remove a work cloth 
or to replace the shuttle bobbin. After the user sets a work cloth and 
checks that the needle thread placement and the bobbin thread preparation 
have been done, the user operates the start/stop button 12 to input the 
drive instruction. Then, in step S20, the control unit 30 determines that 
the drive instruction is inputted (YES in step S20). Subsequently in step 
S21, the control unit 30 performs the stitching operation based on the 
stitch data of the pattern selected by the user. 
If the needle bar 5 is within the threading possible range (YES in step 
S15) but the presser foot 7 is at the withdrawn position (NO in step S16), 
the control unit 30 causes the start/stop button 12 to be illuminated with 
flickering red light, that is, a second illuminated state, in step S17, by 
driving the red light-emitting diode in a flickering manner while 
maintaining the non-driven state of the green light-emitting diode. 
Subsequently in step S30, a stitching preventing mode is set, so that the 
drive instruction from the start/stop switch 12a is rejected. 
That is, the start/stop button 12 is illuminated with flickering red light 
when the needle bar 5 is within the threading possible range and the 
presser foot 7 is at the withdrawn position. Therefore, by the red flicker 
of the start/stop button 12, the user readily realizes that it is possible 
to place a needle thread in a designated manner and pass the thread 
through the eye of the needle 6 and, furthermore, set a work cloth between 
the needle 6 and the needle plate and replace the shuttle bobbin while it 
is not possible to perform stitching. 
In a case where the needle bar signal NS is at the low level, indicating 
that the needle bar 5 is out of the threading possible range (NO in step 
S15), that is, the needle 6 is below the needle plate or only slightly 
above the needle plate, or the needle 6 is substantially at the uppermost 
position, as can be seen from the diagram of FIG. 3, and where the presser 
foot 7 is at the pressing position (YES in step S27), the control unit 30 
causes the start/stop button 12 to be illuminated with flickering green 
light, that is, a third illuminated state, in step 28, by flickering the 
green light-emitting diode and maintaining the non-driven state of the red 
light-emitting diode. Subsequently in step S19, the stitching permitting 
mode is set. 
That is, the start/stop button 12 is illuminated with flickering green 
light when the needle bar 5 is out of the threading possible range, that 
is, the needle 6 is lower than the lower limit or substantially at the 
uppermost position, and the presser foot 7 is at the pressing position. 
Therefore, by the green flicker of the start/stop button 12, the user 
readily realizes that it is impossible to place a needle thread in the 
designated manner and pass the thread through the eye of the needle 6 and, 
furthermore, to set a work cloth between the needle 6 and the needle plate 
and replace the shuttle bobbin while it is possible to perform stitching. 
If the needle bar 5 is out of the threading possible range, that is, mostly 
the needle 6 is lower than the lower limit, (NO in step S15) and the 
presser foot 7 is at the withdrawn upper position (NO in step S27), the 
control unit 30 causes the start/stop button 12 to be illuminated with 
steady red light, that is, a fourth illuminated state, in step S29, by 
driving the red light-emitting diode and maintaining the non-driven state 
of the green light-emitting diode. Subsequently in step S30, the stitching 
preventing mode is set. 
That is, the start/stop button 12 is illuminated with steady red light when 
the needle bar 5 is out of the threading possible range, that is, the 
needle 6 is lower than the lower limit or substantially at the uppermost 
position, and the presser foot 7 is at the withdrawn position. Therefore, 
by the red illumination of the start/stop button 12, the user readily 
realizes that it is impossible to place a needle thread in the designated 
manner and pass the thread through the eye of the needle 6 and set a work 
cloth between the needle 6 and the needle plate and replace the shuttle 
bobbin and to perform stitching. 
The indication that the needle bar 5 is within the threading possible range 
and the indication that the needle bar 5 is out of the range, that is, 
threading is impossible, may also be provided in various manners on the 
liquid crystal display 13, for example, as shown in FIG. 6. The first 
display example indicates using the vertical position of the needle 
relative to the needle plate (above or below the needle plate) to 
represent the needle can be threaded (above the needle plate) or is in any 
position where it cannot be threaded (shown below the needle plate, but 
includes the eye of the needle physically below the needle plate, at or 
immediately above the needle plate and at the uppermost position). The 
second display example provides a similar display indicating the vertical 
position of the needle bar by the length of a lower dark portion in a 
vertical bar, the length being measured from the bottom. In a similar 
manner, the third display example indicates the vertical position of the 
needle bar by the length of an upper dark portion in a vertical bar, the 
length being measured from the top and the fourth display example 
indicates the vertical position of the needle bar by the vertical position 
of a dark fragment of a vertical bar. 
Furthermore, as stated in the fifth display example in FIG. 6, the contrast 
in the first through fourth display examples may be changed for 
identification. It is also possible to display messages, such as THREADING 
POSSIBLE, THREADING IMPOSSIBLE as shown in the sixth display example, or 
to display messages, such as CLOTH SETTING POSSIBLE, CLOTH SETTING 
IMPOSSIBLE as shown in the seventh display example. 
Instead of the state identifying indications as in the aforementioned first 
to fourth illuminated states, it is also possible to use various sound 
patterns of the buzzer 49 to indicate the corresponding states in an 
identifiable manner. 
That is, for the first illuminated state, the buzzer 49 is kept off. For 
the second to fourth illuminated states, the buzzer 49 is caused to sound 
with constant intervals, or with alternating intervals, or in a continuous 
sound pattern, respectively. It is also possible to change the pitch of 
the buzzer sound for identifiable indications. 
The needle bar sensor 41 and the input interface 31 and the CPU 32 form a 
detection device. The color LED device 48 and steps S15 through S18 and 
steps S27 through S29 in the above-described stitching control form an 
informing device. Step S19 in the stitching control forms a stitching 
permission device. 
As described above, when the bobbin winding is possible, the fifth 
illuminated state is established, where the color LED device 48 produces 
orange light, so that the start/stop button 12, disposed at an easy-to-see 
position, is illuminated with orange light. Therefore, a user can easily 
realize that the bobbin winding state has been established. When the 
needle bar 5 is within the threading possible range and the presser foot 7 
is at the pressing position, the first illuminated state is established, 
where the start/stop button 12 is illuminated with steady green light for 
easy identification. Therefore, the user can easily realize that it is 
possible to place a needle thread at the designated positions and pass the 
thread through the eye of the needle 6 and to perform stitching while it 
is impossible to set and remove a work cloth and to replace the shuttle 
bobbin. 
When the needle bar 5 is within the threading possible range and the 
presser foot 7 is at the withdrawn position, the second illuminated state 
is established, where the start/stop button 12 is illuminated with red 
flicker. Therefore, the user can easily realize that it is possible to 
place a needle thread at the designated positions and pass the thread 
through the eye of the needle 6 and, further, set a work cloth between the 
presser foot 7 and the needle plate and replace the shuttle bobbin while 
it is impossible to perform stitching. 
When the needle bar 5 is out of the threading possible range and the 
presser foot 7 is at the pressing position, the third illuminated state is 
established, where the start/stop button 12 is illuminated with green 
flicker. Therefore, the user can easily realize that it is possible to 
perform stitching while it is impossible to place a needle thread at the 
designated positions and pass the thread through the eye of the needle 6 
and, further, set a work cloth between the presser foot 7 and the needle 
plate and replace the shuttle bobbin. 
When the needle bar 5 is out of the threading possible range and the 
presser foot 7 is at the withdrawn position, the fourth illuminated state 
is established, where the start/stop button 12 is illuminated with steady 
red light. Therefore, the user can easily realize that it is impossible to 
place a needle thread at the designated positions and pass the thread 
through the eye of the needle 6 and, further, set a work cloth between the 
presser foot 7 and the needle plate and replace the shuttle bobbin and 
perform stitching. 
Modifications of the foregoing embodiment will be described below. 
(1) When the needle bar 5 is within the threading possible range, that is, 
during the first or second illuminated state, the illumination by the 
color LED device 48 may be increased. When the needle bar 5 is out of the 
threading possible range, that is, during the third or fourth illuminated 
state, the illumination by the color LED device 48 may be reduced. 
(2) The position of the needle bar 5 may be detected in increased aspects, 
that is, not only the vertical position of the needle bar 5 but also the 
horizontal oscillation position of the needle bar 5. 
(3) The cloth setting possible state may also be indicated in an 
identifiable manner, when the phase angle is within the range of about 
290.degree. to about 360.degree. as indicated in FIG. 3. 
(4) The color LED device 48 may also be disposed at an easy-to-see position 
adjacent to the start/stop button 12. 
(5) The display control of the color LED device 48 in the stitching control 
according to the foregoing embodiment is merely illustrative, and may be 
modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the 
invention. 
The electronically controlled sewing machine of the invention includes a 
detection device and an informing device as described above, so that based 
on the indication provided by the informing device, a user can easily 
identify whether the needle is within a predetermined position range above 
the needle plate. 
In the embodiment of the invention, the predetermined position range of the 
needle is a range in which at least one of needle threading, work cloth 
setting, and bobbin replacement is possible. Therefore, even if the 
predetermined position range of the needle is narrow, the needle bar can 
be precisely positioned by manually moving the needle bar so that the 
informing device informs, or indicates to, the user that the needle is 
within the predetermined position range, in a manner specific to the 
situation. By shifting the needle bar in position in this manner, it 
becomes possible to perform at least one of the needle threading, the work 
cloth setting and the bobbin replacement without fail. 
In the embodiment, the informing device uses a plurality of light-emitting 
diodes that emit different color lights for identifiable indications. 
Therefore, based on the color illuminations by the light-emitting diodes, 
the user can easily identify whether the needle or needle bar is within 
the predetermined position range. 
In the embodiment, the informing device is incorporated into the switch 
button for operating the stitching start switch that outputs a stitching 
start instruction. Because the switch button for operating the stitching 
start switch is disposed at such a position that the button is easy to 
operate and easy to see, the informing device can effectively inform the 
operator of the position of the needle, via the switch button. 
Furthermore, the informing device may be provided near the switch button 
for operating the stitching start switch that outputs a stitching start 
instruction. Because the switch button for operating the stitching is 
disposed at such a position that the button is easy to operate and easy to 
see, the informing device, disposed near the switch button, can 
effectively inform the user of the position of the needle. 
Further, the informing device may change at least one of a sound length and 
a sound pitch for identifiable indications. Therefore, based on the sound 
indication, the user can easily identify whether the needle or needle bar 
is within the predetermined position range. 
The electronically controlled sewing machine of the invention may further 
include a stitching permitting device that cooperates with the informing 
device and permits stitching to be started if stitching is possible. 
Therefore, the stitching operation becomes possible only if the needle or 
the needle bar is within the predetermined position range and thread 
placement, needle threading, and replacement of a bobbin have been 
performed. Thus, the ease of operation, particularly, for an inexperienced 
user, is improved. 
It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the 
particular forms shown in the foregoing embodiment. Various modifications 
and alternations can be made thereto without departing from the scope of 
the invention.