Patent Abstract:
A sewing machine includes a detector configured to detect ultrasonic waves transmitted from a specification-enabled area, a processor, and a memory storing non-transitory computer-readable instructions that instruct the sewing machine to perform specifying a prescribed position based on a positional relationship between a transmission area and the specification-enabled area, the transmission area being an area that is at least a portion of a sewing-enabled area and being an area that includes a position of a transmission source that transmits the ultrasonic waves, the prescribed position being a position of an embroidery frame when the entire transmission area is included in the specification-enabled area, moving the embroidery frame to the specified prescribed position, specifying a transmission position based on the ultrasonic waves that are detected by the detector, and performing a sewing operation based on the specified transmission position.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-055109, filed Mar. 12, 2012, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine that is capable of performing sewing at a designated position on a work cloth. 
         [0003]    A sewing machine is known that can set a sewing position and a sewing angle where a desired embroidery pattern to be sewn on a work cloth. For example, a sewing machine that is provided with an image capture portion uses the image capture portion to capture an image of a marker that an operator has affixed to the work cloth in a designated position. Based on the captured image of the marker, the sewing machine automatically sets the sewing position and the sewing angle for the embroidery pattern. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    However, in order for the sewing machine that is described above to set the sewing position and the sewing angle automatically, it is necessary for the operator to affix the marker to the work cloth. Moreover, after the sewing machine has set the sewing position and the sewing angle for the embroidery pattern, the sewing machine cannot perform the sewing if the operator does not peel off the marker that is affixed to the work cloth. Therefore, cases occur in which the work of affixing the marker to the work cloth and peeling the affixed marker off of the work cloth is burdensome for the operator. 
         [0005]    The present disclosure provides a sewing machine on which the operator can easily set the position on the work cloth where the sewing to be performed. 
         [0006]    Embodiments provide a sewing machine includes a detector, a processor, and a memory. The detector is configured to detect ultrasonic waves transmitted from a specification-enabled area. The memory stores non-transitory computer-readable instructions that instruct the sewing machine to perform specifying a prescribed position based on a positional relationship between a transmission area and the specification-enabled area, the transmission area being an area that is at least a portion of a sewing-enabled area and being an area that includes a position of a transmission source that transmits the ultrasonic waves, the prescribed position being a position of an embroidery frame when the entire transmission area is included in the specification-enabled area, the embroidery frame being configured to be mountable in the sewing machine and configured to hold a work cloth, and the sewing-enabled area being an area in which the sewing machine is able to perform sewing on the work cloth that is held by the embroidery frame, moving the embroidery frame to the specified prescribed position, specifying a transmission position based on the ultrasonic waves that are detected by the detector, the transmission position being a position of the transmission source that transmits the ultrasonic waves, and performing a sewing operation based on the specified transmission position, the sewing operation being an operation by which the sewing machine performs the sewing on the work cloth that is held by the embroidery frame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sewing machine on which an embroidery device is mounted; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the sewing machine on which the embroidery device is mounted; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a receiver; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the receiver; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a section view of the receiver in the direction of a line V-V that is shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram that shows an electrical configuration of the sewing machine; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an explanatory figure of a method for computing designated coordinates; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an explanatory figure of the embroidery device, on which an embroidery frame is mounted, and a specification-enabled area; 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is an explanatory figure of the embroidery device on which the embroidery frame is mounted and the specification-enabled area; 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is an explanatory figure of the embroidery device on which the embroidery frame is mounted and the specification-enabled area; 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is an explanatory figure of the embroidery device on which the embroidery frame is mounted and the specification-enabled area; 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is an explanatory figure of the embroidery device on which the embroidery frame is mounted and the specification-enabled area; 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is an explanatory figure of the embroidery device on which the embroidery frame is mounted and the specification-enabled area; 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  is an explanatory figure of the embroidery device on which the embroidery frame is mounted and the specification-enabled area; 
           [0022]      FIG. 15  is a flowchart that shows main processing; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 16  is an explanatory figure of a table. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. The configuration of a sewing machine  1  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The top side, the bottom side, the left side, and the right side in  FIG. 2  respectively correspond to the top side, the bottom side, the left side, and the right side of the sewing machine  1 . A side on which operation switches  21  are provided is defined as the front side of the sewing machine  1 . 
         [0025]    The sewing machine  1  includes a bed  11 , a pillar  12 , an arm  13 , and a head  14 . The bed  11  is a base portion of the sewing machine  1 , and the bed  11  extends in the left-right direction. The pillar  12  extends upward from the right end portion of the bed  11 . The arm  13  extends to the left from the upper end of the pillar  12  such that the arm  13  is opposite of the bed  11 . The head  14  is located on the left end of the arm  13 . A needle plate  34  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) is disposed on the top face of the bed  11 . A feed dog (not shown in the drawings), a feed mechanism (not shown in the drawings), a shuttle mechanism (not shown in the drawings), and a feed adjustment motor  83  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) are provided underneath the needle plate  34  (that is, inside the bed  11 ). The feed dog may be driven by the feed mechanism and move a work cloth by a specified feed amount. The feed amount for the feed dog may be adjusted by the feed adjustment motor  83 . Note that the feed dog is not operated in a case where an embroidery device  2  is mounted on the sewing machine  1  and used, as will be described later. 
         [0026]    A needle bar  29  and a presser bar  31  extend downward from the lower end of the head  14 . A sewing needle (not shown in the drawings) can be attached to the lower end of the needle bar  29 . A presser foot  30  can be attached to the lower end of the presser bar  31 . The presser foot  30  may press on a work cloth  100 . A needle bar mechanism (not shown in the drawings), a swinging mechanism (not shown in the drawings), and a swinging motor  80  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) are provided in the head  14 . The needle bar mechanism may move the needle bar  29  up and down. A sewing machine motor  79  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) may drive the needle bar mechanism. The swinging mechanism may swing the needle bar  29  to the left and to the right. The swinging motor  80  may drive the swinging mechanism. 
         [0027]    In the present disclosure, the sewing machine  1  is used in a state in which the embroidery device  2  has been mounted on the sewing machine  1 . The embroidery device  2  can be mounted on and removed from the bed  11  of the sewing machine  1 . The embroidery device  2  includes a body  51  and a carriage  52 . When the embroidery device  2  is mounted on the sewing machine  1 , the embroidery device  2  and the sewing machine  1  are electrically connected. 
         [0028]    The carriage  52  is provided on the top side of the body  51 . The carriage  52  has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The carriage  52  includes a frame holder  55 , a Y axis moving mechanism (not shown in the drawings), and a Y axis motor  87  (refer to  FIG. 6 ). The frame holder  55  is a holder on which an embroidery frame  35  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) can be removably mounted. An embroidery frame of a size and shape that are different from those of the embroidery frame  35  can also be mounted on and removed from the frame holder  55 . As an example, an embroidery frame  36  (refer to  FIG. 13 ) with a different (smaller) size can be mounted on and removed from the frame holder  55  instead of the embroidery frame  35 . The frame holder  55  is provided on the right side face of the carriage  52 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the embroidery frame  35  has a known structure. The embroidery frame  35  is configured to hold the work cloth  100  by clamping the work cloth  100  between an inner frame and an outer frame, although this is not shown in detail in the drawings. The work cloth  100  that is held in the embroidery frame  35  may be positioned on the top side of the bed  11  and below the needle bar  29  and the presser foot  30 . The Y axis moving mechanism may move the frame holder  55  in the front-rear direction (the Y axis direction). The moving of the frame holder  55  in the front-rear direction causes the embroidery frame  35  to move the work cloth  100  in the front-rear direction. The Y axis motor  87  may drive the Y axis moving mechanism. A CPU  61  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) of the sewing machine  1  controls the Y axis motor  87 . 
         [0029]    An X axis moving mechanism (not shown in the drawings) and an X axis motor  86  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) that may move the carriage  52  in the left-right direction (the X axis direction) are provided in the interior of the body  51 . The moving of the carriage  52  in the left-right direction causes the embroidery frame  35  to move the work cloth  100  in the left-right direction. The X axis motor  86  may drive the X axis moving mechanism. The CPU  61  of the sewing machine  1  controls the X axis motor  86 . 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , receivers  94 ,  95  are provided on the rear portion of the lower end of the head  14 . The receiver  94  and the receiver  95  have the identical structures. The receiver  94  is provided on the rear part of the bottom face of the head  14  at the lower left edge of the head  14 . The receiver  95  is provided on the rear part of the bottom face of the head  14  at the lower right edge of the head  14 . The receivers  94 ,  95  are separated from one another by the length of the head  14  in the left-right direction. The receivers  94 ,  95  are configured to detect ultrasonic waves. The receivers  94 ,  95  will be described in detail later. 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a cover  16  that can be opened and closed is provided in the upper portion of the arm  13 . A spool  20  may be accommodated under the cover  16 , that is, approximately in the central portion inside the arm  13 . An upper thread (not shown in the drawings) that is wound around the spool  20  may be supplied from the spool  20  to the sewing needle that is attached to the needle bar  29 , by way of a thread guard portion (not shown in the drawings) that is provided in the head  14 . The operation switches  21 , which include a start-and-stop switch, are provided in the lower portion of the front face of the arm  13 . 
         [0032]    A liquid crystal display (hereinafter called the LCD)  15  is provided on the front face of the pillar  12 . A screen that includes various types of items, such as commands, illustrations, setting values, messages, and the like, may be displayed on the LCD  15 . A touch panel  26  is provided on the front face of the LCD  15 . By using a finger or a special touch pen to touch a location on the touch panel  26  that corresponds to an item that is displayed on the LCD  15 , an operator can select a pattern to be sewn or a command to be executed. Hereinafter, an operation that the operator performs by using the touch panel  26  is referred to as a panel operation. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , connectors  39 ,  40  are provided on the right side face of the pillar  12 . An external storage device (not shown in the drawings) such as a memory card or the like can be connected to the connector  39 . The sewing machine  1  may acquire embroidery pattern data and various types of programs from the external storage device that is connected to the connector  39 . A connector  916  is configured to be connected to the connector  40 . The connector  916  is configured to be connected to a cable  912  that extends from an ultrasound pen  91  (described later). The sewing machine  1  may supply electric power to the ultrasound pen  91  through the connector  40 , the connector  916 , and the cable  912 , and the sewing machine  1  may also acquire electrical signals that are output from the ultrasound pen  91 . 
         [0034]    The ultrasound pen  91  will be explained. The ultrasound pen  91  includes a pen body  910  and a pen tip  911 . The shape of the pen body  910  is a bar shape. The pen tip  911  is provided on one end of the pen body  910 . The tip of the pen tip  911  is pointed. The pen tip  911  is able to move between a projecting position and a retracted position. The projecting position is a position in which the pen tip  911  projects slightly to the outside of the pen body  910 . In a state in which an external force is not acting on the pen tip  911 , the pen tip  911  is positioned in the projecting position. When a force acts on the  911  that is in the projecting position in the direction toward the pen body  910 , the pen tip  911  moves into the pen body  910 , and the pen tip  911  shifts to the retracted position. When the force that is acting on the pen tip  911  ceases, the pen tip  911  returns to the projecting position. 
         [0035]    A switch  913  (refer to  FIG. 6 ), a signal output circuit  914  (refer to  FIG. 6 ), and an ultrasound transmitter  915  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) are provided inside the pen body  910 . The switch  913  may switch between an ON state and an OFF state in accordance with the position of the pen tip  911 . The switch  913  may switch the output states of the signal output circuit  914  and the ultrasound transmitter  915 . 
         [0036]    When the pen tip  911  is positioned in the projecting position, the switch  913  is in the OFF state. In a case where the switch  913  is in the OFF state, the signal output circuit  914  does not output an electrical signal, and the ultrasound transmitter  915  does not transmit ultrasonic waves. On the other hand, the pen tip  911  is shifted to the retracted position by the operator&#39;s pressing of the pen tip  911  against a desired position on the work cloth  100 , for example. The switch  913  is switched to the ON state by the positioning of the pen tip  911  in the retracted position. When the switch  913  is in the ON state, the signal output circuit  914  outputs an electrical signal to the sewing machine  1  through the cable  912 , and the ultrasound transmitter  915  transmits ultrasonic waves. 
         [0037]    Note that the sewing machine  1  may use the receivers  94 ,  95  to detect (receive) the ultrasonic waves that are transmitted from the ultrasound pen  91 , although this will be described in detail later. Based on the detected ultrasonic waves, the sewing machine  1  may specify the position of the transmission source of the ultrasonic waves, that is, the ultrasound transmitter  915  that is provided in the ultrasound pen  91 . The sewing machine  1  may perform sewing based on the specified position. 
         [0038]    The receiver  94  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 . The receiver  95  has an identical structure to that of the receiver  94 . Therefore, an explanation of the receiver  95  will be omitted. The lower left side, the upper right side, the upper left side, the lower right side, the top side, and the bottom side in  FIG. 3  respectively define the front side, the rear side, the left side, the right side, the top side, and the bottom side of the receiver  94 . 
         [0039]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the shape of the receiver  94  is a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is slightly longer in the up-down direction. The receiver  94  is provided with an opening  941  in the center of the lower portion of front face of the receiver  94 . The shape of the opening  941  is an ellipse whose long axis extends in the left-right direction. A surrounding portion  942  that is a portion that surrounds the opening  941  is a tapered surface (an inclined surface) that becomes larger toward the front side. As shown in  FIG. 5 , a panel  943  and a microphone  944  are provided in the interior of the receiver  94 . The microphone  944  is positioned on the inner side of the opening  941 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a connector  945  is mounted on the rear face of the upper end of the panel  943 . The connector  945  is configured to be connected to a connector (not shown in the drawings) that is provided in the sewing machine  1 . 
         [0040]    The electrical configuration of the sewing machine  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 6 . A control portion  60  of the sewing machine  1  includes the CPU  61 , a ROM  62 , a RAM  63 , an EEPROM  64 , and an input/output interface  65 . The CPU  61 , the ROM  62 , the RAM  63 , the EEPROM  64 , and the input/output interface  65  are connected to one another through a bus  67 . Programs that the CPU  61  may use to perform processing, data for a plurality of types sewing patterns that the sewing machine  1  may use to perform sewing, as well as data and the like, are stored in the ROM  62 . Data that indicate settings of the sewing machine  1  and the like are stored in the EEPROM  64 . 
         [0041]    The operation switches  21 , the touch panel  26 , and drive circuits  71 ,  72 ,  74 ,  75 ,  76 ,  84 ,  85  are electrically connected to the input/output interface  65 . The drive circuits  71 ,  72 ,  74 ,  75 ,  76 ,  84 ,  85  may respectively drive the feed adjustment motor  83 , the sewing machine motor  79 , the swinging motor  80 , the LCD  15 , the receivers  94 ,  95 , the X axis motor  86 , and the Y axis motor  87 . An amplifier circuit that is included in the drive circuit  76  may amplify and transmit to the CPU  61  the ultrasonic wave signals that are detected by the receivers  94 ,  95 . 
         [0042]    The electrical configuration of the ultrasound pen  91  will be explained. The ultrasound pen  91  includes the switch  913 , the signal output circuit  914 , and the ultrasound transmitter  915 . The switch  913  is configured to be connected to the signal output circuit  914  and the ultrasound transmitter  915 . The signal output circuit  914  is configured to be connected to the input/output interface  65 . The signal output circuit  914  may output electrical signals to the CPU  61  through the input/output interface  65 . 
         [0043]    A method for specifying a position on the work cloth  100  that is designated by the ultrasound pen  91  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 7 . By pressing the pen tip  911  of the ultrasound pen  91  against the work cloth  100 , the operator can designate a specific position on the work cloth  100 . Hereinafter, the position on the work cloth  100  against which the pen tip  911  of the ultrasound pen  91  has been pressed is referred to as a designated position. Note that, as will be described later, the sewing machine  1  can specify the designated position by specifying the position of the transmission source of the ultrasonic waves. Therefore, in a precise sense, the position that is specified as the designated position is not the position on the work cloth  100  against which the pen tip  911  is pressed, but is the position of the ultrasound transmitter  915  that is provided in the ultrasound pen  91 . However, the pen tip  911  and the ultrasound transmitter  915  are located extremely close to one another. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the position of the ultrasound transmitter  915  is regarded as the position on the work cloth  100  against which the pen tip  911  is pressed, that is, as the designated position. Hereinafter, the left-right direction, the front-rear direction, and the up-down direction in the sewing machine  1  are respectively defined as the X axis direction, the Y axis direction, and the Z axis direction. The left-right direction and the up-down direction in  FIG. 7  are respectively equivalent to the X axis direction and the Y axis direction. 
         [0044]    The sewing machine  1  may specify the designated position in the form of coordinate information (an X coordinate, a Y coordinate, and a Z coordinate). In the present embodiment, an example is used in which the origin point (0, 0, 0) of the coordinate system is the center point of a hole (a needle hole) through which the sewing needle may pass. The needle hole is formed in the needle plate  34  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). The plane on which the Z coordinate is zero is equivalent to the top face of the needle plate  34 . Coordinates B that indicate the position of the receiver  94  are defined as (Xb, Yb, Zb). Coordinates C that indicate the position of the receiver  95  are defined as (Xc, Yc, Zc). Coordinates E that indicate the designated position are defined as (Xe, Ye, Ze). The respective Z coordinates of the receivers  94 ,  95  indicate the heights of the receivers  94 ,  95  in relation to the top face of the needle plate  34 . The coordinates B (Xb, Yb, Zb) and the coordinates C (Xc, Ye, Zc) are stored in the ROM  62  in advance. Hereinafter, the coordinates E are referred to as the designated coordinates E. The distance between the designated coordinates E and the coordinates B is referred to as the distance EB. The distance between the designated coordinates E and the coordinates C is referred to as the distance EC. 
         [0045]    Based on the Pythagorean theorem, the distances EB, EC can be described by the coordinates B, C, E. The relationship between the distance EB and the coordinates B, C, E is described by Equation (1) below. In the same manner, the relationship between the distance EC and the coordinates B, C, E is described by Equation (2) below. 
         [0000]      ( Xb−Xe ) 2 +( Yb−Ye ) 2 +( Zb−Ze ) 2 =( EB ) 2   (1):
 
         [0000]      ( Xc−Xe ) 2 +( Yc−Ye ) 2 +( Zc−Ze ) 2 =( EC ) 2   (2):
 
         [0046]    Note that Equation (1) is identical to an equation for a spherical surface (with a radius of the distance EB) for which the coordinates B define the origin point and that intersects the designated coordinates E. In the same manner, Equation (2) is identical to an equation for a spherical surface (with a radius of the distance EC) for which the coordinates C define the origin point and that intersects the designated coordinates E. 
         [0047]    The velocity at which ultrasonic waves travel is referred to as the velocity of sound V. The time that is required for the ultrasonic waves that are transmitted from the ultrasound pen  91  that is at the designated coordinates E to arrive at the receiver  94  is referred to as a transmission time Tb. The time that is required for the ultrasonic waves that are transmitted from the ultrasound pen  91  that is at the designated coordinates E to arrive at the receiver  95  is referred to as a transmission time Tc. In this case, the distances EB, EC can respectively be described by Equations (3) and (4) below. 
         [0000]        EB=V×Tb   (3):
 
         [0000]        EC=V×Tc   (4):
 
         [0048]    Substituting Equations (3) and (4) into Equations (1) and (2) yields Equations (5) and (6) below. 
         [0000]      ( Xb−Xe ) 2 +( Yb−Ye ) 2 +( Zb−Ze ) 2 =( V×Tb ) 2   (5):
 
         [0000]      ( Xc−Xe ) 2 +( Ye−Ye ) 2 +( Zc−Ze ) 2 =( V×Tc ) 2   (6):
 
         [0049]    In Equations (5) and (6), the coordinates B (Xb, Yb, Zb), the coordinates C (Xc, Ye, Zc) and the velocity of sound V are known values, and each of those values has been stored in the ROM  62 . The transmission times Tb, Tc may be specified by computing the difference between the time that the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasound transmitter  915  of the ultrasound pen  91  and the time that the ultrasonic waves are detected by the receivers  94 ,  95 . Hereinafter, the time when the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasound transmitter  915  of the ultrasound pen  91  is referred to as the transmission time T 1 . The pair of times when the ultrasonic waves are detected by the receivers  94 ,  95 , respectively, are referred to as the detection times T 2 . Among the designated coordinates E (Xe, Ye, Ze), Ze is a value that is determined by the thickness of the work cloth  100 . Therefore, the range of values that Ze can have is smaller than the ranges of values that Xe and Ye can respectively have. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the value of Ze is regarded as being zero. Accordingly, the respective values for Xe and Ye are computed by solving the simultaneous Equations (5) and (6). In this manner, the designated coordinates E (Xe, Ye, Ze (=0)) that the operator has used the ultrasound pen  91  to designate on the work cloth  100  may be computed. 
         [0050]    In the present embodiment, the designated position that the sewing machine  1  is capable of specifying accurately by the method that is described above lies within a specification-enabled area  101  of the work cloth  100  that is held by the embroidery frame  35 . The reason for this will be explained. The received strength of the ultrasonic waves attenuate with increasing the distance between the position of the ultrasound pen  91  (the ultrasound transmitter  915 ) and the receivers  94 ,  95 . Therefore, depending on the distance between the position of the ultrasound pen  91  and the receivers  94 ,  95 , cases may occur in which the receivers  94 ,  95  are unable to receive the ultrasonic waves with sufficient accuracy. Furthermore, the receiving sensitivity of the receivers  94 ,  95  has directionality in a specific direction. Therefore, cases may occur in which the receivers  94 ,  95  are unable to receive the ultrasonic waves with sufficient accuracy, depending on the position of the ultrasound pen  91  (the ultrasound transmitter  915 ). In a case where the receivers  94 ,  95  are unable to receive the ultrasonic waves with sufficient accuracy, the sewing machine  1  is not able to specify the designated position accurately. 
         [0051]    The specification-enabled area  101  is shown in  FIGS. 8 to 14 . The specification-enabled area  101  is an area that is defined as an area within which the sewing machine  1  is able to specify the designated position accurately. In the present embodiment, the specification-enabled area  101  is defined as a square area. Coordinate information that indicates the positions of the four vertices of the specification-enabled area  101  is stored in the ROM  62 . In  FIGS. 8 to 14 , in order to facilitate the explanation, the sewing machine  1  is not shown, and the embroidery device  2  and the embroidery frame  35  that are mounted in the sewing machine  1  are shown. In a case where a position within the specification-enabled area  101  is designated by the ultrasound pen  91 , the receivers  94 ,  95  are able to receive the ultrasonic waves with sufficient accuracy. In this case, the sewing machine  1  is able to specify the designated position accurately. On the other hand, in a case where a position outside the specification-enabled area  101  is designated by the ultrasound pen  91 , the receivers  94 ,  95  are not able to receive the ultrasonic waves with sufficient accuracy. In this case, the sewing machine  1  cannot specify the designated position accurately. 
         [0052]    A needle drop point  102  is a position within the specification-enabled area  101 . The needle drop point  102  is positioned near the rear edge of the specification-enabled area  101  and approximately in the center in the left-right direction. That is, the portion of the specification-enabled area  101  that is to the front of the needle drop point  102  is larger than the portion that is to the rear of the needle drop point  102 . That is, a front area that is on front side of a boundary line (not shown in the drawings) is larger than a rear area that is on rear side of the boundary line. The boundary line is a line that passes through the needle drop  102  point and extends in the left-right direction. Hereinafter, in order to facilitate the explanation, the specification-enabled area  101  is also referred to as a front side area that includes the needle drop point  102 . The needle drop point  102  is the point where the sewing needle may pierce the work cloth  100 , that is, the center point of the needle hole that is formed in the needle plate  34 , and the needle drop point  102  is coincident with the center of the needle bar  29 . The length of the specification-enabled area  101  in the front-rear direction is slightly shorter than one-half of the length of the embroidery frame  35  in the front-rear direction. The length of the specification-enabled area  101  in the left-right direction is slightly shorter than the length of the embroidery frame  35  in the left-right direction. 
         [0053]    The reason why the specification-enabled area  101  is the front side area that includes the needle drop point  102  will be explained. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the operation switches  21 , the LCD  15 , and the like are provided on the front face of the sewing machine  1 . Therefore, the operator may operate the sewing machine  1  from the front side of the sewing machine  1 . The operator may bring the ultrasound pen  91  close to the work cloth  100  from the front side of the sewing machine  1  and presses the pen tip  911  against the work cloth  100 . In a case where the specification-enabled area  101  is positioned to the rear of the needle drop point  102 , the operator use the ultrasound pen  91  to designate a position within the specification-enabled area  101  while avoiding the needle bar  29  and the presser bar  31 . In addition, the head  14  and the arm  13  interfere with the operator&#39;s view of the specification-enabled area  101 . In other words, in a case where the specification-enabled area  101  is positioned to the rear of the needle drop point  102 , it is extremely difficult for the operator to designate a position within the specification-enabled area  101 . On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the specification-enabled area  101  is the front side area that includes the needle drop point  102 . Therefore, in the present embodiment, a position on the work cloth  100  that can be designated by the ultrasound pen  91  is a position that is located to the front of the needle drop point  102 . Thus, comparing to the case in which the specification-enabled area  101  is positioned to the rear of the needle drop point  102 , the operator can easily designate a position within the specification-enabled area  101 . 
         [0054]    A square area that is bounded by a dashed-dotted line that is shown on the work cloth  100  that is held by the embroidery frame  35  indicates a sewing-enabled area  110  (refer to  FIG. 8 ). The sewing-enabled area  110  is an area in which the sewing machine  1  is able to perform the sewing of an embroidery pattern on the work cloth  100  that is held by the embroidery frame  35 . The sewing-enabled area  110  is defined such that size of the sewing-enabled area  110  is slightly smaller than that of the embroidery frame  35 . Coordinate information that describes the sewing-enabled area  110  is stored in the ROM  62  in association with information that indicates the type of the embroidery frame  35 , for example. The CPU  61  specifies the type of the embroidery frame  35  that is mounted in the sewing machine  1 , for example, and then specifies the coordinate information that describes the sewing-enabled area  110  and is stored in association with the information that indicates the specified type of the embroidery frame  35 . A method for specifying the type of the embroidery frame  35  that is mounted in the sewing machine  1  will be described later. The coordinate information that indicates the position of the sewing-enabled area  110  may be, for example, coordinate information that indicates the positions of the four vertices of the sewing-enabled area  110  when the embroidery frame  35  is positioned in an initial position. The initial position will be described later. A length that is one-half of the length of the sewing-enabled area  110  in the front-rear direction is shorter than the length of the specification-enabled area  101  in the front-rear direction. The length of the sewing-enabled area  110  in the left-right direction is slightly longer than the length of the specification-enabled area  101  in the left-right direction. 
         [0055]    The sewing-enabled area  110  is divided into four sub-areas by line segments  117 ,  118 . The line segments  117 ,  118  are line segments that each connect the midpoints of opposite sides of the sewing-enabled area  110 . Among the four sub-areas, the right rear sub-area, the right front sub-area, the left rear sub-area, and the left front sub-area are respectively defined as sub-areas  111 ,  112 ,  113 ,  114 . In  FIG. 8 , the needle drop point  102  is located at the point of intersection of the line segments  117 ,  118 , that is, at the center of the embroidery frame  35 . Hereinafter, the position of the embroidery frame  35  in a state in which the needle drop point  102  is located at the center of the embroidery frame  35  is defined as the initial position. Portions of the sub-areas  112 ,  114  overlap a portion of the specification-enabled area  101 . The right edge of the sub-area  112  is positioned to the right of the right edge of the specification-enabled area  101 . Similarly, the left edge of the sub-area  114  is positioned to the left of the left edge of the specification-enabled area  101 . 
         [0056]    In the state that is shown in  FIG. 8 , in a case where the operator uses the ultrasound pen  91  to designate a position within the sub-area  111 , for example, the sub-area  111  is located outside the specification-enabled area  101 . Therefore, the receivers  94 ,  95  are not able to accurately receive the ultrasonic waves that are transmitted from the designated position within the sub-area  111 . In this case, the operator may use a panel operation to designate the sub-area  111 , which includes the position that the operator designates by using the ultrasound pen  91 . The sewing machine  1  may control the embroidery device  2  to move the embroidery frame  35  such that the designated sub-area  111  is accommodated within the specification-enabled area  101 . Accordingly, the receivers  94 ,  95  can receive with sufficient accuracy the ultrasonic waves that the ultrasound pen  91  transmits from its position within the sub-area  111 . Accordingly, the sewing machine  1  can accurately specify the designated position. This will be explained in detail. 
         [0057]    In a case where, for example, the operator has designated the sub-area  111  as the area that includes the position that is designated by the ultrasound pen  91 , the sewing machine  1 , by operating the X axis motor  86 , controls the X axis moving mechanism such that the embroidery frame  35  is moved to the left from the initial position. By also operating the Y axis motor  87 , the sewing machine  1  controls the Y axis moving mechanism such that the embroidery frame  35  is moved toward the front from the initial position. The embroidery frame  35  is thus moved obliquely to the left and toward the front from the initial position (refer to  FIG. 8 ), and the sub-area  111  is accommodated within the specification-enabled area  101  (refer to  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0058]    Furthermore, in a case where the operator uses a panel operation to designate one of the sub-areas  112 ,  113 ,  114  as the area that includes the position that is designated by the ultrasound pen  91 , the embroidery frame  35  is moved in the same manner, and the designated one of the sub-areas  112 ,  113 ,  114  is accommodated within the specification-enabled area  101  (refer to  FIGS. 10 to 12 ). 
         [0059]    The sub-area that includes the position that the operator wants the position to be the designated position is positioned within the specification-enabled area  101  by the moving of the embroidery frame  35  as described above. The operator uses the pen tip  911  of the ultrasound pen  91  to designate the position on the work cloth  100  that the operator wants the position to be the designated position. The pen tip  911  of the ultrasound pen  91  is pressed against the work cloth  100 , and the ultrasound transmitter  915  transmits the ultrasonic waves. At this time, the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from within the specification-enabled area  101 . Therefore, the receivers  94 ,  95  are able to receive the ultrasonic waves with sufficient accuracy. Accordingly, the sewing machine  1  specifies the designated position accurately and performs the sewing based on the specified designated position. 
         [0060]    As described above, by using the ultrasound pen  91 , the operator can easily and accurately perform the designating of the desired position on the work cloth  100 . By controlling the embroidery device  2  in accordance with a command issued by a panel operation, the sewing machine  1  may move the embroidery frame  35  such that the receivers  94 ,  95  are able to receive the ultrasonic waves with sufficient accuracy. Thus, the sewing machine  1  is able to specify the designated position accurately and perform the sewing in any case where a position within the sewing-enabled area  110  on the work cloth  100  is designated by the ultrasound pen  91 . 
         [0061]    Next, a case will be explained, with reference to  FIGS. 13 and 14 , in which an embroidery frame  36  that is smaller than the embroidery frame  35  is mounted on the embroidery device  2  and used. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the lengths of the embroidery frame  36  in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are respectively about two-thirds of the lengths of the embroidery frame  35  (refer to  FIG. 8  and the like) in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The length of the specification-enabled area  101  in the front-rear direction is longer than one-half of the length of the embroidery frame  36  in the front-rear direction. The length of the specification-enabled area  101  in the left-right direction is longer than the length of the embroidery frame  36  in the left-right direction. 
         [0062]    A rectangular sewing-enabled area  120  of the work cloth  100  that is held by the embroidery frame  36  is shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . The length of the sewing-enabled area  120  in the front-rear direction is slightly shorter than the length of the specification-enabled area  101  in the front-rear direction. The length of the sewing-enabled area  120  in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the specification-enabled area  101  in the left-right direction. That is, the specification-enabled area  101  is a larger area than the sewing-enabled area  120 . Therefore, unlike the case where the embroidery frame  35  is mounted on the embroidery device  2 , the sewing machine  1  controls the embroidery device  2  to move the embroidery frame  36  such that the entire sewing-enabled area  120  is accommodated within the specification-enabled area  101 , as shown in  FIG. 14 . The accommodating of the entire sewing-enabled area  120  within the specification-enabled area  101  makes it possible for the receivers  94 ,  95  to receive with sufficient accuracy the ultrasonic waves that are transmitted from the ultrasound pen  91 , regardless of the position within the sewing-enabled area  120  that is designated as the designated position. Therefore, the sewing machine  1  is able to specify the designated position accurately. 
         [0063]    In a case where the embroidery frame  36  is used, in which the size of the sewing-enabled area  120  is smaller than that of the specification-enabled area  101 , as described above, it is not necessary to establish sub-areas. In other words, it is acceptable for the establishing of the sub-areas to be determined in accordance with the size of the embroidery frame. Furthermore, as will be described in detail later, the sewing machine  1  may be provided with a determination portion that determines the size (the type) of the embroidery frame that is mounted on the embroidery device  2 . The sewing machine  1  may also be configured to perform processing that determines whether the embroidery frame requires the establishing of the sub-areas and then control the embroidery device  2  based on that determination. 
         [0064]    Main processing will be explained with reference to  FIG. 15 . The CPU  61  performs the main processing in accordance with a program that is stored in the ROM  62 . The CPU  61  starts the main processing when, for example, a panel operation for performing sewing on the work cloth  100  is detected. 
         [0065]    The CPU  61  determines whether a panel operation has been detected that shifts the sewing machine  1  into an ultrasound mode (Step S 11 ). The ultrasound mode is an operating mode in which the sewing machine  1  is able to detect the ultrasonic waves that are transmitted from the ultrasound pen  91 . In a case where the panel operation that shifts to the ultrasound mode has not been detected (NO at Step S 11 ), the CPU  61  returns the processing to Step S 11 . 
         [0066]    In a case where the panel operation that shifts to the ultrasound mode has been detected (YES at Step S 11 ), the CPU  61  determines the type of the embroidery frame that is mounted in the frame holder  55  of the embroidery device  2 . Specifically, a plurality of projecting portions (not shown in the drawings), for example, may be formed such that the plurality of projecting portions are lined up on an attachment portion (not shown in the drawings) by which the embroidery frame is attached to the frame holder  55 . On the frame holder  55  side, a plurality of switches (not shown in the drawings) are provided such that the plurality of switches are lined up in positions that correspond to the individual ones of the plurality of the projecting portions. In a state in which the embroidery frame is attached to the frame holder  55 , the plurality of the projecting portions that are formed on the attachment portion can come into contact with the corresponding ones of the plurality of the switches that are provided on the frame holder  55 . The number and the arrangement of the plurality of the projecting portions are different for each type of embroidery frame. Therefore, in a case where the embroidery frame is mounted in the frame holder  55 , the number and the arrangement of the switches, among the plurality of the switches, with which the projecting portions come into contact are different for each type of embroidery frame. When the embroidery frame is mounted in the frame holder  55 , the CPU  61  determines the type of the embroidery frame by detecting contact states of the individual ones of the plurality of the switches. The contact state is a state in which the projecting portion is in contact with the switch. Note that the method that is described above is only an example, and the CPU  61  may also determine the type of the embroidery frame by other methods that use various types of sensors. 
         [0067]    The CPU  61  determines whether the embroidery frame that is mounted in the frame holder  55  of the embroidery device  2  is a large embroidery frame (Step S 13 ). In a case where, based on the type of the embroidery frame that CPU  61  has determined, for example, the entire sewing-enabled area of the mounted embroidery frame is accommodated within the specification-enabled area  101 , the CPU  61  determines that the mounted embroidery frame is a small embroidery frame. In contrast, in a case where the entire sewing-enabled area of the mounted embroidery frame is not accommodated within the specification-enabled area  101 , the CPU  61  determines that the mounted embroidery frame is the large embroidery frame. In a case where the embroidery frame that is mounted in the frame holder  55  of the embroidery device  2  is the large embroidery frame  35  (YES at Step S 13 ), the CPU  61  displays a selection screen on the LCD  15  (Step S 15 ). The selection screen is a screen on which the operator is able to select one of the sub-areas  111  to  114  (refer to  FIG. 8  and the like). The CPU  61  determines whether a panel operation has been detected that selects one of the sub-areas  111  to  114  (Step S 17 ). In a ease where the panel operation has not been detected (NO at Step S 17 ), the CPU  61  returns the processing to Step S 17 . In a case where the panel operation that selects one of the sub-areas  111  to  114  has been detected (YES at Step S 17 ), the CPU  61  specifies a post-move position for the embroidery frame  35  (Step S 18 ). In the present embodiment, the position of the embroidery frame  35  that has been moved is also referred to as a prescribed position. A method for specifying the prescribed position in a case where the panel operation that selects one of the sub-areas  111  to  114  has been detected will be explained. 
         [0068]      FIG. 16  shows a table  641  that is stored in the EEPROM  64 . Identification information items are stored in the table  641  in association with coordinate information items (X coordinates and Y coordinates) for each of the identification information items. The identification information item is information item that identifies one of the sub-areas  111  to  114 . The coordinate information item is information item that indicates the position of the embroidery frame  35  in a case where one of the sub-areas  111  to  114  is selected. For example, the coordinate information item may be coordinate information that indicates the position of the center point of the embroidery frame when the embroidery frame is positioned at the prescribed position. The center point of the embroidery frame is the point of intersection of the line segments  117 ,  118 . In the present embodiment, in the sewing machine  1 , the direction from left to right and the direction from the front to the rear are the positive directions on the X axis and the Y axis, respectively. The CPU  61  selects the coordinate information item that is associated with the identification information item that identifies the sub-area that was selected by the panel operation that was detected at Step S 17  (refer to  FIG. 15 ). The CPU  61  specifies, as the prescribed position, the position that is specified by the selected coordinate information item. 
         [0069]    For example, the prescribed position that is specified by the coordinate information (Px, Py) that corresponds to the sub-area  111  is equivalent to the position of the embroidery frame  35  that is shown in  FIG. 9 . In the same manner, the prescribed position that is specified by the coordinate information (Qx, Qy) that corresponds to the sub-area  112  is equivalent to the position of the embroidery frame  35  that is shown in  FIG. 10 . The prescribed position that is specified by the coordinate information (Rx, Ry) that corresponds to the sub-area  113  is equivalent to the position of the embroidery frame  35  that is shown in  FIG. 11 . The prescribed position that is specified by the coordinate information (Sx, Sy) that corresponds to the sub-area  114  is equivalent to the position of the embroidery frame  35  that is shown in  FIG. 12 . The coordinate information for specifying the prescribed position can thus be stored by the sewing machine  1  in advance in the EEPROM  64  for each of the sub-areas  111  to  114 . Therefore, the CPU  61  is able to specify the post-move position of the embroidery frame  35  and move the embroidery frame  35  to the prescribed position. 
         [0070]    After the prescribed position has been specified, the CPU  61  displays a warning message on the LCD  15  (Step S 19 ). The warning message may be, for example, a message says, “The embroidery frame will move.” The warning message may be displayed for five seconds, for example. By displaying the message, the sewing machine  1  can prompt the operator to pay attention to the fact that the embroidery frame  35  will move. The CPU  61  then operates the X axis motor  86  and the Y axis motor  87  such that the embroidery frame  35  is moved to the specified prescribed position. In this manner, the CPU  61  causes embroidery device  2  to move the embroidery frame  35  to the prescribed position (Step S 20 ). The CPU  61  advances the processing to Step S 21 . 
         [0071]    At Step S 13 , in a case where the embroidery frame that is mounted in the frame holder  55  of the embroidery device  2  is the small embroidery frame  36  (NO at Step S 13 ), the CPU  61  specifies, as the prescribed position, the position of the embroidery frame  36  where the entire sewing-enabled area  120  (refer to  FIG. 13 ) is accommodated within the specification-enabled area  101  (Step S 14 ). Note that, in a case where the embroidery frame that is mounted in the frame holder  55  of the embroidery device  2  is the small embroidery frame  36 , the coordinate information that indicates the prescribed position is stored in the EEPROM  64  in advance. The CPU  61  specifies the prescribed position by reading the coordinate information from the EEPROM  64 . The CPU  61  displays the warning message on the LCD  15  (Step S 19 ). The CPU  61  operates the X axis motor  86  and the Y axis motor  87  such that the embroidery frame  36  is moved to the specified prescribed position. In this manner, the CPU  61  causes embroidery device  2  to move the embroidery frame  36  to the prescribed position (Step S 20 ). The CPU  61  advances the processing to Step S 21 . 
         [0072]    The CPU  61  determines whether the ultrasonic waves have been detected through the receivers  94 ,  95  (Step S 21 ). In a case where the ultrasonic waves have not been detected through the receivers  94 ,  95  (NO at Step S 21 ), the CPU  61  returns the processing to Step S 21 . 
         [0073]    In a case where the operator has pressed the pen tip  911  of the ultrasound pen  91  against the work cloth  100 , the signal output circuit  914  of the ultrasound pen  91  outputs an electrical signal through the cable  912 . At the same time, the ultrasound transmitter  915  of the ultrasound pen  91  transmits the ultrasonic waves. The CPU  61  detects the electrical signal that has been output from the ultrasound pen  91  through the cable  912 . The CPU  61  specifies the time that the electrical signal was detected as the transmission time T 1 . After specifying the transmission time T 1 , the CPU  61  detects the ultrasonic waves through the receivers  94 ,  95 . The CPU  61  specifies the time that the ultrasonic waves were detected as the detection times T 2 . 
         [0074]    In a case where the ultrasonic waves have been detected through the receivers  94 ,  95  (YES at Step S 21 ), the CPU  61  specifies the designated position by computing the designated coordinates E based on the transmission time T 1  and the pair of the detection times T 2  (Step S 23 ). The CPU  61  determines whether, among the operation switches  21 , the operation of the start-and-stop switch for starting the sewing has been detected (Step S 25 ). In a case where the operation of the start-and-stop switch has not been detected (NO at Step S 25 ), the CPU  61  returns the processing to Step S 25 . In a case where the operation of the start-and-stop switch has been detected (YES at Step S 25 ), the CPU  61  performs control for starting the sewing from the designated position. The control for starting the sewing from the designated position may be as hereinafter described, for example. By operating the X axis motor  86  and the Y axis motor  87 , the CPU  61  operates the X axis moving mechanism and the Y axis moving mechanism such that the position that is indicated by the X coordinate (Xe) and the Y coordinate (Ye) of the computed designated coordinates E becomes coincident with the needle drop point  102  (refer to  FIG. 8  and the like). The embroidery frame that is held by the carriage  52  is moved. The work cloth  100  that is held in the embroidery frame is moved such that the designated position is disposed directly below the sewing needle (directly above the needle drop point  102 ). The CPU  61  causes the needle bar  29  to move up and down by operating the sewing machine motor  79 . The CPU  61  moves the embroidery frame by controlling the embroidery device  2 . In this manner, the CPU  61  causes the sewing machine  1  to start the sewing of the embroidery pattern in the designated position on the work cloth  100  that is held in the embroidery frame (Step S 27 ). The CPU  61  terminates the main processing. 
         [0075]    As explained above, by moving the embroidery frame to the prescribed position, the sewing machine  1  is able to specify the position on the work cloth  100  that was designated using the ultrasound pen  91 . That is, the sewing machine can specify the designated position. 
         [0076]    Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment that is described above, and various types of modifications can be made. In the explanation above, the sewing machine  1  is used in a state in which the embroidery device  2 , which can be mounted and removed, has been mounted. However, the sewing machine  1  may also be an embroidery sewing machine that is provided with an integral embroidery device  2  function. The sewing machine  1  may also be an embroidery sewing machine that is provided with a plurality of needle bars. 
         [0077]    In the embodiment that is described above, the sewing machine  1  specifies the designated position based on the transmission time T 1  and the pair of the detection times T 2  for the ultrasonic waves. The method for specifying the designated position may also be a different method. For example, the sewing machine  1  may specify the designated position based only on the transmission time T 1  for the ultrasonic waves. Note that the sewing machine  1  may also be provided with more than two of the receivers, although a detailed explanation of this will be omitted. The sewing machine  1  can then specify the designated position by specifying the pair of the detection times T 2  when the ultrasonic waves are detected for each of the receivers. 
         [0078]    In the explanation above, in a case where the embroidery frame  35  is mounted on the embroidery device  2 , the sewing machine  1  determines the prescribed position that corresponds to the one of the sub-areas  111  to  114  that the operator has established by the panel operation, and then the sewing machine  1  moves the embroidery frame  35  accordingly. However, it is also acceptable for the sewing machine  1  not to establish the sub-areas in advance, for example. The operator may also use a panel operation to select the position within the sewing-enabled area  110  that the operator wants to designate by using the ultrasound pen  91 . The sewing machine  1  may also move the embroidery frame  35  such that the selected position and an area that includes the area around the selected position are accommodated within the specification-enabled area  101 . For example, the sewing machine  1  may move the embroidery frame  35  such that the selected position is positioned in the center of the specification-enabled area  101 . For example, the sewing machine  1  specifies coordinate information that indicates a position of the center of the specification-enabled area  101  based on the coordinate information that indicates the positions of the four vertices of the specification-enabled area  101 . The sewing machine  1  may specify the prescribed position based on coordinate information that indicates the selected position and the specified coordinate information that indicates the position of the center of the specification-enabled area  101 . That is, the sewing machine  1  may specify the prescribed position based on a positional relationship between the specification-enabled area  101  and the area that includes the area around the selected position. 
         [0079]    The positioning of the specification-enabled area  101  in relation to the needle drop point  102  is not limited to the example that is described above. For example, the specification-enabled area  101  may also be defined such that the needle drop point  102  is positioned in the center of the specification-enabled area  101 . The shape of the specification-enabled area  101  is not limited to being a square. The shape of the specification-enabled area  101  may also be one of a circle, an ellipse, and a polygon. In the explanation above, the sewing-enabled area  110  is divided into the four sub-areas  111  to  114 . However, the number of the sub-areas is not limited to four. The number of the sub-areas may also be one of two, three, and more than four. The shapes of the sub-areas are also not limited to being rectangles. The shapes of the sub-areas may be defined as any shapes that in accordance with the shape of the embroidery frame  35 . 
         [0080]    The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3