Patent Abstract:
A sewing machine includes a position acquisition device, a projection device, a processor, and a memory. The position acquisition device is configured to acquire information describing at least one designated position, each of the at least one designated position being a position on a sewing workpiece. The projection device is configured to project an image onto the sewing workpiece. The memory is configured to store non-transitory computer-readable instructions that instruct the processor to execute a step that includes specifying the at least one designated position on the sewing workpiece described by the information acquired by the position acquisition device. The memory is also configured to store non-transitory computer-readable instructions that instruct the processor to execute a step that includes causing the projection device to project a visually recognizable marker onto the sewing workpiece, based on the specified at least one designated position.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-144266 filed Jun. 27, 2012, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. 
     A sewing machine is known that is capable of easily setting a sewing position and a sewing angle, at which a desired embroidery pattern is to be sewn, on a work cloth. For example, after a user affixes a marker to a specified position on the work cloth, the sewing machine uses an image capture device to capture an image of the marker. The sewing machine may automatically set the sewing position and the sewing angle of the embroidery pattern based on the captured image of the marker. 
     SUMMARY 
     With the sewing machine that is described above, once the user has detached the marker from the work cloth, the user is not able to check how the sewing position and the sewing angle have been set on the work cloth. 
     Embodiments of the broad principles derived herein provide a sewing machine and a non-transitory computer-readable medium that enable the user to easily check a state of designation of a position on a sewing workpiece. 
     Embodiments provide a sewing machine that includes a position acquisition device, a projection device, a processor, and a memory. The position acquisition device is configured to acquire information describing at least one designated position, each of the at least one designated position being a position on a sewing workpiece. The projection device is configured to project an image onto the sewing workpiece. The memory is configured to store non-transitory computer-readable instructions that instruct the processor to execute a step that includes specifying the at least one designated position on the sewing workpiece described by the information acquired by the position acquisition device. The memory is also configured to store non-transitory computer-readable instructions that instruct the processor to execute a step that includes causing the projection device to project a visually recognizable marker onto the sewing workpiece, based on the specified at least one designated position. 
     embodiments also provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions includes computer-readable instructions, when executed, to cause the sewing machine to perform the step of specifying at least one designated position on a sewing workpiece described by information acquired by a position acquisition device of the sewing machine, the position acquisition device being configured to acquire the information describing the designated position, each of the at least one designated position being a position on a sewing workpiece. The computer-readable instructions also includes computer-readable instructions, when executed, to cause the sewing machine to perform the step of causing a projection device provided to the sewing machine to project a visually recognizable marker onto the sewing workpiece, based on the specified at least one designated position, the projection device being configured to project an image onto the sewing workpiece. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique view of a sewing machine; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the sewing machine; 
         FIG. 3  is an oblique view of a receiver; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the receiver; 
         FIG. 5  is a section view of the receiver in the direction of a line  5 - 5  that is shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic structural diagram of projector; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram that shows an electrical configuration of the sewing machine; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory figure of a method for computing designated coordinates E; 
         FIG. 9  is an explanatory figure of a screen; 
         FIG. 10  is an explanatory figure of initial sewing conditions and changed sewing conditions; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart of main processing; and 
         FIG. 12  is an explanatory figure of a marker that is projected onto a sewing workpiece. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, first and second embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained in order with reference to the drawings. 
     A physical configuration of a sewing machine  1  that is common to the first and the second embodiments will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . The front side, the rear side, the top side, the bottom side, the left side, and the right side in  FIG. 2  respectively define the front side, the rear side, the top side, the bottom side, the left side, and the right side of the sewing machine  1 . 
     The sewing machine  1  includes the bed  11 , the pillar  12 , and the arm  13 . The bed  11  is a base portion of the sewing machine  1  and extends in the left-right direction. The pillar  12  extends upward from the right end of the bed  11 . The arm  13  extends to the left from the upper end of the pillar  12  such that the arm  13  faces the bed  11 . The left end of the arm  13  is a head  14 . A needle plate  34  is disposed on a top surface of the bed  11 . A feed dog, a feed mechanism, a shuttle mechanism (which are not shown in the drawings) and a feed adjustment motor  83  (refer to  FIG. 7 ) are provided below the needle plate  34  (namely, inside the bed  11 ). The feed dog may be driven by the feed mechanism, and may feed a sewing workpiece (for example, a work cloth) by a specified feed distance. The feed adjustment motor  83  may adjust the feed distance of the feed dog. 
     A needle bar  29  and a presser bar  31  extend downward from the lower edge of the head  14 . A sewing needle  28  may be replaceably attached to the lower end of the needle bar  29 . A presser foot  30  may be replaceably attached to the lower end of the presser bar  31 . The presser foot  30  may press on a sewing workpiece  100 . A needle bar mechanism (not shown in the drawings), a swinging mechanism (not shown in the drawings), a swinging motor  80  (refer to  FIG. 7 ), and the like are provided in the head  14  as a sewing mechanism  89  (refer to  FIG. 7 ). The sewing mechanism  89  is configured to form a stitch in the sewing workpiece. The needle bar mechanism is configured to drive the needle bar  29  up and down. A sewing machine motor  79  (refer to  FIG. 7 ) may drive the needle bar mechanism. The swinging mechanism is configured to swing the needle bar  29  in the left-right direction. The swinging mechanism may be driven by the swinging motor  80 . 
     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 below. 
     A projector  40  that is configured to project an image onto the sewing workpiece  100  is attached to the left front portion of the head  14 . The greater part of the projector  40  is contained in the interior of the head  14 , but a pair of adjusting screws  44  project to the outside of the head  14 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . The adjusting screws  44  are screws that may respectively adjust the size and the focal point of the image to be projected (hereinafter called the projection image). The projector  40  may project the image into a specified projection range Q on the bed  11 . The projector  40  will be described in detail below. 
     A cover  16  to be opened and closed is provided on an upper portion of the arm  13 . A thread spool (not shown in the drawings) may be accommodated underneath the cover  16 , that is, substantially in a central portion within the arm  13 . An upper thread (not shown in the drawings) may be wound around the thread spool. The upper thread may be supplied from the thread spool, through a thread hook (not shown in the drawings), to the sewing needle  28  attached to the needle bar  29 . The thread hook is provided on the head  14 . The operation switches  21  are provided in the lower portion of the front face of the arm  13 . The operation switches  21  include a start-and-stop switch. 
     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 side of the LCD  15 . When a user performs an operation of pressing on the touch panel  26  by using a finger or a special stylus pen, the item that corresponds to the position where the pressure is detected by the touch panel  26  is recognized as having been selected. Hereinafter, an operation of pressing on the touch panel  26  will be called a panel operation. By performing this sort of panel operation, the user can select a pattern to be sewn and a command to be executed. 
     Connectors  38  and  39  are provided on a right surface of the pillar  12 . An external storage device (not shown in the drawings), such as a memory card, can be connected to the connector  39 . The sewing machine  1  may read out pattern data and various programs from the external storage device connected to the connector  39 . A connector  916  may be connected to the connector  38 . The connector  916  is coupled to a cable  912  that extends from an ultrasonic pen  91  which will be described below. The sewing machine  1  may supply electric power to the ultrasonic pen  91  via the connector  38 , the connector  916 , and the cable  912 , and may acquire an electrical signal output from the ultrasonic pen  91 . 
     The sewing machine  1  also includes an embroidery device  2 . The embroidery device  2  can be mounted on and removed from the bed  11  of the sewing machine  1 . When the embroidery device  2  is mounted on the sewing machine  1 , the embroidery device  2  and the sewing machine  1  are electrically connected. In a case where the embroidery device  2  and the sewing machine  1  are electrically connected, the embroidery device  2  may function as a part of the sewing mechanism  89  (refer to  FIG. 7 ) of the sewing machine  1 . The embroidery device  2  includes a body  51  and a carriage  52 . 
     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. 7 ). The frame holder  55  is a holder on which an embroidery frame  53  (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  53  can also be mounted on and removed from the frame holder  55 . The frame holder  55  is provided on the right side face of the carriage  52 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the embroidery frame  53  has a known structure. The embroidery frame  53  is configured to hold the sewing workpiece  100  by clamping the sewing workpiece  100  between an inner frame and an outer frame, although this is not shown in detail in the drawings. The sewing workpiece  100  that is held in the embroidery frame  53  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 is configured to move the frame holder  55  in the front-rear direction (the Y direction). The moving of the frame holder  55  in the front-rear direction causes the embroidery frame  53  to move the sewing workpiece  100  in the front-rear direction. The Y axis motor  87  may drive the Y axis moving mechanism. A CPU  61  (refer to  FIG. 7 ) of the sewing machine  1  may control the Y axis motor  87 . 
     An X axis moving mechanism (not shown in the drawings) and an X axis motor  86  (refer to  FIG. 7 ) that may move the carriage  52  in the left-right direction (the X 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  53  to move the sewing workpiece  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  may control the X axis motor  86 . 
     The ultrasonic pen  91  will be explained. The ultrasonic 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 pen tip  911  that is in the projecting position in the direction toward the pen body  910  side, 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. 
     A switch  913  (refer to  FIG. 7 ), a signal output circuit  914  (refer to  FIG. 7 ), and an ultrasonic transmitter  915  (refer to  FIG. 7 ) 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 ultrasonic transmitter  915 . 
     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 ultrasonic transmitter  915  does not transmit ultrasonic waves. The pen tip  911  is shifted to the retracted position by the user&#39;s pressing of the pen tip  911  against a position on the sewing workpiece  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 ultrasonic transmitter  915  transmits ultrasonic waves. 
     The sewing machine  1  may use the receivers  94 ,  95  to detect (receive) the ultrasonic waves that are transmitted from the ultrasonic pen  91 , although this will be described in detail below. Based on the detected ultrasonic waves, the sewing machine  1  may specify the position of the source of the ultrasonic waves, that is, the ultrasonic transmitter  915  that is provided in the ultrasonic pen  91 . Based on the specified position, the sewing machine  1  may set at least one target sewing condition selected from among at least one sewing condition for an embroidery pattern and perform sewing. In the present embodiment, the at least one sewing condition includes the sewing position, the sewing angle, and the size of the embroidery pattern. In the first embodiment, the number of the at least one target sewing condition to be change at once is one. 
     The receivers  94  and  95  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 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the receiver  94  has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is slightly longer in the up-down direction. An opening  941  is provided in the center of a lower end portion of the front face of the receiver  94 . The opening  941  has an elliptical shape that is long in the left-right direction. A wall  942  around the opening  941  is a tapered surface (an inclined surface) that becomes narrower from the outer side toward the inner side of a front surface of the receiver  94 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , a substrate  943  and a microphone  944  are provided inside the receiver  94 . The microphone  944  is provided, inside the receiver  94 , behind the opening  941 . A connector  945  is mounted on an upper end of a rear surface of the substrate  943 . The connector  945  may be connected to a connector (not shown in the drawings) that is provided on the sewing machine  1 . A directionality of the receiver  94  is determined by a direction of the opening  941  in relation to the microphone  944 . 
     The projector  40  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the projector  40  is provided with a housing  45 , a light source  46 , a liquid crystal panel  47 , and an image-forming lens  48 . In the present embodiment, the housing  45  is formed into a cylindrical shape. The housing  45  is affixed to a machine casing within the head  14 , oriented to face obliquely downward toward the right rear, such that the area around a needle hole  32  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) is positioned along the axis line of the housing  45 . A metal halide type of discharge lamp, for example, can be used as the light source  46 . The liquid crystal panel  47  may modulate the light from the light source  46  and, based on image data that describe the projection image, may form an image beam for the image that is to be projected. The image-forming lens  48  may cause the image beam that has been formed by the liquid crystal panel  47  to form an image in the projection range Q (refer to  FIG. 1 ) through a projection opening  49  that is provided in the housing  45 . In the present embodiment, the projector  40  is configured to project an image of a marker that indicates all of the at least one sewing condition for the embroidery pattern. Because the projector  40  projects the projection image onto the sewing workpiece obliquely from above, processing is performed on image data to correct image distortion in the projection image, although this will not be explained in detail. A coordinate system for the projection image from the projector  40  and a coordinate system for the whole of space (hereinafter called the world coordinate system) are correlated to one another in advance. It is therefore possible to correct the image data for the projector  40  based on coordinates that are expressed in the world coordinate system. 
     An electrical configuration of the sewing machine  1  that is common to the sewing machine  1  in the first and the second embodiments will be explained with reference to  FIG. 7 . A control portion  60  of the sewing machine  1  is provided with 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 electrically connected to one another through a bus  67 . Various types of programs, including a program that the CPU  61  uses to perform main processing that will be described below, as well as data and the like, may be stored in the ROM  62 . Data for a plurality of types of patterns that the sewing machine  1  uses to perform sewing, as well as various types of parameters to create the image data describing the projection image for the projector  40 , and the like may be stored in the EEPROM  64 . 
     The operation switches  21 , the touch panel  26 , the light source  46 , and drive circuits  71 ,  72 ,  74 ,  75 ,  76 ,  82 ,  84 ,  85  are electrically connected to the input/output interface  65 . The drive circuits  71 ,  72 ,  74 ,  75  may respectively drive the feed adjustment motor  83 , the sewing machine motor  79 , the swinging motor  80 , and the LCD  15 . The drive circuit  76  may drive the receivers  94 ,  95 . An amplifier circuit is contained in the drive circuit  76 . The amplifier circuit may amplify and transmit to the CPU  61  the ultrasonic wave signals that are detected by the receivers  94 ,  95 . The drive circuits  82 ,  84 ,  85  may respectively drive the liquid crystal panel  47  of the projector  40 , the X axis motor  86 , and the Y axis motor  87 . 
     The electrical configuration of the ultrasonic pen  91  will be explained. The ultrasonic pen  91  includes the switch  913 , the signal output circuit  914 , and the ultrasonic transmitter  915 . The switch  913  is configured to be connected to the signal output circuit  914  and the ultrasonic transmitter  915 . The signal output circuit  914  is 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 . 
     A method for specifying a position on the sewing workpiece  100  that the user has designated with the ultrasonic pen  91  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 8 . The user may designate a position on the sewing workpiece  100  by pressing the pen tip  911  of the ultrasonic pen  91  against the sewing workpiece  100 . Hereinafter, the position on the sewing workpiece  100  against which the pen tip  911  of the ultrasonic pen  91  has been pressed will be called the designated position. In the present embodiment, in a state in which the embroidery frame  53  that holds the sewing workpiece  100  has been mounted in the embroidery device  2 , the designated position is located within the embroidery frame  53  and within the projection range Q of the projector  40 . As will be described below, the CPU  61  of the sewing machine  1  (refer to  FIG. 7 ) specifies the designated position by specifying the position of the transmission source of the ultrasonic waves. Therefore, strictly speaking, the position that is specified as the designated position is not the position on the sewing workpiece  100  against which the pen tip  911  is pressed, but is the position of the ultrasonic transmitter  915  that is provided in the ultrasonic pen  91 . However, the pen tip  911  and the ultrasonic transmitter  915  are located extremely close to one another. Therefore, the position of the ultrasonic transmitter  915  can be regarded as the position on the sewing workpiece  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 direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction. The left-right direction and the up-down direction in  FIG. 8  are respectively equivalent to the X direction and the Y direction. The direction from the front side of the page to the rear side of the page is equivalent to the Z direction. 
     The sewing machine  1  may specify the designated position in the form of the three-dimensional coordinate information of the world coordinate system (an X coordinate, a Y coordinate, and a Z coordinate). In the present embodiment, the origin point (0, 0, 0) of the coordinate system is the center point of a needle hole  32 . The needle hole  32  is formed in the needle plate  34  (refer to  FIG. 1 ). The needle hole  32  is a hole through which the sewing needle  28  may pass. 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 microphone  944  of the receiver  94  are defined as (Xb, Yb, Zb). Coordinates C that indicate the position of the microphone  944  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 microphones  944  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, Yc, 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. 
     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, E is described by Equation (1) below. In the same manner, the relationship between the distance EC and the coordinates C, E is described by Equation (2) below.
 
( Xb−Xe ) 2 +( Yb−Ye ) 2 +( Zb−Ze ) 2 =( EB ) 2   (1):
 
( Xc−Xe ) 2 +( Yc−Ye ) 2 +( Zc−Ze ) 2 =( EC ) 2   (2):
 
     Equation (1) is identical to an equation for a spherical surface (with a radius of the distance EB) centered at the coordinates B with the designated coordinates E on the spherical surface. In the same manner, Equation (2) is identical to an equation for a spherical surface (with a radius of the distance EC) centered at the coordinates C with the designated coordinates E on the spherical surface. 
     The velocity at which ultrasonic waves travel is referred to as the velocity of sound V. The time that elapses from the time when the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasound pen  91  that designates the designated coordinates E until the receiver  94  detects the ultrasonic waves is defined as a transmission time Tb. The time that elapses from the time when the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasound pen  91  that designates the designated coordinates E until the receiver  95  detects the ultrasonic waves is defined as a transmission time Tc. In this case, the distances EB, EC can respectively be described by Equations (3) and (4) below.
 
 EB=V×Tb   (3):
 
 EC=V×Tc   (4):
 
     Substituting Equations (3) and (4) into Equations (1) and (2) yields Equations (5) and (6) below.
 
( Xb−Xe ) 2 +( Yb−Ye ) 2 +( Zb−Ze ) 2 =( V×Tb ) 2   (5):
 
( Xc−Xe ) 2 +( Yc−Ye ) 2 +( Zc−Ze ) 2 =( V×Tc ) 2   (6):
 
     In Equations (5) and (6), the coordinates B (Xb, Yb, Zb), the coordinates C (Xc, Yc, Zc) and the velocity of sound V are known values, and each of those values has been stored in the ROM  62  in advance. The transmission time Tb is specified by computing the difference between a transmission time T 1  and a detection time T 2   b . The transmission time Tc is specified by computing the difference between the transmission time T 1  and a detection time T 2   c . The transmission time T 1  is the time when the ultrasonic waves are transmitted from the ultrasonic transmitter  915  of the ultrasonic pen  91 . The detection times T 2   b , T 2   c  are the times when the ultrasonic waves are detected by the receivers  94 ,  95 , respectively. In the present embodiment, the embroidery device  2  does not move the embroidery frame  53  in the Z direction (the up-down direction of the sewing machine  1 ), so within the range in which the thickness of the sewing workpiece  100  can be disregarded, the Z coordinate for the top face of the sewing workpiece  100  may be regarded as being zero. Accordingly, the designated coordinates E (Xe, Ye, Ze (=0)) can be computed based on the simultaneous Equations (5) and (6) and on the directionalities of the receivers  94  and  95 . 
     A screen  150 , the embroidery pattern, and the pattern data for the embroidery pattern will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10  using an embroidery pattern  200  as an example. The screen  150  in  FIG. 9  is a screen that is displayed on the LCD  15  in the course of performing the main processing, which will be described below. By performing a panel operation, the user is able to select a desired embroidery pattern from among a plurality of embroidery patterns that are stored in the EEPROM  64 . The screen  150  includes an embroidery pattern display area  151 , a thread color display area  152 , and a setting screen  153 . The embroidery pattern display area  151  displays the selected embroidery pattern  200 . The thread color display area  152  displays the colors of the threads to be used for sewing the selected embroidery pattern  200 , as well as the times to be required in order to sew the individual colors. The embroidery pattern  200  is an embroidery pattern to be sewn with the threads of the plurality of colors that are shown in the thread color display area  152 . The pattern data for sewing the embroidery pattern  200  include coordinate data for an embroidery coordinate system. The embroidery coordinate system is the coordinate system for the X axis motor  86  and the Y axis motor  87  that move the carriage  52 . The pattern data define the initial disposition and the initial size of the embroidery pattern. The initial sewing position for the embroidery pattern  200  is set such that a center point  206  of an embroidery area  201  will coincide with a center point  56  of a sewing area  54 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . The embroidery area  201  is the smallest rectangle within which the embroidery pattern  200  can be inscribed. The initial sewing angle for the embroidery pattern  200  is the angle at which the direction of a vector from a point  202  to a point  203  of the embroidery area  201  coincides with the direction from left to right in the embroidery frame  53 . The initial size of the embroidery pattern  200  is shown by the size of the embroidery area  201 . In a case where the disposition of the embroidery pattern is changed in relation to the sewing workpiece  100 , the coordinate data for the embroidery coordinate system that are included in the pattern data are corrected as necessary. In the present embodiment, the embroidery coordinate system and the world coordinate system are correlated with one another in advance. Therefore, based on a command to change the target sewing condition for the embroidery pattern, the command using the designated coordinates that are expressed in the world coordinate system, the sewing machine  1  is able to correct the coordinate data that are expressed in the embroidery coordinate system. 
     An overview of the main processing that is performed by the sewing machine  1  in the first embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 9 . The main processing is processing that, as necessary, changes the settings for the target sewing condition for the embroidery pattern selected by the user, based on the designated position on the sewing workpiece  100 , then sews the embroidery pattern. In the first embodiment, the target sewing condition is selected one of the sewing position, the sewing angle, and the size of the embroidery pattern. After selecting one of one and two reference items that correspond to the target sewing condition, the user designates the designated position in the specified sequence. 
     The method for designating the target sewing condition will be explained, using as an example a case in which the embroidery pattern  200  has been selected by the user. First, the user refers to the setting screen  153  and selects a reference item that corresponds to the target sewing condition. The setting screen  153  includes an OK button  381  and a graphic symbol cluster  360  for selecting the reference items for the sewing position, the sewing angle, and the pattern size. The graphic symbol cluster  360  includes points  361  to  364  that indicate the vertices of the embroidery area  201 , blocks  371  to  378  that indicate sections of the edges of the embroidery area  201 , a plus-sign-and-arrow  379  that indicates the center point of the embroidery area  201  and the sewing angle, and a point  380  that indicates the center point of the embroidery area  201 . In a case where the user selects the sewing position as the target sewing condition, the user selects, as the reference item, one point from among the points  361  to  364  and the point  380  in the graphic symbol cluster  360 . In a case where the user selects the sewing angle as the target sewing condition, the user selects, as the reference item, one of the blocks  371  to  378  and the plus-sign-and-arrow  379  in the graphic symbol cluster  360 . In a case where the user selects the pattern size as the target sewing condition, the user selects, as the reference items, two points from among the points  361  to  364  and the point  380  in the graphic symbol cluster  360 . In the first embodiment, the target sewing condition is designated by the particular graphic symbols and the number of the selected graphic symbols. The colors of the graphic symbols that are selected in the graphic symbol cluster  360  are changed. In  FIG. 9 , the block  371  has been selected, and its color has been changed from white to black. The black block  371  indicates that the target sewing condition is the sewing angle. 
     Next, the user uses the ultrasonic pen  91  to designate one of one and two designated positions in accordance with the target sewing condition. The sewing position is designated using one designated position. The one designated position indicates the position where the reference item for the sewing position is located. The sewing angle is designated using two designated positions that are respectively called a first designated position and a second designated position. A vector from the first designated position to the second designated position describes a vector direction indicated by the reference item. In a case where a block has been selected as the reference item for the sewing angle, the vector direction indicated by the reference item indicates is the direction in which the block extends, starting from the point, among the points  361  to  364 , with which the block is in contact. In a case where the plus-sign-and-arrow  379  has been selected as the reference item for the sewing angle, the vector direction indicated by the reference item is the direction that is indicated by the arrow. The pattern size is designated using the two designated positions that are respectively called the first designated position and the second designated position. The length of a line segment that connects the first designated position and the second designated position indicates the length of a line segment that connects the two points that have been selected as the reference items for the pattern size. In a case where the user uses the ultrasonic pen  91  to change the target sewing condition, the user cannot determine the manner in which the target sewing condition has been changed. Accordingly, the sewing machine  1  projects a marker that indicates the all of the at least one sewing condition for the embroidery pattern onto the sewing workpiece  100 , and in a case where the target sewing condition has been changed, the sewing machine  1  reflects the nature of the change in the marker that is projected. 
     The main processing will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 12 . The main processing in  FIG. 11  is performed in a case where, after the user has used a panel operation to select the embroidery pattern, the user uses a panel operation to input a start command. The main processing is started in a state in which the sewing workpiece  100  is being held in the embroidery frame  53  that is mounted in the embroidery device  2 . The program that performs the main processing in  FIG. 11  is stored in the ROM  62  in  FIG. 7  and is executed by the CPU  61 . As a specific example, a case will be explained in which the sewing condition for the embroidery pattern  200  that has been selected by the user are changed from the initial sewing conditions that are indicated by the embroidery area  201  to the conditions that are indicated by an embroidery area  301  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in the main processing, the embroidery pattern  200  selected by the user is specified, the pattern data for sewing the embroidery pattern  200  are acquired from the EEPROM  64 , and the acquired pattern data are stored in the RAM  63  (Step S 1 ). The pattern data define the initial sewing conditions for the embroidery pattern  200  as indicated by the embroidery area  201  in  FIG. 10 . Next, the setting screen  153  is displayed on the LCD  15  (Step S 3 ). In the first embodiment, one of the sewing position, the sewing angle, and the pattern size can be selected at any one time as the target sewing condition for which the settings will be changed. 
     Next, the projecting of the marker is started (Step S 5 ). In the processing at Step S 5 , first, the initial sewing conditions including the initial disposition and the initial size of the embroidery pattern  200  that was specified at Step S 1  are specified based on the pattern data. Marker data are then generated for projecting a marker  400  that indicates the specified initial sewing conditions. The marker data are generated by a known method. For example, the marker data may be generated by a method that is described in detail in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-194043, relevant portions of which are herein incorporated by reference. The marker  400  indicates all of the plurality of the sewing conditions. The marker  400  includes a marker  401  and a marker  402 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The marker  401  is a rectangular graphic symbol. The outer perimeter of the marker  401  describes the initial embroidery area  201  (refer to  FIG. 10 ). The marker  402  is a graphic symbol that combines a plus sign and an arrow. An intersection point  403  of the plus sign portion indicates the center point  206  of the embroidery area  201 . The direction pointed by the arrow of the marker  402  indicates the direction of the top side of the embroidery pattern  200  (refer to  FIG. 9 ) (the direction from the point  202  to a point  205 , refer to  FIG. 9 ). The user confirms the settings for the sewing conditions by visually checking the marker  400  that is projected onto the sewing workpiece  100 . In a case where the sewing conditions indicated by the marker  400  are acceptable to the user for sewing the embroidery pattern  200 , the user selects the OK button  381  on the setting screen  153  that is displayed on the LCD  15  (YES at Step S 27 ). In a case where the user wants to change the sewing conditions that are indicated by the marker  400  (NO at Step S 27 ), the user selects the target sewing condition for which the user wants to change the settings by making a selection from the graphic symbol cluster  360  that is displayed on the LCD  15 . 
     In a case where the selecting of the point  361  on the setting screen  153  is detected, a determination is made that the sewing position has been selected as the target sewing condition for which the settings will be changed (YES at Step S 7 ), and information that describes the designated position is acquired (Step S 8 ). In the present embodiment, the transmission time T 1 , the detection time T 2   b , and the detection time T 2   c  are acquired as the information that describes the designated position. In a case where the user uses the ultrasonic pen  91  to designate a designated position  302 , the signal output circuit  914  of the ultrasonic pen  91  outputs an electrical signal through the cable  912  at the time when the pen tip  911  is pressed against the sewing workpiece  100 . At the same time, the ultrasonic transmitter  915  of the ultrasonic pen  91  transmits ultrasonic waves. Through the cable  912 , the CPU  61  detects the electrical signal that has been output from the ultrasonic pen  91 . The CPU  61  acquires the time that the electrical signal was detected as the transmission time T 1 . After acquiring the transmission time T 1 , the CPU  61  detects the ultrasonic waves through the receivers  94 ,  95 . The CPU  61  acquires the times when the ultrasonic waves were detected through the receivers  94 ,  95  and the input/output interface  65  as the detection times T 2   b , T 2   c , respectively. 
     Next, the coordinates of the designated position  302  are specified as the coordinates that indicate the sewing position, based on the directionalities of the receivers  94 ,  95  and the above-described simultaneous equations (Step S 9 ). Next, the sewing position is set for the embroidery pattern based on the coordinates of the designated position  302  specified at Step S 9  (Step S 11 ). In the specific example, the point  202  of the embroidery area  201  is disposed at the position indicated by the specified coordinates of the designated position  302 . Next, processing is performed that reflects the changed target sewing condition in the projected marker (Step S 25 ). Specifically, based on the coordinates of the designated position  302  that were specified at Step S 9 , marker data are generated for projecting the marker that shows all of the plurality of the sewing conditions including the changed target sewing condition, and based on the generated marker data, the marker that shows all of the plurality of the sewing conditions including the changed target sewing condition is projected onto the sewing workpiece  100 . The marker data may be generated by a known method. For example, the marker data may be generated by the method that is described in detail in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-194043, relevant portions of which are herein incorporated by reference. In the specific example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the marker  400  is projected onto an embroidery area  211  disposed by parallel translation of the initial embroidery area  201  (Step S 25 ). 
     After the processing at Step  25 , in a case where the selecting of the block  371  on the setting screen  153  is detected (NO at Step S 27 ), a determination is made that the sewing angle has been selected as the target sewing condition for which the settings will be changed (NO at Step S 7 ; YES at Step S 13 ), and information that describes two designated positions is acquired (Step S 14 ). In a case where the user has designated the designated position  302  and a designated position  303  in that order, information that corresponds to the two designated positions is acquired in the form of information that describes the designated position  302 , which is the first designated position, and information that describes the designated position  303 , which is the second designated position. The first designated position  302  and the second designated position  303  in combination designate the sewing angle. Next, the coordinates for the first designated position  302  and the second designated position  303  are specified by the same method as was used at Step S 9  (Step S 15 ). Next, the sewing angle for the embroidery pattern  200  is set based on the coordinates specified at Step S 15  (Step S 17 ). In the specific example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the embroidery area  211  is rotated about the first designated position  302  such that the direction of the vector from the point  202  to the point  203  (refer to  FIG. 9 ) matches the direction of a vector  305  from the first designated position  302  to the second designated position  303 . The embroidery area  211  is thus rotated about the first designated position  302  and becomes an embroidery area  221 . In this case, at Step S 25 , the marker  400  is projected onto the embroidery area  221  (Step S 25 ). 
     After the processing at Step  25 , in a case where the selecting of the point  361  and the point  363  on the setting screen  153  is detected (NO at Step S 27 ), a determination is made that the pattern size has been selected as the target sewing condition for which the settings will be changed (NO at Step S 7 ; NO at Step S 13 ; YES at Step S 19 ), and information that describes two designated positions is acquired (Step S 20 ). In a case where the user has designated the designated position  302  and a designated position  304  in that order, information that corresponds to the two designated positions is acquired in the form of information that describes the first designated position  302  and information that describes the designated position  304 , which is the second designated position. The first designated position  302  and the second designated position  304  in combination designate the pattern size. Next, the coordinates for the first designated position  302  and the second designated position  304  are specified by the same sort of method as was used at Step S 9  (Step S 21 ). Next, the pattern size for the embroidery pattern  200  is set based on the coordinates specified at Step S 21  (Step S 23 ). In the specific example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the embroidery area  221  is enlarged such that a point  204  of the embroidery area  201  (refer to  FIG. 9 ) matches the second designated position  304 , and the embroidery area  221  becomes an embroidery area  301 . In this case, at Step S 25 , a marker  410  is projected onto the embroidery area  301  (Step S 25 ). 
     In a case where a target sewing condition for which the settings will be changed is not selected (NO at Step S 7 ; NO at Step S 13 ; NO at Step S 19 ), as well as after Step S 25 , a determination is made as to whether or not the OK button  381  has been selected (Step S 27 ). In a case where the OK button  381  has not been selected (NO at Step S 27 ), the CPU  61  returns the processing to Step S 7 . In a case where the OK button  381  has been selected (YES at Step S 27 ), the projecting of the marker is terminated (Step S 29 ). Next, processing is performed that sews the embroidery pattern specified at Step S 1  (Step S 31 ). In a case where at least one of the sewing conditions has been changed, the sewing is performed after the pattern data have been modified in accordance with the changed sewing conditions. The main processing is then terminated. 
     As described above, with the sewing machine  1  in the first embodiment, while preconceiving the finished state and the like of the embroidery pattern  200  to be sewn on the sewing workpiece  100 , the user is able to designate the target sewing condition for the embroidery pattern  200  on the sewing machine  1  by designating the position of the pen tip  911  of the ultrasonic pen  91  on the sewing workpiece  100 . The designated target sewing condition can be confirmed by looking at the marker  400  that is projected onto the sewing workpiece  100 . In the sewing machine  1 , the position on the sewing workpiece  100  can be designated using the ultrasonic pen  91 . The designated position and the position where the marker is projected are both on the sewing workpiece  100 . Therefore, the user can check the designation status of the designated position more easily than in a case where the designated position and the marker are far apart. 
     The sewing machine  1  is able to set one of the sewing position, the sewing angle, and the pattern size of the embroidery pattern as the target sewing condition at once. In a case where the sewing position is selected as the target sewing condition, the sewing machine  1  can set the sewing position for the embroidery pattern based on one specified designated position. Therefore, by the simple operation of designating a point that corresponds to a reference item, the user can accomplish the task of disposing the embroidery pattern  200  to the right of another pattern on the sewing workpiece  100 , for example. In a case where the sewing angle is selected as the target sewing condition, the sewing machine  1  can set the sewing angle for the embroidery pattern based on two specified designated positions. Using the designated positions, the sewing machine  1  is able to designate the extending direction of any side of the rectangular embroidery area  201  for the embroidery pattern  200 . Therefore, by the simple operation of designating two points that correspond to the reference items, the user can accomplish the task of disposing the embroidery pattern  200  along a stripe of a striped pattern on the sewing workpiece  100 , for example. In a case where the pattern size is selected as the target sewing condition, the sewing machine  1  can set the size of the embroidery pattern based on two specified designated positions. Therefore, by the simple operation of designating two points that correspond to the reference items, the user can accomplish the task of disposing the embroidery pattern  200  such that it fills an entire rectangular pattern area on the sewing workpiece  100 , for example. 
     The marker  400  projected by the sewing machine  1  shows all of the plurality of the sewing conditions. By looking at the marker  400  that is projected onto the sewing workpiece  100 , the user can easily determine the designation statuses of all of the plurality of the sewing conditions. The target sewing condition that has been changed is immediately fed back to the marker  400  that is being projected. While checking the marker  400  that is projected onto the top face of the sewing workpiece  100 , the user can easily perform fine adjustments of the sewing conditions by using the ultrasonic pen  91  to designate a designated position. Fine adjustments of the sewing conditions are easy, particularly because the sewing machine  1  is able to change the settings for one sewing condition among the plurality of the sewing conditions. The sewing machine  1  uses the setting screen  153  to accept the selection of the reference items when the target sewing condition is to be changed. The sewing machine  1  can therefore make it more convenient to change the target sewing condition than in a case where the reference items cannot be selected. Therefore, the user can easily set the target sewing condition. 
     The main processing in the second embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 9 to 12 . The main processing in the second embodiment is basically the same as the main processing in the first embodiment that is shown in  FIG. 11 . In the second embodiment, the method for designating the at least one target sewing condition is different from the method in the first embodiment. The main processing in the second embodiment is started in a state in which the sewing workpiece  100  is being held in the embroidery frame  53  that is mounted in the embroidery device  2 . The program that performs the main processing in  FIG. 11  is stored in the ROM  62  in  FIG. 7  and is executed by the CPU  61 . As a specific example, a case will be explained in which the sewing conditions for the embroidery pattern  200  that has been selected by the user are changed from the initial sewing conditions that are indicated by the embroidery area  201  in  FIG. 10  to the conditions that are indicated by the embroidery area  301  in  FIG. 10 . 
     First, the method for designating the at least one target sewing condition in the second embodiment will be explained. In the second embodiment, the at least one target sewing condition for which the settings will be changed is determined according to the number of designated positions that are designated within a specified period of time (for example, thirty seconds). In a case where one designated position is designated, the sewing position is specified as the at least one target sewing condition for which the settings will be changed. In that case, the sewing position is set using the designated position that has been designated. The method for using the designated position to set the sewing position is the same as in the first embodiment. In a case where two designated positions are designated, the sewing position and the sewing angle are specified as the at least one target sewing condition for which the settings will be changed. In that case, the two designated positions are specified as the first designated position and the second designated position in the order in which they are input. Further, the first designated position is used to set the sewing position. The first designated position and the second designated position are used to set the sewing angle. The method for using the first designated position and the second designated position to set the sewing angle is the same as in the first embodiment. In a case where three designated positions are designated, the sewing position, the sewing angle, and the pattern size are specified as the at least one target sewing condition for which the settings will be changed. In that case, the three designated positions are specified as the first designated position, the second designated position, and a third designated position in the order in which they are input. Further, the first designated position is used to set the sewing position. The first designated position and the second designated position are used to set the sewing angle. The first designated position and the third designated position are used to set the pattern size. The method for using the designated positions to set the pattern size is the same as in the first embodiment. The reference items for each of the at least one target sewing condition can be set using the setting screen  153 , in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The sewing machine  1  in the second embodiment makes the initial settings for the reference items automatically, but gives priority to the user&#39;s instruction in a case where a setting for a reference item is designated by the user. The initial setting for the reference item for the sewing position is the point  361 . The reference item for the sewing angle is the block  371 . The reference items for the pattern size are the point  361  and the point  363 . 
     Next, the main processing in the second embodiment, which is shown in  FIG. 11 , will be explained briefly. In the main processing, after the embroidery pattern has been specified (Step S 1 ), the setting screen  153  in  FIG. 9  is displayed (Step S 3 ). In the same specific example as was used for the first embodiment, assume a case in which the designated positions  302  to  304  are designated in order within a specified period of time, in accordance with the initial settings for the reference items. In this case, the designated positions  302  to  304  are respectively specified as the first designated position  302 , the second designated position  303 , and the third designated position  304 . After the projecting of the marker  400  is started (Step S 5 ), the information that describes the first designated position  302  is acquired (YES at Step S 7 ; Step S 8 ), and the coordinates of the first designated position  302  are specified based on the acquired information (Step S 9 ). Based on the specified first designated position  302  and on the point  361  that is the reference item for the sewing position, the sewing position is set such that the position of the point  202  of the embroidery area  201  is disposed at the coordinates of the first designated position  302  (Step S 11 ). After the change in the sewing position is reflected in the marker that is being projected (Step S 25 ), a determination is made that the change of the at least one target sewing conditions has not been completed (NO at Step S 27 ). Next, a determination is made that the setting of the sewing position has been completed (NO at Step S 7 ), and the information that describes the first designated position  302  and the information that describes the second designated position  303  are acquired (YES at Step S 13 ; Step S 14 ). Based on the acquired information, the coordinates for the first designated position  302  and the second designated position  303  are specified (Step S 15 ), and the sewing angle is set based on the vector from the first designated position  302  to the second designated position  303  and on the block  371 , which is the reference item for the sewing angle (Step S 17 ). After the change in the sewing angle is reflected in the marker that is being projected (Step S 25 ), a determination is made that the change of target sewing conditions has not been completed (NO at Step S 27 ). 
     Next, a determination is made that the settings of the sewing position and the sewing angle have been completed (NO at Step S 7 ; NO at Step S 13 ), and the information that describes the first designated position  302  and the information that describes the third designated position  304  are acquired (YES at Step S 19 ; Step S 20 ). Based on the acquired information, the coordinates for the first designated position  302  and the third designated position  304  are specified (Step S 21 ). The pattern size is set such that the length of a line segment that connects the first designated position  302  and the third designated position  304  becomes the length of a line segment that connects the point  361  and the point  363 , which are the reference items for the pattern size (Step S 23 ). The change in the pattern size is reflected in the marker that is being projected (Step S 25 ). In a case where the designating of a designated position is not detected within the specified period of time (NO at Step S 7 ; NO at Step S 13 ; NO at Step S 19 ), as well as after Step S 25 , if the OK button  381  has been selected (YES at Step S 27 ), the projecting of the marker is terminated (Step S 29 ), and the sewing of the pattern is performed (Step S 31 ). If the OK button  381  has not been selected (NO at Step S 27 ), the CPU  61  returns the processing to Step S 7 . 
     As described above, according to the sewing machine  1  in the second embodiment, the same sort of effects as those of the sewing machine  1  in the first embodiment can be achieved by the designating of the position of the pen tip  911  of the ultrasonic pen  91  on the sewing workpiece  100 . The sewing machine  1  in the second embodiment selects the at least one target sewing condition to be changed, based on the number of the designated positions, so the time and effort for the user to select the at least one target sewing condition using panel operations can be eliminated. The plurality of the at least one target sewing condition can all be set at once by the series of operations by which one of one, two, and three designated positions are designated. 
     The sewing machine according to the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various types of modifications may be made. For example, the modifications (A) to (E) described below may be made as desired. 
     (A) The configuration of the sewing machine  1  may be modified as desired. The sewing machine may also be another type of sewing machine, such as an industrial sewing machine, a multi-needle sewing machine, or the like, for example. The sewing machine may also be a sewing machine that is not provided with an embroidery device, for example. The sewing machine may also be a sewing machine configured as a single device integrated with an embroidery device, for example. The sewing workpiece may be any object in which a stitch can be formed. The sewing machine may also be provided with a device (a position designating device) that designates the designated position, which may be any position on the sewing workpiece, and the sewing machine and the position designating device may also be separate devices, as with the sewing machine  1 . 
     (B) The information that describes the designated position and the method for acquiring the information may be modified as desired. The method for specifying the designated position may also be modified in accordance with the information that is acquired. For example, image data that are acquired from an image capture device such as an image sensor or the like may also be acquired through the input/output interface  65  as the information that describes the designated position. A known method may also be used as desired as the method for specifying the designated position based on the image data. For example, the designated position may be specified based on the image data by a method that is described in detail in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-194043, relevant portions of which are herein incorporated by reference. To take another example, data that are output from a graphics tablet may also be acquired through the input/output interface  65  as the information that describes the designated position. In a case where the designated position is designated using an ultrasonic pen, times that are detected by at least three receivers with specified mounting positions, for example, may also be acquired as the information that describes the designated position. In that case, the sewing machine is able to specify the designated position based on the directionalities of the individual receivers and on the same sort of simultaneous equations as the above-described Equations (5) and (6), with the number of the equations being equal to the number of the receivers. To take still another example, the information that describes the designated position may also be acquired wirelessly. 
     (C) The design, the shape, the size, and the like of the marker may also be modified as desired in consideration of the conditions indicated by the marker. For example, in a case where the marker indicates the sewing position, the marker may be one of a plus sign, a circle, and a star shape. The content that the marker indicates may also be content other than the sewing conditions for the embroidery pattern. In that case, the marker may also be projected in order to calibrate the projector, for example. More specifically, processing that adjusts the adjusting screws  44  or corrects the parameters that are used in the generating of the image data may be performed such that the marker will be projected at the position that is designated by the ultrasonic pen  91 . In a case where a plurality of the target sewing conditions are set based on the designated positions, it is acceptable for the marker not to indicate all of the plurality of the target sewing conditions. For example, in a case where the sewing position, the sewing angle, and the pattern size are set as the target sewing conditions for the embroidery pattern, the marker may indicate only the pattern size. 
     (D) The projection device that projects the marker is not limited to being the above-described projector, and it may be modified as desired. For example, the projection device may be at least one of a laser line marker and a laser pointer. The projection device may also be configured such that it can be removably mounted on the sewing machine, for example. The projection device may also be a separate device from the main body of the sewing machine, for example. The projection device may also be configured such that its mounting position can be changed, for example. The projection range of the projection device may also be modified as desired. For example, in a case where the pattern size is set based on the coordinates of the designated positions, the marker is not necessary in order to indicate the sewing position for the embroidery pattern, so it is not necessary for the projection range to include the sewing area  54  of the embroidery frame  53 . To take another example, it is not necessary for the projector to reflect the content of a sewing condition change in the marker that is being projected every time the target sewing condition is changed. For example, the sewing machine may also reflect the content of a change in the marker that is being projected only when a command to reflect the content of the change is received from the user. To take another example, the sewing machine  1  in the second embodiment may also reflect the content of a change in the marker that is being projected in a case where a plurality of the target sewing conditions have been set based on designated positions designated by a series of operations that designated at least two designated positions. The location where the marker is projected may also be set based on a designated position, taking into consideration the content that is indicated by the marker. For example, in the first and second embodiments, in a case where the sewing position is set based on a designated position, the position where a plus-sign-and-arrow that indicates the sewing position at the center of the embroidery pattern is projected may be the same as the designated position, and it may be different from the designated position. 
     (E) The method for setting the at least one target sewing condition for the embroidery pattern based on at least one designated positions may be modified as desired. For example, in a case where the sewing position is designated using designated positions, a reference point for the embroidery pattern may be disposed at the coordinates of the center point between two designated positions. To take another example, the sewing position, the sewing angle, and the pattern size may also be set based on two designated positions. In that case, the individual conditions may be set as hereinafter described, for example. The sewing position is set based on one of the two designated positions. The sewing angle is set based on the direction of a vector from one of the designated positions to the other of the designated positions. The size of the embroidery pattern is set based on the length of a line segment that connects the two designated positions. In a sewing machine that is capable of setting a plurality of sewing conditions, processing may be used in which a single designated position sets one target sewing condition, as in the sewing machine  1  in the first embodiment, and processing may be used in which a single designated position sets each one of a plurality of target sewing conditions, as in the sewing machine  1  in the second embodiment. 
     To take another example, the main processing in the first embodiment and the main processing in the second embodiment may be combined to make the following two modes available. A first mode in which a plurality of target sewing conditions can be changed at once, based on a plurality of designated positions, and a second mode in which only specific one target sewing condition can be changed can both be selected. In that case, the user may designate the sewing conditions approximately by changing a plurality of the target sewing conditions at once based on a plurality of designated positions. The user may then perform fine adjustment of the sewing conditions by changing only specific one target sewing condition. Taking another example, in a case where a plurality of the target sewing conditions are set based on a plurality of designated positions, at least one of the sewing angle and the pattern size may be set in addition to the sewing position. For example, the sewing position and the pattern size may be set based on two designated positions. It is also acceptable for the sewing machine  1  not to accept resetting of the at least one target sewing condition. In that case, the sewing machine  1  determines, at Step S 27  in  FIG. 11 , that the change has been completed in a case where the processing that sets the target sewing condition based on the one or two designated positions has been completed one time (YES at Step S 27 ), and then performs the processing at Step S 29 . In a case where a plurality of the sewing conditions are set based on a plurality of designated positions, the relation between the designated positions and the target sewing conditions to be set may be made as desired. The sewing condition for the embroidery pattern may also be any condition other than the sewing position, the sewing angle, or the pattern size. For example, an amount of deformation in the embroidery pattern may also be set as a sewing condition for the embroidery pattern, based on the designated position. 
     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