Patent ID: 7278362

Claim:
A pattern data producing device incorporated in a sewing machine which comprises a sewing mechanism including a needle swing mechanism and a display and in which the sewing mechanism is operated so that a pattern sewing can be carried out, thereby producing pattern data, the pattern data producing device comprising: a touch panel provided on an outer surface of the display so as to be capable of detecting a location of touch thereon; a pen-shaped pointing device that interacts with the touch panel, the pen-shaped pointing device capable of inputting a plurality of points, which correspond to a plurality of needle drop points; a pattern data producing unit that obtains location data of needle drop points from the points inputted by the pen-shaped pointing device to produce pattern data, upon the pen-shaped pointing device interacting with the touch panel, the pattern data producing unit automatically designates a needle drop point of the plurality of needle drop points without further operating; a display data producing unit that produces, from the location data of needle drop points, display data for displaying a configuration of the pattern on the display; and a display control device which controls the display so that a pattern input screen is displayed on the display, wherein the display control device causes the display to display a pattern input area, wherein the display control device controls the display so that a width of the pattern input area in a needle swing direction is displayed on a reduced scale corresponding to a maximum needle swing width of the needle swing mechanism.