Patent Document ID: 7996103
Application ID: 12292625
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. An embroidery data generating apparatus for use in forming embroidery with a sewing machine based on image data configured by multiplicity of pixels that represent a given image, the embroidery data generating apparatus comprising: an angular feature information calculator that calculates angular feature information configured by an angular feature indicative of orientation showing high degree of color continuity and an angular feature magnitude indicative of color continuity magnitude for each pixel configuring the image data; an angular feature information storage that stores the angular feature information; a segment data generator that generates segment data that describes placement of segments, representing sewing threads, overlying each of the pixels based on the angular feature information stored in the angular feature information storage; a color data generator that generates color data indicative of sewing thread color of each segment described in the segment data based on the image data; a segment sequence determiner that determines sequence of the segments within the segments classified by color based on the segment data and the color data; a sequence information storage that stores sequence information indicative of the sequence of segments determined by the segment sequence determiner; a first determiner that determines whether or not to append a target segment to the sequence information depending upon whether or not the target segment is covered by a predetermined percentage or greater by an overpass segment overlying the target segment, the target segment being a segment connecting an end point of a focus segment and a start point of a subsequent segment being subsequent in sequence to the focus segment; a first segment appender that appends the target segment between the focus segment and the subsequent segment of the sequence information when determined by the first determiner to append the target segment to the sequence information; a color difference calculator that calculates a color difference between sewing thread color of the target segment and sewing thread color of an underpass segment underlying the target segment; a second determiner that determines whether or not a sum of the color difference for all the underpass segments associated with the target segment is equal to or less than a first predetermined value; an angular difference calculator that calculates an angular difference between the underpass segment and the target segment, the angular difference being measured at an intersecting pixel where the target segment and the underpass segment intersect; a third determiner that determines whether or not to append the target segment to the sequence information based on the angular difference when the sum of the color difference is determined to be equal to or less than the first predetermined value; a second segment appender that appends the target segment between the focus segment and the subsequent segment of the sequence information when determined by the third determiner to append the target segment to the sequence information; and an embroidery data generator that generates, based on the sequence of the segments indicated in the sequence information, embroidery data that identifies the segment as a running stitch and if an endpoint of the segment and a start point of a subsequent segment subsequent in sequence are not coincidental, the end point of the segment and the start point of the subsequent segment are identified to be joined by a jump stitch.