Sewing machine capable of projecting a sample design

Abstract

A sewing machine includes: a memory unit for storing design pattern information corresponding to different design patterns, and stitch type information corresponding to different types of stitch patterns; a selecting unit operable so as to output a control signal corresponding to a selected design pattern and a selected type of the stitch pattern; a processing unit coupled to the memory and the selecting unit, and responsive to the control signal from the selecting unit to output an image signal; and a projector receiving the image signal from the processing unit and operable so as to project an image corresponding to the image signal. The image shows a picture corresponding to the selected design pattern and having a contour formed by the selected type of the stitch pattern.

1 . A sewing machine comprising:
 a housing unit including a bed portion having a top surface mounted with a needle plate thereon, an upright column portion extending upwardly from said top surface of said bed portion and having a top end, and an arm portion extending laterally from said top end of said column portion to confront said bed portion and having a head disposed above said needle plate;   a stitching unit mounted on said head of said arm portion of said housing unit;   a memory unit disposed in said housing unit for storing design pattern information corresponding to a plurality of different design patterns, and stitch type information corresponding to a plurality of different types of stitch patterns;   a selecting unit mounted on said housing unit and operable so as to output a control signal corresponding to a selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information and a selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information;   a processing unit disposed in said housing unit, coupled to said memory unit and said selecting unit, and responsive to the control signal from said selecting unit to output an image signal; and   a projector mounted on said arm portion of said housing unit, and coupled to said processing unit for receiving the image signal therefrom, said projector being operable so as to project an image corresponding to the image signal onto said top surface of said bed portion of said housing unit;   wherein the image projected by said projector shows a picture corresponding to the selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information and having a contour formed by the selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information.   
   
   
       2 . The sewing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a display unit mounted on said housing unit and coupled to and controlled by said processing unit for displaying the different design patterns available for selection and the different types of the stitch patterns available for selection, and for indicating the selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information and the selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information. 
   
   
       3 . The sewing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said display unit includes a liquid crystal display. 
   
   
       4 . The sewing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said selecting unit includes a keypad having a plurality of operating keys. 
   
   
       5 . The sewing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an adjusting unit mounted on said housing unit, coupled to said processing unit, and operable so as to output a control signal to said processing unit, said processing unit being responsive to the control signal from said adjusting unit to cause said projector to project the image with a size corresponding to the control signal from said adjusting unit. 
   
   
       6 . The sewing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said projector is mounted on said head of said arm portion of said housing unit so that the image corresponding to the image signal is projected by said projector onto said needle plate on said top surface of said bed portion of said housing unit.