Apple Smart Ring could be in development at the Cupertino company as a wearable device that is capable of controlling another device with touch and pressure-sensitive controls on the ring’s surface, according to details from a recently-granted patent. The smart ring proposed in the company’s latest patent is also capable of providing haptic feedback for notifications. Apple has spent several years working on a smart wearable device that resembles a ring — it filed a patent application years ago for ring shaped controls for VR devices.
Published by the US Patent Office (USPTO) on Tuesday, the patent US 11733790 B2 (via AppleInsider) describes a “ring input device with pressure-sensitive input”. The patent application was filed in September 2021 and granted on August 22. The document lists Michael Beyhs, Richard Huizar, Filip Ilievski, Jean Lu, and Thayne Miller as the inventors of the device.
Apple describes electronic finger rings as “unobtrusive, everyday communication devices” that can talk to other compatible devices over a wireless connection, due to the fact that they are “routinely worn and are often small”. The patent also describes the use of rings worn as wrist bracelets, part of hoop earrings or a necklace, or even a toe ring.
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