Apple is apparently looking into the smart ring market, which is another field the company needs to conquer.
A newly-granted Apple patent posits the idea of a smart ring that would give Apple Watch-style haptic notifications, and let the wearer press on the surface to respond.
The patent, entitled, “Ring Input Device With Pressure-Sensitive Input,” marks the latest of many smart ring patents from the company. An Apple patent from back in 2015 offers the idea of a ring-style wearable that had voice control, haptics, and even a camera. Then in 2019, it looked like Apple was aiming to replicate Apple Watch functionality in a ring.
In the latest granted patent, Apple is specifically exploring the inside of a ring that could give notification taps and the outside where there could be controls.
Per the patent:
“Because finger rings are routinely worn and are often small, electronic finger rings can be employed as unobtrusive, everyday communication devices that are readily available to communicate wirelessly with other devices capable of receiving those communications.”
Like many of its patents, this patent also seems to cover a wide range of possible future uses for the technology:
“Although ring input devices may be primarily described and illustrated herein as electronic finger rings for convenience of explanation, it should be understood that the examples of the disclosure are not so limited, but also include ring input devices that are worn as part of a necklace, hoop earrings, electronic bracelet bands that are worn around the wrist, electronic toe rings, and the like.”
In each case, the wearables could “receive wireless input from a companion device and provide information to the wearer.” So for instance, “the ring can receive a notification from a smartphone and generate a vibrating alert.”
This is also followed up as such:
“[They] can also be used to provide inputs to handheld devices such as smartphones (e.g., scrolling through a list using rotating outer band), tablet and notebook computing devices, media players, styluses, wands or gloves for computer-generated environments, and the like. In addition, ring input device can also be used to provide inputs to stationary devices such as desktop computers, smart home control and entertainment devices (e.g., turning on a lamp, changing a TV channel), and the like.”
Apple’s patent also repeatedly proposes a ring that would have a rigid center worn on the finger, and a rotating element that goes around the outside. This, in turn, could help control the device.
This patent is credited to five inventors, and also specifically mentions Michael Beyhs, who previously worked on a touch-sensitive Digital Crown for the Apple Watch.
Apple’s device patent stands in contrast to existing and upcoming smart ring products like the Oura Ring and the Whoop ring, which is still in development. The Oura Ring gauges sleep and offers report data related to “deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep, blood oxygen levels, and more.” It also gauges physical activity by tracking “movement, steps, heart rate, and recovery.”
The Whoop ring, which is still in development, is intended as a sleep and activity tracker, its sleep functions measuring “slow wave sleep (SWS), REM, light, and awake” stages. It also works to analyze elements of stress and recovery, with user-customizable goals that can be set as well. An exact release date for the Whoop Ring has yet to be released, but customers can join the mailing list for more information.
Via AppleInsider, Oura, and Whoop