Monday, November 11, 2024
Patents

Perhaps Apple hasn’t ditched plans for an Apple Ring after all

This Apple Ring concept is courtesy of Yanko Design.

Apple has reportedly ditched plans for an Apple Ring; however, a new patent filing hints that this may not be true. Apple has filed for a patent (number US 20240362312 A1) for an “Electronic Device System With Ring Devices.”

About the patent filing

Obviously, items such as electronic devices may have displays, speakers, and other components. These components may provide output to a user. In some systems, controllers are provided to allow a user to adjust the operation of system components.

Apple says that, if care isn’t taken, controllers may not be ergonomic or may not perform as expected. These shortcomings may make it difficult for a user to interact with electronic equipment. Apple thinks a system of rings, working solo or in tandem, could be a great solution for controlling electronic devices. 

This graphic is a top view of an illustrative finger-mounted electronic device such as a ring device.

Summary of the patent filing

Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent filing: “Electronic devices in a system may be controlled by a user. The user may have one or more wearable devices or other devices. A user’s device may be used by the user in identifying a target electronic device of interest among the electronic devices in the system. The target electronic device may be identified using a gaze tracking sensor that senses the user’s point-of-gaze, an orientation sensor that detects a direction in which the user’s device is pointed, or other sensor circuitry. 

“Visual feedback, audio feedback, and/or haptic feedback may be provided to the user to confirm which electronic device has been identified as a target electronic device of interest. User input may be gathered by sensors and used in adjusting operating parameters in the target electronic device of interest. Health monitoring operations and other operations may also be performed.”

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Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.