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Apple granted another patent for an ‘Apple Ring’ for controlling Macs and other devices

Apple has filed for another patent (number 20210096660 ) dubbed “finger-wearable input assembly for controlling an electronic device. This “Apple Ring” would allow the wearer to control a Mac. However, the computer would apparently need to have a touch display or a monitor that detects motion.

In the patent filing, Apple says that some systems may include an electronic device operative to provide a user interface, as well as an electronic input assembly that may be manipulated by a user for generating user control signals operative to adjust the user interface. However, the tech giant says that existing systems are often inefficient and/or ineffective and they often limit the ways by which a user may interact with an input assembly to generate particular user control signals.  transceiver, and rechargeable power source.

Here’s part of Apple’s explanation of its plans: “An input assembly for controlling an electronic device may be provided that includes a housing structure providing an external surface and an internal surface that at least partially defines a passageway operative to receive a first digit of a user’s hand for wearing the input assembly, a plurality of sensors at least partially protected by the housing structure, the plurality of sensors including a first sensor operative to detect, at a first portion of the external surface, a first touch event by a second digit of the user’s hand when the input assembly is worn by the first digit, and a second sensor operative to detect, at a second portion of the external surface, a second touch event by a third digit of the user’s hand when the input assembly is worn by the first digit, and a processor operative to generate control data based on the first touch event and the second touch event for at least partially controlling an action of a user interface of the electronic device.”

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.