Apple started working on a patent for a smart ring back in 2015 and passed a related patent application last October, describing it as a ring-shaped device with a touchpad or display that focuses on having a gesture input function.
And according to Patently Apple's latest report, Apple recently passed a second patent related to the smart ring.
The Apple patent enhances the smart ring's pointing function as a new input method to control a second device, such as the Apple TV.
Apple describes it as "a method for controlling external electronic devices," where a finger wearing a smart ring executes predefined gestures to other electronic devices to easily control them, such as changing the volume, user interface, adjusting the temperature or brightness of lights, etc.
The patent was reportedly filed by Apple with the USPTO in the third quarter of 2019 and was granted for passage a few days ago. Whether and when it will be applied to its products is not yet known.
