Today the US Patent & Trademark Office issued Apple a granted patent relating to a ring accessory specifically designed to work with VR glasses and/or headset that is more accurate than wearing VR gloves. The user will be able to wear one or several rings to control content on screen depending on the application.

A ring device may have a housing that is configured to be worn on a finger of a user. Sensors in the housing such as force sensors, ultrasonic sensors, inertial measurement units, optical sensors, touch sensors, and other components in the ring devices may be used in gathering input from a user.

During operation, haptic output can be provided to the finger of a user using a haptic output device in the housing. Control circuitry in the housing may wirelessly transmit information gathered from the sensors and other input devices to associated electronic devices in the system. The information may include control signals that control operation of the electronic devices.

The housing of the ring device may have an annular main body and an expandable portion coupled to the main body. The expandable portion may include a flap with a hinge, a rotatable housing member, expandable nested housing segments, or other housing structures that move relative to an annular housing structure on the finger of a user.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below is a schematic diagram of an illustrative system with a ring device; FIG. 2 is a top view of an illustrative finger of a user on which a ring device has been placed; FIG. 4 is a side view of an illustrative expandable ring device on a finger.

Apple's patent FIG. 5 below is a perspective view of components in an illustrative ring device; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an illustrative ring device with a gap to allow for expansion to fit a finger; FIG. 12 is a top view of an illustrative ring device with a helical housing.

Apple's granted patent 10,579,099 was originally filed in Q1 2019 and published today by the US Patent and Trademark Office. Patently Apple covered this as a patent application and you could review the report for more information.

Other ring related reports

Oct 2015: Apple introduces us to the Apple Ring in all its Glory

Oct. 2019: Apple has won its First Smart Ring Patent with Biometrics, Touch Pad & Siri to Control devices including a TV

Dec. 2019: Apple Advances their Smart Ring Invention to acknowledge Hand & Pointing Gestures that may Control Home Devices