Last Thursday Patently Apple posted a patent application report titled "Apple Introduces a new kind of Smart Ring System to be used Primarily in Context with AR, VR and MR Applications." Today the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officially granted Apple a patent that relates to input devices that could be used in conjunction with either a full mixed Reality Headset (HMD) or smartglasses to assist the user navigate virtual or augmented environments. The input devices range from wearable finger styled accessories that Apple has filed patents on before and new ones.

In some embodiments, portions of the input-device (Accessory) may receive some of the user's fingers while leaving other fingers free to move and touch real-world objects.

Apple further notes that during use of the electronic device, the electronic device may gather user housing motion information indicative of changes in position and orientation of the housing by the user.

The device may use an accelerometer or other position sensor mounted in the housing to monitor housing motion. Input-output devices such as optical sensors and other sensors may be used to gather information on the position of the user's fingers as the user interacts with real-world objects.

Apple further notes that during use of the electronic device, the electronic device may gather user housing motion information indicative of changes in position and orientation of the housing by the user.

The device may use an accelerometer or other position sensor mounted in the housing to monitor housing motion. Input-output devices such as optical sensors and other sensors may be used to gather information on the position of the user's fingers as the user interacts with real-world objects.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 below is a schematic diagram of an illustrative electronic device (iPhone, iPad, Macs, glasses, HMD, television +); FIG. 3 is a side view of an illustrative finger device on a user's finger; FIG. 4 is a diagram of an illustrative electronic device with a housing unit coupled to a band; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an illustrative cylindrical handheld controller with groves configured to receive a finger device for storage. 

Apple's patent FIGS. 9 and 10 below are perspective views of illustrative handheld controllers with finger openings; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an illustrative expandable handheld controller; FIG. 12 is a diagram showing how an electronic device such as a handheld controller may have a housing that can be expanded by moving a housing portion into an extended position relative to another housing portion.

Apple's patent FIG. 13 above is a cross-sectional side view of an Apple Watch with joined housing portions and a wrist band; FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative device with a wrist band and other housing portions that may be used to house sensors for gathering user input; FIG. 15 is a diagram of an Apple Pencil being used to track the user's environment and a finger of a user as the finger interacts with a surface or other real-world object; FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an illustrative handheld controller with telescoping extensions; FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an illustrative handheld controller.

For more details, review Apple's granted patent 10,948,980