Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to systems and methods of detecting skin-to-skin contact, and more particularly, to detecting contact between two hands or between two fingers for input in virtual reality or augmented reality environments. While the patent is titled "skin to skin," the patent places emphasis on the use of smart rings used on multiple user fingers to form gestures that could be used in Extended Reality (XR) applications.

Apple notes that while using a VR headset, the actions that could be taken using skin-to-skin contact include, but are not limited to, moving an object such as a cursor or pointer, scrolling or panning, adjusting control settings, opening a file or document, viewing a menu, making a selection, executing instructions, operating a peripheral device connected to the host device. You could refer to part one for the overall details of Apple's invention.

Apple's patent FIG. 10 below illustrates wearable device (#1002) in the form of a ring that can include a band mechanism (#1018) electrically coupled to electronic jewel system (jewel #1020). The band mechanism (#1018) can include ground electrode (#1008), drive electrode (#1010), and differential sense electrodes (#1012 and 1014). In some examples, these electrodes can be wrapped fully or almost entirely around the circumference of band mechanism.  In other examples, the electrodes can be discrete electrode patches.

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Apple's patent FIG. 12A below illustrates a hand with an index finger supporting a wearable device (e.g., a ring) but not making contact with a thumb; FIG. 12B illustrates the hand of FIG. 12A, except that the index finger is now making contact with the thumb; FIG. 12C illustrates a sense output signal when the index finger and thumb make and break contact as shown in FIGS. 12B and 12A.

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Apple's patent FIG. 13A below illustrates a hand with an index finger supporting a wearable device (e.g., a ring) but not making contact with a middle finger; FIG. 13B illustrates the hand of FIG. 13A, except that the index finger is now making contact with the middle finger; FIG. 13C illustrates a sense output signal when the index finger and middle finger make and break contact as shown in FIGS. 13B and 13A.

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Apple's patent FIG. 16A below illustrates a hand with an index finger supporting a wearable device (e.g., a ring) and making contact with an opposite hand;  FIG. 16B illustrates a left hand with an index finger supporting a wearable device (e.g., a ring) and also a right hand with an index finger supporting another wearable device (e.g., a ring); FIG. 16C illustrates a hand with an index finger supporting a wearable device (e.g., a ring) and a middle finger supporting another wearable device (e.g., a ring).

Apple's patent FIG. 17 above illustrates a flowchart for detecting input gestures using one or more devices.

For more details, review patent application US 20220365598 A1.