In January 2023 Patently Apple posted a patent report about a future Samsung Ring. In September 2023 we covered Samsung's trademark filing for the Galaxy Ring. And finally in July 2024, Samsung officially revealed their ring to the public at a Galaxy phone event.

 

Last month, Trusted Reviews posted a video titled " Ōura Ring 4 vs Samsung Galaxy Ring | Which is best?" These two smart rings will be battling it out for many years to come with each upping the ante year-in and year-out.

Last week the World IP Office published a new smart ring patent application from Samsung that is focused on bringing tap and multi-tap functionality to a future iteration of their ring in a move to challenge Oura's ring.

A Future Galaxy Ring that Identifies new Functionality based on Tapping Tapping Patterns

Samsung notes that a wearable device, such as a smart ring, may include a first surface facing a part of a user's body and a second surface opposite to the first surface; a communication circuit disposed between the first surface and the second surface; one or more sensors disposed between the first surface and the second surface; and at least one processor disposed between the first surface and the second surface and operatively coupled to the communication circuit and the one or more sensors. The at least one processor may be configured to identify data regarding tapping, using the one or more sensors, during a specified time interval.

The at least one processor may be configured to identify a first tapping pattern of the wearable device based on the data. The at least one processor may be configured to transmit a first signal related to the function to an external electronic device connected to the wearable device, based on identifying a function corresponding to the first tapping pattern.

According to an embodiment, the method of the wearable device may include an operation of identifying the data by using one or more sensors of the wearable device during a specified time period. The method may include identifying a first tapping pattern of the wearable device based on the data. The method may include identifying a function corresponding to the first tapping pattern, and transmitting a first signal related to the function to an external electronic device connected to the wearable device.

Samsung's patent FIG. 2 below illustrates a user about to tap the ring surface. Additionally, the ring could wirelessly communicate with a smartphone and/or service to access emergency services via cellular of satellite communications.

Referring to Samsung's patent FIGS. 6A to 6D below, a processor (e.g. the processor may identify a tapping pattern based on an orientation of the wearable device (Ring #200) and a tapping pattern generated within a specified time period.

For example, the tapping pattern may be configured based on an orientation and an impact pattern of the ring (wearable device). For example, a tapping pattern (or an impact pattern) may be identified based on tapping strength and tapping periodicity.

For example, even when the impact patterns generated within the specified time period are substantially the same, when the orientation of the ring is different, the processor may identify the impact patterns as different tapping patterns.

When the orientation of the ring is substantially the same and the impact pattern generated within the designated time period is different, the processor may identify the impact patterns as different tapping patterns.

Samsung's patent FIG. 7 above illustrates an example of an operation of a smart ring identifying an impact pattern of the user's taps.

The smart ring may identify a tapping pattern (or a motion pattern) of the wearable device by using one or more sensors (e.g. an acceleration sensor) included in the ring. For example, the tapping pattern of the ring may include a pattern (or motion) in which an impact greater than or equal to a specified magnitude is repeatedly generated in the wearable device within a specified time period. The ring may identify a function corresponding to the tapping pattern of the wearable device. The wearable device may perform the identified function, or transmit a signal related to the identified function to an external electronic device connected to the wearable device to perform the identified function.

Samsung further notes that the plurality of tapping patterns may be identified based on information about the user's body and information about the environment of the ring. For example, each of the plurality of tapping patterns may correspond to another function according to a situation.

For example, in a state in which the body temperature of the user is higher than the specified temperature, each of the plurality of tapping patterns may correspond to a function for requesting the emergency rescue. For example, while the user is driving, each of the plurality of tapping patterns may correspond to a function for controlling the vehicle.

Beyond emergency services associated with this future ring, Samsung's patent focuses on the technical side of the invention without revealing what future functionality will be assigned to the various tapping patterns. Samsung will save that for either a future patent or for when they actually debut this functionality at a future event.

Two of Samsung's Inventors Listed as:

• Dae-Sung Cho: Principal Engineer (29 year veteran)
• Kwangho Lee: Principal Engineer / Project Leader