Brillar and Kyoto University File Joint Patent for Ear Cuff Wearable Device
New Concept Developed for an Ear Cuff Device That Seamlessly Detects Vital Signs and Full-Body Motion
Under the concept of “Heirloom-quality moissanite jewelry designed to last for generations,” Brillar Co., Ltd., celebrating its 8th anniversary this year, has filed a joint patent application in Japan with Kyoto University. The patent is for an ear cuff–style wearable device featuring an integrated radar sensor.
This innovation combines advanced radar sensing and signal processing technologies—developed by Professor Takuya Sakamoto’s research group at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Engineering—with Brillar’s expertise in design and wearability, refined through its experience as a fine jewelry brand.
By integrating radar and multiple sensors into a stylish ear cuff, the device achieves both exceptional comfort and the ability to monitor vital signs—such as respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure—as well as full-body movement.
Overview of the Patent Application
【Applicants】
・Brillar Co., Ltd.
・Kyoto University (National University Corporation)
【Filing Date】
・November 7, 2025
【Inventors】
・Iso Ohara, CEO, Brillar Co., Ltd.
・Shinya Ohara, CFO, Brillar Co., Ltd.
・Takuya Sakamoto, Professor,
Department of Electrical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University
【Overview of the Patent Application】
This technology enables the detection of biological signals and physical motion directly from the ear using a sensor-integrated ear cuff.
An ear cuff–shaped device housing a radar sensor and multiple sensors.
Estimation of vital signs, including respiration rate, heart rate, and blood pressure.
Detection of full-body movement and posture based on head motion.
Detection of facial and hand movements in front of the wearer.
Compared to ring-type devices, this design is barely noticeable to the wearer. Furthermore, by positioning the sensors on the head rather than the wrist, the device can capture full-body movement with significantly greater accuracy.
At the Sakamoto Laboratory, Kyoto University (Katsura Campus)
Background: Creating Wellness Jewelry® That Blends Seamlessly into Everyday Life
While smartwatches and rings are now common, some users find them stressful for long-term wear due to physical discomfort or visual mismatch with formal attire and other jewelry.
Leveraging its strengths as a jewelry brand, Brillar is advancing R&D to create Wellness Jewelry®—healthcare devices that blend seamlessly into everyday life and can be worn with the same elegance as fine jewelry.
This joint patent application is a key part of this initiative. By combining Kyoto University’s advanced radar-based vital sign sensing and signal processing technologies with Brillar’s expertise in jewelry design and wearability, the project aims to achieve both sophisticated sensing capabilities and a “barely-there” feel for the wearer.
Anticipated Use Cases
An ear cuff–type device based on this technology is expected to be applied in the following areas:
Continuous monitoring of vital signs such as respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure in daily life
Self-care applications aimed at understanding sleep conditions and improving sleep quality
Integration with monitoring and support services to detect fall risk and instability in elderly individuals
By allowing the device to be worn naturally as jewelry around the ear, this approach seeks to move beyond the concept of a “wearable device used only when needed,” and instead realize a wearable device that can be continuously and naturally used as part of everyday attire.
Future Outlook
Following this patent application, Brillar will focus on:
Exploring the commercialization and service development of an ear cuff–type wearable device
Refining wearability, design, and algorithms through proof-of-concept (PoC) trials and user testing
Investigating potential collaborations across a wide range of fields, including medical care, healthcare, elder care, and fitness
With the aim of creating a new category—Wellness Jewelry®, which fuses jewelry with technology—the company will continue its joint research with Kyoto University, including the research group led by Professor Takuya Sakamoto, striving to realize healthcare experiences that seamlessly integrate into everyday life.
Significance of the Patent
Professor Takuya Sakamoto of the Graduate School of Engineering at Kyoto University shared the following comment on the significance of this patent:
“Accessories like ear cuffs subtly reflect the wearer’s personal style. By integrating sensing technology into this natural form, we are creating a new type of experience—one that gently captures the emotional fluctuations and inner changes of daily life.
When the individuality of jewelry meets technology that perceives what lies within, I believe it creates a form of value that has never existed before.”
About Professor Takuya Sakamoto and the Sakamoto Laboratory, Kyoto University
The Sakamoto Laboratory, part of the Department of Electrical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering at Kyoto University, led by Professor Takuya Sakamoto, conducts research on wireless human sensing technologies using radar.
The laboratory focuses on the research and development of high-precision, non-contact measurement technologies for vital signs such as respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure using millimeter-wave radar, as well as signal processing and system-theoretic approaches for estimating human position, posture, and behavior. These technologies are expected to contribute to new applications in healthcare, monitoring, and safety systems based on electromagnetic sensing.
※“Wellness Jewelry” is a registered trademark of Brillar.