Jaap Haartsen invented Bluetooth wireless technology.
Key Invention
Working at Ericsson in the mid-1990s, Haartsen developed Bluetooth as a short- range, low-power radio solution for connecting devices without cables. He overcame challenges like high power use and device discovery by inventing frequency-hopping methods and efficient synchronization techniques, earning patents for these innovations.
Development Timeline
Haartsen began the project in 1994, leading a team that finalized the Bluetooth specification by 1997, with Ericsson filing the key patent that year. He contributed to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group from 1998, standardizing the radio interface for global use.
Impact and Recognition
Bluetooth now enables billions of devices to connect seamlessly, transforming communication and device integration. Haartsen received induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2015 for this work.
