NIHF Inductee Jaap C. Haartsen Invented Bluetooth Wireless Technology (2024)

Bluetooth® Wireless Technology

U.S. Patent No. 6,590,928

Inducted in 2015

Born Feb. 13, 1963

Jaap Haartsen has been active in the area of wireless communications for more than 25 years. In 1994, he laid the foundations for the system that was later known as the Bluetooth Wireless Technology, enabling connections between a seemingly endless array of devices.

In 1993, while in Sweden, Haartsen started working on indoor wireless communication systems. He was tasked with finding a solution for short-range radio connections that would add functionality to mobile phones and enable new sales. With the advent of Bluetooth, he played an active role in the creation of the Bluetooth Special Interest group which was founded in 1998, and served as chairman for the SIG air protocol specifications group from 1998 till 2000, driving the standardization of the Bluetooth radio interface. During that time, he played an important role in obtaining worldwide regulatory approval for the Bluetooth technology.

A native of the Netherlands, Haartsen studied at the Delft University of Technology, obtaining both his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering. He started his career with Ericsson, remaining there until becoming CTO of Tonalite BV, a privately-owned company addressing wireless wearable products. Plantronics acquired Tonalite in 2012, and Haartsen has continued at Plantronics as an expert on wireless systems and technologies. He has also served on the faculty of the University of Twente.

NIHF Inductee Jaap C. Haartsen Invented Bluetooth Wireless Technology (2024)

FAQs

NIHF Inductee Jaap C. Haartsen Invented Bluetooth Wireless Technology? ›

Summer 1994, he laid the foundations for the system that later became known as the Bluetooth® Wireless Technology. In 1997 he worked out the specifications of the lower layers of the radio system introducing the notion of piconets

piconets
A piconet is an ad hoc network that links a wireless user group of devices using Bluetooth technology protocols. A piconet consists of two or more devices occupying the same physical channel (synchronized to a common clock and hopping sequence).
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Piconet
. In 1998, this specification served as basis for the Bluetooth standard.

Did Jaap Haartsen invent Bluetooth? ›

But while you likely know the name Bluetooth, you might not know the name of its inventor. So we encourage you to read on and learn about the electrical engineer, inventor and entrepreneur behind this revolutionary technology: National Inventors Hall of Fame® (NIHF) Inductee Jaap Haartsen.

Who invented the wireless technology in Bluetooth? ›

The correct answer is Jaap Haartsen. Inventor of Bluetooth is Jaap Haartsen. Jaap Haartsen is a Dutch electrical engineer, researcher, inventor and entrepreneur. He led the development team that designed and created the Bluetooth in 1994.

Who invented Bluetooth Tech? ›

Jaap Haartsen has been active in the area of wireless communications for more than 25 years. In 1994, he laid the foundations for the system that was later known as the Bluetooth Wireless Technology, enabling connections between a seemingly endless array of devices.

When was Bluetooth popularized? ›

2004 - Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR

While the first Bluetooth-enabled phone was released in 2000, the technology became much more widely available in 2004. It's possible that this was because the version published that year made it easier for people to use the technology in their daily lives.

Which came first, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi? ›

Bluetooth technology was introduced before Wi-Fi. Bluetooth specifications 1.0 and 1.0B were released in 1999. The technology was originally designed as a wireless alternative to data cables, enabling short-range connectivity for devices like mobile phone headsets and car infotainment systems.

Who named Bluetooth? ›

In 1996, three industry leaders, Intel, Ericsson, and Nokia, met to plan the standardization of this short-range radio technology to support connectivity and collaboration between different products and industries. During this meeting, Jim Kardach from Intel suggested Bluetooth as a temporary code name.

Who made Bluetooth and why? ›

It had been conceived by Dr Jaap Haartsen at Swedish mobile giant Ericsson, according to the European Patent Office (EPO). Things really stepped up though in 1998 when the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) was formed to develop and promote the technology.

What is Bluetooth and when was it invented? ›

Bluetooth, technology standard used to enable short-range wireless communication between electronic devices. Bluetooth was developed in the late 1990s and soon achieved massive popularity in consumer devices.

What was used before Bluetooth? ›

Before Bluetooth was invented, some computers, personal digital assistants, and cell phones used infrared technology to send files to other devices. Bluetooth replaced infrared in the early 2000s. Infrared is limited by the need to have both devices in a "line of sight" with each other.

What country invented Wi-Fi? ›

Wi-Fi uses a large number of patents held by many different organizations. Australia, the United States and the Netherlands simultaneously claim the invention of Wi-Fi. A consensus has not been reached globally and is a controversial topic.

Did Hedy Lamarr really invent Wi-Fi? ›

Frequency hopping played a significant role in WWII and was eventually used to develop Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. American actress Hedy Lamarr may not have literally invented WiFi - that honor goes to Australian boffin John O'Sullivan - but she did discover a pretty important precursor.

Was Bluetooth invented in 2000? ›

Together, the five companies created the Bluetooth Special Interest Group in 1998. The rest is history. The technology was publicly announced in May 1999 and the first specifications were released in July 1999. In 2000, Ericsson launched its first Bluetooth product: a wireless voice headset.

Why did Jaap Haartsen invent Bluetooth? ›

Jaap Haartsen was tasked by Ericsson to utilize this technology to enhance the usability of cellular devices. Shortly after the SIG was formed, Jim Kardach named this software 'Bluetooth' after a Danish king of the same name who had joined together Denmark and Norway.

What country invented Bluetooth? ›

The development of the "short-link" radio technology, later named Bluetooth, was initiated in 1989 by Nils Rydbeck, CTO at Ericsson Mobile in Lund, Sweden. The purpose was to develop wireless headsets, according to two inventions by Johan Ullman, SE 8902098-6, issued 1989-06-12 and SE 9202239, issued 1992-07-24 .

What is the oldest version of Bluetooth? ›

Bluetooth 1.0 (1999)

The technology was first introduced in 1999 with the release of the SONY Ericcson r520m. The data transfer speed was low at 732.2 kbit/s-2.1 Mbit/s and had a max range of 10 meters.

What was before Bluetooth? ›

Before Bluetooth was invented, some computers, personal digital assistants, and cell phones used infrared technology to send files to other devices. Bluetooth replaced infrared in the early 2000s. Infrared is limited by the need to have both devices in a "line of sight" with each other.

When was Bluetooth invented in cars? ›

In 2001, the first Bluetooth hands-free car kits were introduced. Since then, Bluetooth has brought new levels of safety to our roads and more convenience to the in-car experience.

Who invented Bluetooth and how does it work? ›

Bluetooth technology was developed by a group of engineers at Ericsson, a telecommunications company based in Sweden. The engineers, led by Dr. Jaap Haartsen, developed Bluetooth as a wireless communication technology during the 1990s. Bluetooth operates through short-range wireless communication using radio waves.

How much is Bluetooth worth? ›

In 2022, the Bluetooth 5.0 market value stood at $4.1 billion and is anticipated to increase up to $7.0 billion by 2027. What is growth rate of the Bluetooth 5.0 market? The global Bluetooth 5.0 market is registering a growth rate CAGR of 11.0% from 2022 to 2027.

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