Adapter for a portable barcode reader and portable scanning system

An adapter for a portable barcode reader configured to enable wireless charging and data transfer between the portable barcode reader and a charge pad, the adapter comprising a

• a body having a base, the body configured to fasten to the portable barcode reader;
• adapter electrical contacts contained within the body and positioned to be in continuous contact with reader electrical contacts of the portable barcode reader when the body is fastened to the portable barcode reader;
• a wireless charging receiver conductor positioned within the body and coupled to the adapter electrical contacts to provide inductively received power to the portable barcode reader;
• a wireless controller positioned within the body and in communication with the wireless charging receiver conductor and the adapter electrical contacts and configured to control charging of the portable barcode reader;
• a near-field communication (NFC) conductor positioned within the body;
• and
• a microcontroller positioned within the body and in communication with the NFC conductor, the wireless controller, and the adapter electrical contacts, the microcontroller configured to wirelessly communicate indicia data captured by the portable barcode reader to an external receiver.

A portable scanning system, the system comprising:

• a barcode reader having reader electrical contacts;
• an adapter having
• a body configured to fasten to the barcode reader,
• adapter electrical contacts contained within the body and positioned to be in continuous contact with the reader electrical contacts of the barcode reader when the body is fastened to the barcode reader,
• a wireless charging receiver conductor positioned within the body and coupled to the adapter electrical contacts to provide inductively received power to the barcode reader, and
• a wireless controller positioned within the body and in communication with the wireless charging receiver conductor and the adapter electrical contacts and configured to control charging of the barcode;
• and
• a charge pad having a wireless charging transmitter conductor and a power source connection,
• the barcode reader configured to be charged via direct charging between the reader electrical contacts and the adapter electrical contacts, wireless charging between the wireless charging receiver conductor and the wireless charging transmitter conductor, and direct charging between the charge pad and a power source by the power source connection.