CURRENT MODULATED ASYNCHRONOUS SERIAL COMMUNICATION

Techniques are proposed for establishing data communications between a wireless charging cradle and a handheld barcode scanner in the absence of a mechanical charging/data contact point. A handled barcode scanner modulates its power draw to communicate data to the wireless charging cradle (e.g., using an inverted asynchronous serial communication protocol). The wireless charging cradle uses a current sense amplifier to identify and interpret high and low voltages proportional to the power draw to interpret the data communicated by the handheld barcode scanner. The wireless charging cradle thereby receives communications from the handheld barcode scanner, e.g., to facilitate establishment of a wireless radiofrequency (RF) link with the handheld barcode scanner.