Patent Publication Number: US-2002002061-A1

Title: Electronic apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-157015, filed May 26, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] The present invention relates to an electronic apparatus, and more particularly, to an electronic apparatus capable of radio data communication with some other electronic apparatuses using a radio communication card.  
       [0003] When a personal computer is used for internet connection, in general, a modem that is attached to the computer and a modular jack of a public data network in a general home are connected to each other by means of a modular cable. When using this modular cable, however, the connection and wire arrangement are troublesome. If the personal computer and the modular jack are remote from each other, they cannot be connected with ease. Accordingly, the place of installation of the personal computer cannot be selected freely.  
       [0004] This problem of connection can be solved by a current prevailing radio communication connecting apparatus that utilizes radio communication for connection without using any modular cable. This radio communication connecting apparatus is connected to the public data network by means of a modular cable, and data are transmitted between the personal computer and the connecting apparatus by radio communication, whereby the computer and the network are connected to each other. With use of this connecting apparatus, troublesome connection and arrangement of the modular cable can be eliminated, the place of installation of the personal computer can be selected freely, and the range of service can be extended.  
       [0005] In some cases, however, the radio communication connecting apparatus of this type may not be able to be used, depending on various conditions, such as the function and design, the type of the corresponding personal computer, OS, and line, expansibility, etc. that vary according to products.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a highly versatile electronic apparatus, capable of radio communication with some other electronic apparatuses using a radio communication card and of being wirelessly connected or linked to various apparatuses with ease.  
       [0007] In order to achieve the above object, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a holding portion for detachably holding a radio communication card including an antenna; a metal plate on which the holding portion is provided; and a connecting portion for data communication with the radio communication card held by the holding portion. The holding portion is arranged to hold the radio communication card in a manner such that the antenna is exposed outside of the holding portion and the minimum distance between the antenna and the metal plate is 1 mm or more.  
       [0008] According to the electronic apparatus constructed in this manner, the radio communication card can be used for radio communication between some electronic apparatuses. This electronic apparatus is a highly versatile apparatus that can be wirelessly connected or linked to various other apparatuses with ease. Further, the distance between the antenna and an end portion of a metal plate of the apparatus body is 1 mm or more, and preferably, 2 mm or more. In this case, the metal plate can be prevented from intercepting or attenuating the radio waves, so that steady data communication can be ensured.  
       [0009] An electronic apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an apparatus body having an installation surface and a first surface opposite to the installation surface; a holding portion provided at the apparatus body, for detachably holding a radio communication card which has a second surface and an antenna provided on the second surface; and a connecting portion arranged at the apparatus body, for data communication with the radio communication card held by the holding portion. The holding portion is arranged to hold the radio communication card in a manner such that the first and second surfaces face in the same direction.  
       [0010] Further, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an apparatus body having an installation surface and a holding portion for detachably holding a radio communication card including an antenna; and a connecting portion provided at the apparatus body, for data communication with the radio communication card held by the holding portion. The holding portion is arranged to holding the radio communication card in a manner such that the antenna is exposed outside of the apparatus body and situated farther from the installation surface of the apparatus body than a center of the apparatus body with respect to the height direction of the apparatus body.  
       [0011] According to the electronic apparatus constructed in this manner, the radio communication card can be used for radio communication between some electronic apparatuses. This electronic apparatus is a highly versatile apparatus that can be wirelessly connected or linked to various other apparatuses with ease. Further, the antenna of the radio communication card can be kept off the installation surface, so that influences of a floor or wall surface upon radio waves can be reduced, and steady data communication can be ensured.  
       [0012] Another electronic apparatus according to the invention comprises a removable cover that covers the holding portion and the radio communication card set in the holding portion. Further, the cover is formed in a manner such that the attachment of the radio communication card can be visually recognized from the outside. According to this arrangement, the cover can prevent dirt, dust, etc. from getting into the holding portion. Since the inside of the holding portion can be visually observed through the cover, moreover, the attachment of the radio communication card can be easily recognized, so that wrong operation can be prevented.  
       [0013] Still another electronic apparatus according to the invention comprises a slide switch; a rotary switch; and setting means for setting operating states of the apparatus in accordance with combinations of shift positions of the slide and rotary switches. Since the operating modes are set by means of combinations of the slide and rotary switches only, the operating efficiency can be improved, and the switches can be reduced in number so that the apparatus is miniaturized and its manufacturing cost is lowered.  
       [0014] A further electronic apparatus according to the invention uses a PC card as the radio communication card. With use of the standardized PC card as a radio communication module, the apparatus is highly versatile, and can be wirelessly connected or linked to various other apparatuses with ease.  
       [0015] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out hereinafter. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
     [0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.  
     [0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing an outline of a radio communication system with an access point according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0018]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the access point, a BT-PC card, and a cover;  
     [0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the access point in its vertical position;  
     [0020]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the rear side of the access point;  
     [0021]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the access point in its horizontal position;  
     [0022]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of the access point;  
     [0023]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the BT-PC card;  
     [0024]FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the BT-PC card;  
     [0025]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal structure of the access point;  
     [0026]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a card slot of the access point;  
     [0027]FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a connecting portion between the BT-PC card and a connector on the card-slot side;  
     [0028]FIG. 12 is a front view showing the BT-PC card set in position;  
     [0029]FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the minimum distance d and an attenuate level of the radio wave output;  
     [0030]FIG. 14 is a front view showing the access point in its horizontal position;  
     [0031]FIG. 15 is a block diagram schematically showing the respective configurations of the access point and the BT-PC card;  
     [0032]FIG. 16 is a block diagram schematically showing the respective configurations of the BT-PC card and a personal computer for data communication with the access point; and  
     [0033]FIG. 17 is a table showing assignment of switch shift positions of the access point to operating states. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0034] An electronic apparatus (hereinafter referred to as access point) for radio communication connection according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     [0035]FIG. 1 shows a system for radio communication between an access point  10  according to the present embodiment and two personal computers  100 . The access point  10  and each personal computer  100  are each detachably fitted with a PC card (hereinafter referred to as BT-PC card)  20  based on the radio communication standards called Bluetooth (hereinafter referred to as BT), for use as a radio communication card, which will be mentioned later. The access point  10 , which is connected to a public data network by means of a modular cable  12 , transfers data wirelessly transmitted from the personal computers  100  to the public data network and wirelessly transmits data from the public data network to the personal computers by utilizing the BT-PC card  20 .  
     [0036] As shown in FIGS.  2  to  6 , the access point  10  is provided with a substantially rectangular apparatus body  14  that is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin. The apparatus body  14  has a slightly curved front face  14   a,  a substantially flat back face  14   b  opposed to the front face, a pair of opposite side faces  14   c,  a top face  14   d,  and a bottom face  14   e.  The bottom and back faces  14   e  and  14   b  of the apparatus body  14  constitute first and second installation surfaces, respectively.  
     [0037] The apparatus body  14  of the access point  10  can be used in a vertical position such that the bottom face  14   e  is put on the top of a desk or the like, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Alternatively, it can be used in a horizontal position such that the back face  14   b  is put on the top of a desk or the like, as shown in FIG. 5. The back face  14   b  is formed having two engaging recesses  16  for pins, hooks, etc. By using these engaging recesses  16 , the apparatus body  14  can be also used as of a wall-mounted type such that its back face is opposed to a wall.  
     [0038] A power switch  18  of a push-button type is provided on the one side face  14   c  of the apparatus body  14 . An RS232C connector  22  and an AC adapter terminal  23  for power connection are arranged on the other side face  14   c.  Further, a plurality of LED&#39;s  24  for use as display elements that indicate operating states of the access point  10  are arranged side by side on the front face  14   a  of the apparatus body  14 . The operating states include, for example, a power-on state (POWER), sending state (SD), receiving state (RD), off-hook state (OH), standby/active state (STB/ACT) of the BT-PC card  20  (mentioned later), etc.  
     [0039] The top face  14   d  of the apparatus body  14  is provided with a card loading aperture  28  of a card slot  26  (mentioned later) and an ejector button  30 . As seen from FIG. 6, moreover, the bottom face  14   e  is provided with two modular jacks  32 , which can be connected with the modular cable  12  for connecting the access point  10  to the public data network, a pair of slide switches  34   a  and  34   b,  left and right, and a rotary switch  35 .  
     [0040] A skirt portion  36  is set up along the peripheral edge portion of the bottom face  14   e,  and a notch  37  is formed in a part of the skirt portion  36 . The skirt portion  36  serves as a leg portion when the apparatus body  14  is used in the vertical position. The modular cable  12  that is connected to the modular jacks  32  is drawn out through the notch  37 . Even in the case where the apparatus body  14  is used in the vertical position with the modular cable  12  connected to the modular jacks  32 , therefore, the apparatus body  14  can be steadily supported by means of the skirt portion  36  without being hindered by the modular cable.  
     [0041] The card slot  26  for use as a holding portion is located in the apparatus body  14 . The card loading aperture  28  of the card slot  26  opens in the top face  14   d  of the apparatus body. The BT-PC card  20  can be detachably fitted to the card slot  26  through the card loading aperture  28 .  
     [0042] The following is a detailed description of the BT-PC card  20  and the card slot  26 . As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the BT-PC card  20  includes a card body  40  based on the PCMCIA standards, and an a transmitter-receiver portion  42  protruding from one end of the card body and based on the BT standards. The card body  40  has a substantially rectangular plastic frame  43 , which supports the peripheral edge portion of a rectangular card substrate  44 . A connector  45  is attached to one end of the card substrate  44 , and the other end portion of the card substrate projects from the card body  40 .  
     [0043] A plurality of electronic components  46  are mounted on one surface of the card substrate  44 , that is, an upper surface  44   a  in this case. Arranged on the upper surface of the other end portion of the card substrate  44 , moreover, are an antenna element  46 , an LED  47  that glows when signals are transmitted or received, and a headset portion  48  to be connected with a headphone, microphone, etc. which constitute the transmitter-receiver portion  42   
     [0044] The upper and lower surfaces of the card substrate  44 , except the other end portions thereof, are covered, respectively, by means of a pair of metallic covers  50   a  and  50   b  that are fitted on the frame  43 . Further, the transmitter-receiver portion  42  has a plastic cap  51 , which is fitted on the other end of the card body  40  and covers the other end portion of the card substrate  44  and the antenna element  46 , LED  47 , and headset portion  48  that are mounted on the upper surface of the other end portion of the substrate  44 .  
     [0045] The end of the BT-PC card  20  to which the connector  45  is attached is a loading-side end for the card slot  26 . The front end of one side wall of the frame  43  is formed having a first guide groove  52   a,  which opens in the top face, one side face, and front end face of the card body  40 . The front end of the other side wall of the frame  43  is formed having a second guide groove  52   b,  which opens only in the other side face and front end face of the card body  40 . As mentioned later, the first and second guide grooves  52   a  and  52   b  serve to regulate the facing of the BT-PC card  20  as the card  20  is loaded into the card slot  26 .  
     [0046] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, on the other hand, a metallic frame  54  is provided in the apparatus body  14 . The frame  54  is fitted with the aforesaid power switch  18 , RS232C connector  22 , AC adapter terminal  23 , etc. and various electronic components mentioned later. The metallic frame  54  includes a substantially flat shielding plate  56  that is situated adjacent and opposite the front face  14   a  of the apparatus body  14 . A top center portion  56   a  of the shielding plate  56  extends close to the card loading aperture  28 . The card slot  26  is located inside the shielding plate  56 .  
     [0047] The card slot  26  includes a metallic holding frame  58  that is fixed to the shielding plate  56 . The frame  58  is shaped and sized corresponding to the card body  40  of the BT-PC card  20  and opposed to the card loading aperture  28 . Further, the card slot  26  includes a connector  60  on the tail end portion of the holding frame  58  and an ejector lever  61  on a side portion of the frame  58 . The ejector button  30  is coupled to the lever  61 . The connector  60  constitutes a terminal portion according to the present invention.  
     [0048] If the BT-PC card  20  is inserted into the card slot  26  through the card loading aperture  28 , it is guided by the holding frame  58  so that its connector  45  is connected to the connector  60  of the card slot. The card body  40  of the BT-PC card  20  is held in the card slot  26  by means of the holding frame  58  and the connectors  45  and  60  that are connected to each other, and is connected electrically to the access point  10 .  
     [0049] As shown in FIG. 11, plastic guide frames  65  are provided individually on the opposite end portions of the connector  60 . The frames  65  are formed having first and second guide projections  62   a  and  62   b  corresponding to the first and second guide grooves  52   a  and  52   b  of the BT-PC card  20 , respectively. More specifically, the first guide projection  62   a  is shaped and positioned so that it can engage only the first guide groove  52   a  of the BT-PC card  20 , while the second guide projection  62   b  is shaped and positioned so that it can engage only the second guide groove  52   b  of the card  20 .  
     [0050] Thus, the first and second guide grooves  52   a  and  52   b  can engage the first and second guide projections  62   a  and  62   b  of the card slot  26 , respectively, to set the BT-PC card  20  in a given position only when the card  20  is inserted into the slot  26  in a manner such that the grooves  52   a  and  52   b  are opposed to their corresponding projections  62   a  and  62   b,  that is, the upper surface (on the side of the metallic cover  50   a ) of the card  20  faces the front face  14   a  of the apparatus body  14 .  
     [0051] If the BT-PC card  20  is inserted inside out into the card slot  26 , the first and second guide grooves  52   a  and  52   b  never engage their corresponding guide projections  62   a  and  62   b,  so that attachment is restrained, that is, wrong attachment can be prevented. In removing the BT-PC card  20 , the ejector button  30  is depressed so that the ejector lever  61  presses the distal end face of the card  20 . In consequence, the connectors  45  and  60  are disconnected from each other, and the card body  40  is pushed out toward the card loading aperture  28 , whereupon the removal of the card  20  is allowed.  
     [0052] When the BT-PC card  20  is set in the card slot  26 , only the card body  40  is held in the card slot, and the transmitter-receiver portion  42  is left exposed to the outside, as shown in FIG. 5, for example. Further, the card slot  26  is designed so that a minimum distance d between the top center portion  56   a  of the shielding plate  56  on the side of the apparatus body  14  and the transmitter-receiver portion  42  of the BT-PC card  20  is 1 mm or more, and preferably, 2 mm or more, with the card  20  set in position, as shown in FIG. 12.  
     [0053] In this set state, the transmitter-receiver portion  42  of the BT-PC card  20  is exposed, the minimum distance d from the shielding plate  56  is adjusted to 1 mm or more. By doing this, steady data communication can be effected without allowing the apparatus body  14  or shielding plate  56  to intercept or attenuate radio waves during data transmission or reception.  
     [0054]FIG. 13 shows the relationship between the distance d and an attenuate level of the radio wave output. As clearly understood from FIG. 13, if the minimum distance d is adjusted to 1 mm or more, intercept and attenuate of radio waves by the shielding plate  56  can be prevented.  
     [0055] Further, the card slot  26  is designed so that the transmitter-receiver portion  42  of the BT-PC card  20 , especially the antenna element  46 , is located eccentrically to the installation surface and situated above a central position in the height direction of the apparatus body  14  without regard to the working position, vertical or horizontal, of the apparatus body when the card  20  is set in position.  
     [0056] More specifically, in the case where the apparatus body  14  is used in its vertical position with its bottom face  14   e  serving as the installation surface, as shown in FIG. 4, the transmitter-receiver portion  42  of the BT-PC card  20  in the card slot  26  is situated above a center line A in the height direction of the apparatus body, that is, in the direction perpendicular to the installation surface. In the case where the apparatus body  14  is used in its horizontal position with its back face  14   b  serving as the installation surface, as shown in FIG. 14, the transmitter-receiver portion  42  of the BT-PC card  20  is situated farther from the installation surface than a center line B in the height direction of the apparatus body that is perpendicular to the installation surface is, that is, above the center line B.  
     [0057] Thus, the antenna element  46  of the BT-PC card  20  can be located off a desk top, wall, or the like without regard to the working position, vertical or horizontal, of the apparatus body, so that bad influences of the desk top or wall upon the radio waves that are transferred through the antenna element  46  can be lessened. At the same time, the BT-PC card  20  can be loaded into the card slot  26  only when its upper surface or the upper surface  44   a  of card substrate  44  on which the antenna element  46  is mounted faces the front face  14   a  of the apparatus body  14 , as mentioned before. In the case where the apparatus body  14  is used in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 14, the antenna element  46  is always situated on the side remoter from the installation surface. Accordingly, the bad influences of the desk top or wall upon the radio waves can be further lessened. Thus, steadier data communication can be ensured.  
     [0058] In the case where the apparatus body  14  is used in the vertical position, the top face  14   d  that has the card loading aperture  28  extends substantially parallel to the bottom face  14   e  that serves as the installation surface, so that dirt, dust, etc. may possibly get into the apparatus body through the aperture  28 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, therefore, the access point  10  is provided with a cover  63  that can be removably fitted on the top face  14   d  of the apparatus body  14 . The cover  63  is formed of a nonmetallic material that transmits light, e.g., a transparent resin. In the case where the apparatus body  14  is used in the vertical position, the cover  63  on its top face  14   d  serves to cover the card loading aperture  28  of the card slot  26  and the BT-PC card  20  therein, thereby preventing dirt, dust, etc. from getting into the apparatus body.  
     [0059] Since the cover  63  transmits light, moreover, the attachment of the BT-PC card  20  can be externally visually recognized with ease, and the glowing state or active state of the LED  47  on the card  20  can be visually recognize from the outside.  
     [0060] The following is a description of the respective internal structures of the access point  10  and the BT-PC card  20  described above. As shown in FIG. 15, the access point  10  includes a CPU  72  for controlling the operation of the entire access point. The CPU  72  is connected with the LED&#39;s  24 , slide switches  34   a  and  34   b,  rotary switch  35 , and connector  60  as an interface connector. A main memory  74  and a ROM  76  are connected to the CPU  72  by means of a memory bus, and power supplied from the AC adapter terminal  23  is supplied to the CPU through a power supply element  77 . The CPU  72  functions also as setting means according to this invention.  
     [0061] Further, the access point  10  includes a modem element  70  that is connected to the public data network by means of the modular cable  12  and the modular jack  32 . The modem element  70  and the RS232C connector  22  are connected to the CPU  72  through a changeover switch  78 . The modem element  70  and the ejector button  30  function as a transmitter-receiver portion.  
     [0062] The main memory  74 , which is composed of a plurality of DRAM&#39;s, is a memory device that is loaded with driver software including operating programs for the access point  10 , a device driver, and a radio communication protocol. The ROM  76  is loaded with communication protocols for radio communication and the public data network.  
     [0063] The modem element  70  converts digital data received from the BT-PC card  20  into analog data, transfers the data to the public data network through the modular jack  32 , converts the analog data received from the public data network through the modular jack  32  into digital data, and transfers the data to the CPU  72 .  
     [0064] The RS232C connector  22  is provided for the serial connection between the access point  10  and other electronic apparatuses such as the personal computers  100  by means of a RS232C cable (not shown). For example, an ISDN terminal adapter may be connected to the access point  10  by means of the RS232C connector  22  and the RS232C cable so that the digital data received from the BT-PC card  20  can be transferred directly. Further, the access point  10  and the personal computers  100  may be connected to one another by means of the RS232C connector  22  and the RS232C cable so that the operating states (mentioned later) of the access point  10  can be set by means of the personal computers.  
     [0065] The changeover switch  78  serves for switching between the connection with the public data network by means of the modem element  70  and the modular jack  32  and the connection with the other electronic apparatus by means of the RS232C connector  22 .  
     [0066] On the other hand, the BT-PC card  20 , as a radio module based on the BT standards, comprises the antenna element  46 , an RF element  80 , a base band element  81 , a memory  82 , a crystal oscillator element  83 , the headset portion  48 , an AD/DA converter element  84 , and the LED  47 .  
     [0067] The connector  45  as an interface connector is used for data transfer between the BT-PC card  20  and the access point  10 . The antenna element  46  transmits and receives radio waves to execute radio communication, and its working frequency band ranges from 2.4 to 2.5 GHz. The RF element  80  carries out signal processing such that communication can be executed with given working radio frequencies.  
     [0068] The base band element  81  digitally processes data inputted through the antenna element  46  and the RF element  80 , converts them into data that can be processed in the access point  10  and loads them into the memory  82 . The data are transferred to and from the access point. The LED  47  glows when the data are transmitted or received, for example. The memory  82  is loaded with a radio protocol.  
     [0069] The crystal oscillator element  83  supplies reference waves that are used in the RF element  80 . The headset portion  48  is connected with a headset that includes the headphone and the microphone, and inputs and outputs aural signals. Further, the AD/DA converter element  84  converts analog data received from the headset portion  48  into digital data signals, converts digital data that are received from the access point  10  through the base band element  81  into analog signals, and transmits the analog signals to the headset portion  48 .  
     [0070] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 16, on the other hand, each personal computer  100  that performs radio communication with the access point  10  comprises a body  114  that is furnished with a keyboard  112  and an openable liquid crystal display panel  116  on the body. The body  114  is provided with a card slot  118 , which is removably loaded with another BT-PC card  20 . The slot  118  is constructed substantially in the same manner as the card slot  26  of the access point  10 , and the BT-PC card  20  is of the same type as the aforesaid one.  
     [0071] Further, the personal computer  100  comprises an interface connector  120  based on the PCMCIA standards and used to transfer data to and from the BT-PC card  20 , a MPU  122  for controlling the operations of the connector  120  and the whole computer, and a USB  124  that serves as an interface for function expansion. The USB  124  is used for serial connection to the access point  10  by means of the RS232C connector  22 , for example.  
     [0072] According to the access point  10  constructed in this manner, data are transferred between the BT-PC card  20  in the access point and the BT-PC card  20  in the personal computer  100 , whereby radio communication of data can be effected between the access point  10  and the personal computer  100  and between a plurality of personal computers  100 . If the access point  10  is connected to the public data network by means of the modular cable  12 , data wirelessly transmitted from each personal computer  100  can be transferred to the public data network, and data received from the public data network can be wirelessly transmitted to each personal computer  100 . Accordingly, there is no need of any cables for connecting the personal computers  100  or modular cables for connecting the computers  100  and the public data network, so that troublesome wire connection and arrangement can be eliminated. Thus, places for the installation of the personal computers  100  can be selected freely, the range of service can be extended, and the operating efficiency can be improved considerably.  
     [0073] According to the access point constructed in this manner, a radio communication card, especially a BT-PC card, is used as a radio module, so that the access point  10  can be improved in versatility and can be wirelessly connected or linked to various apparatuses with ease.  
     [0074] According to the access point described above, moreover, the radio communication card can be used without being influenced by metallic frames that are attached to the apparatus body  14 , and a satisfactory distance is secured between the installation surface and the antenna element to ensure steady data communication.  
     [0075] According to the access point  10 , as shown in FIG. 6, on the other hand, various operating states of the access point can be set by a user or at the time of shipment or an operator&#39;s inspection or maintenance operation in a manner such that shift positions of the slide switches  34   a  and  34   b  and the rotary switch  35  on the bottom face  14   e  of the apparatus body  14  are combined variously.  
     [0076] More specifically, each of the slide switches  34   a  and  34   b  are can be shifted between two positions L and H, and the rotary switch  35  between ten positions 0 to 9. As shown in FIG. 17, combinations of the shift positions of these switches are assigned individually to predetermined operating states.  
     [0077] Among these operating states, items that are frequently reset by the user, e.g., normal (MODEM), normal (TA), maintenance (MODEM), and maintenance (CPU), can be set alternatively by changing only the respective shift positions of the slide switches  34   a  and  34   b  without shifting the rotary switch  35 . Thus, the user can easily set these operating states. In the operating state, maintenance (CPU), the PIN code of a BT system can be changed by input operation through the personal computer  100  with the access point  10  and the personal computer connected to each other by means of the RS232C cable.  
     [0078] Further, items related to maintenance and items that are set at the time of shipment are assigned to the operating states that are set by shifting the slide switches  34   a  and  34   b  and the rotary switch  35 , and the operating states are reset by the operator.  
     [0079] In the access point  10 , operating state data that are assigned to the combinations of the respective shift positions of the individual switches are stored in the main memory  74 , and the CPU  72  sets the corresponding operating states according to the shift positions of the slide switches  34   a  and  34   b  and the rotary switch  35  and the operating state data stored in the main memory.  
     [0080] Thus, the various operating states can be set by shifting only the pair of slide switches  34   a  and  34   b  and the one rotary switch  35 , so that the operating efficiency can be improved, and the switches can be reduced in number to lower the manufacturing cost. The operating efficiency can be further improved, in particular, since the operating states that are usually frequently reset by the user can be set by shifting the slide switches only.  
     [0081] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various changes and modifications may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. According to the foregoing embodiment, for example, the access point is connected to the public data network by means of the transmitter-receiver portion that includes the modular jack and the modem element. However, the object of connection of the access point is not limited to the public data network. More specifically, the access point may be connected to another electronic apparatus so that data can be transferred between the alternative apparatus and each personal computer  100  by radio communication. In this case, the transmitter-receiver portion may be omitted.  
     [0082] Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.