Patent ID: 7525533

Claim:
An audio communication apparatus comprising: a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device; an input unit configured to input an operating signal for operating the external device; a microphone configured to collect sound; a first speaker configured to output sound; a control unit configured to transmit the sound input from said microphone to the external device via said communication unit and transmit an audio signal received via said communication unit to said first speaker, and configured to be connected to said input unit and control enabling and disabling of a function of said input unit; a first structure part in which said first speaker is disposed; a second structure part in which said microphone is disposed; and an opened/closed state detecting mechanism configured to detect if an angle between the first structure part and said second structure part is between a first value and a second value; an angle detecting mechanism configured to determine if the angle between the first structure part and said second structure part is greater than a third value; a hinge part configured to movably join said first structure part and said second structure part to each other, wherein said first structure part and said second structure part are joined to each other so as to be able to be opened and closed with said hinge part as a pivot such that a lower surface of said first structure part and an upper surface of said second structure part are facing one another when closed, and the control unit is configured to set the audio communication apparatus in a mouse mode when the angle between the first structure part and the second structure part of the audio communication apparatus is closed to less than the first value, the control unit is configured to set the audio communication apparatus in a telephone mode when the angle between the first structure part and the second structure part of the audio communication apparatus is opened to greater than the third value, the control unit is configured to enable the microphone when the angle is greater than the third value, the control unit is configured to enable the first speaker when the angle is greater than the second value, and the third value is greater than the first value and less than the second value.