Patent ID: 8682536

Claim:
An onboard unit controlling apparatus including: a plurality of onboard units operable by an occupant; a sight line detector configured to detect a sight line of the occupant; a controller configured such that, when the sight line of the occupant detected by the sight line detector is directed to any one of the plurality of onboard units, the controller turns the onboard unit, to which the sight line is directed, into an operable state; a notifying device configured such that, when the controller judges that the onboard unit, to which the sight line is directed, is operable, the notifying device notifies the occupant of the onboard unit; and a run judging device that is configured to judge whether a vehicle is running, wherein when any one of the onboard units is continuously operable for a predetermined time or longer and if the run judging device judges that the vehicle is running, the controller releases the one of the onboard units from the operable state, and concurrently operates the notifying device in a mode different from a mode in the operable state.