Patent Publication Number: US-2023164551-A1

Title: Wireless communication apparatus and vehicle including the same, and wireless communication system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication apparatus and a vehicle including the same, and a wireless communication system. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     There are known techniques for performing functions such as unlocking and locking doors of a vehicle, a house and the like with a mobile device such as a smartphone. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2013-100645 (PTL 1), for example, discloses a wireless communication system including a mobile device and an in-vehicle communication device that are capable of bidirectional communication. In this wireless communication system, wireless communication is performed between the mobile device and the in-vehicle communication device by near field communication (NFC) (for example, wireless communication by a communication scheme in accordance with NFC standards; hereinafter referred to as “NFC communication” or simply as “NFC” and the like) and the like, to allow unlocking and locking of vehicle doors or starting of an engine from the mobile device (see PTL 1). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         PTL 1: Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2013-100645 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In a wireless communication system such as described above, in order to detect that a user carrying a mobile device is approaching a vehicle and the like, polling for detecting the mobile device is performed in a communication device provided in the vehicle and the like. If a dark current associated with this polling is large, problems may arise such as unintentional depletion of a battery that supplies operating power to the communication device. 
     The present disclosure has been made to solve such a problem, and has an object to reduce a dark current in a wireless communication apparatus including a communication device that conducts wireless communication with a mobile device, a vehicle including the wireless communication apparatus, and a wireless communication system. 
     Solution to Problem 
     A wireless communication apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of communication devices that conduct wireless communication by communication schemes different from each other, and a controller that controls the plurality of communication devices. Each of the plurality of communication devices is configured to perform polling for detecting a mobile device capable of wireless communication, and to perform authentication of the mobile device detected by the polling. When the authentication is completed in one of the plurality of communication devices, the controller stops the polling by a remaining communication device. 
     A wireless communication system according to the present disclosure includes a wireless communication apparatus, and a mobile device that conducts wireless communication with the wireless communication apparatus. The wireless communication apparatus includes a plurality of communication devices that conduct wireless communication by communication schemes different from each other, and a controller that controls the plurality of communication devices. Each of the plurality of communication devices is configured to perform polling for detecting the mobile device, and to perform authentication of the mobile device detected by the polling. When the authentication is completed in one of the plurality of communication devices, the controller stops the polling by a remaining communication device. 
     The wireless communication apparatus described above includes the plurality of communication devices, and when the authentication of the mobile device is completed in one of the plurality of communication devices, the polling by a remaining communication device is stopped because the communication between the remaining communication device and the mobile device is no longer necessary. As a result, a dark current associated with the polling can be reduced. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to a wireless communication apparatus and a vehicle including the same, and a wireless communication system in the present disclosure, a dark current can be reduced. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is an overall block diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a timing chart showing example polling by a BEE communication device and an NFC communication device of a vehicle. 
         FIG.  3    is a timing chart showing another example polling by the NFC communication device and the BLE communication device of the vehicle. 
         FIG.  4    is a flowchart showing an example procedure for a process performed by a wireless controller of the vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference characters and description thereof will not be repeated. 
       FIG.  1    is an overall block diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG.  1   , the wireless communication system includes a vehicle  10  and a mobile device  50 . Vehicle  10  includes an NFC communication device  12 , a Bluetooth Low Energy (BEE) (“Bluetooth” is a registered trademark) communication device  14 , and a wireless controller  16 . NFC communication device  12 , BLE communication device  14 , and wireless controller  16  constitute a wireless communication apparatus that conducts wireless communication with mobile device  50 . 
     NFC communication device  12  is a communication device that conducts wireless communication with mobile device  50  by a communication scheme in accordance with NFC standards. NFC communication device  12  operates with power supplied from a battery  26 , and conducts NFC communication with an NEC communication device  52  of mobile device  50  through an antenna not shown in the figure. Among the NFC communication functions, at least reader/writer functions are incorporated in NFC communication device  12 . In addition to the reader/writer functions, a peer-to-peer communication (P2P) function may be incorporated. 
     NFC communication device  12  performs polling for detecting mobile device  50 , in accordance with an instruction from wireless controller  16 . That is, NFC communication device  12  transmits a request signal to the surroundings at regular intervals in accordance with NEC standards, and receives a response signal transmitted from NFC communication device  52  of mobile device  50  in response to the request signal. Upon receiving the response signal, NFC communication device  12  demodulates authentication data (ID information) included in the response signal, and outputs the demodulated ID information to wireless controller  16 . 
     BLE communication device  14  is a communication device that conducts wireless communication with mobile device  50  by a communication scheme in accordance with BLE communication standards. BLE communication device  14  also operates with power supplied from battery  26 , and conducts BLE communication with a BLE communication device  54  of mobile device  50  through an antenna not shown in the figure. The BLE communication has a communicable range of several meters or more, which is larger than a communicable range of the NFC communication (about 10 cm). 
     BLE communication device  14  also performs polling for detecting mobile device  50 , in accordance with an instruction from wireless controller  16 . That is, BLE communication device  14  transmits a request signal to the surroundings at regular intervals in accordance with BLE communication standards, and receives a response signal transmitted from BLE communication device  54  of mobile device  50  in response to the request signal. Upon receiving the request signal, BLE communication device  14  demodulates authentication data (ID information) included in the response signal, and outputs the demodulated ID information to wireless controller  16 . 
     Wireless controller  16  includes a processor not shown in the figure and a memory  18 , and controls NFC communication device  12  and BLE communication device  14 . Specifically, when a prescribed polling condition is satisfied, wireless controller  16  outputs a command to perform polling to NFC communication device  12  and BLE communication device  14  (polling process). 
     When wireless controller  16  receives the ID information received and demodulated by NFC communication device  12  or BLE communication device  14 , wireless controller  16  verifies the ID information against ID information stored in memory  18  (authentication process). If the received ID information and the stored ID information are determined to match as a result of the verification, the authentication of mobile device  50  is completed. As a result, authenticated mobile device  50  can be used to perform operation of a door lock device  22  (locking/unlocking of entrance doors), start an engine  24 , or the like. The ID information stored in memory  18  may be stored in a memory (not shown) of a vehicle controller  20 , or in each of NFC communication device  12  and BLE communication device  14 . The process of wireless controller  16  will be described later in further detail. 
     Vehicle  10  further includes vehicle controller  20 , door lock device  22 , engine  24 , and battery  26 . Door lock device  22  is configured to switch the entrance doors of vehicle  10  between a locked state and an unlocked state. Engine  24  is an internal combustion engine that generates a driving force for vehicle  10  to run. 
     Vehicle controller  20  includes a central processing unit (CPU), a memory, signal input/output ports, and the like (none shown). Vehicle controller  20  performs various types of control of vehicle  10 . As an example, vehicle controller  20  outputs an unlock command to door lock device  22  in accordance with a request to unlock the entrance doors, and outputs a lock command to door lock device  22  in accordance with a request to lock the entrance doors. Vehicle controller  20  also performs control of starting of engine  24  in accordance with a request to start engine  24 . 
     When vehicle controller  20  receives a notification that the authentication of mobile device  50  is completed from wireless controller  16 , vehicle controller  20  permits the operation of door lock device  22  (locking/unlocking of the doors) and the starting of engine  24  with authenticated mobile device  50 . Then, when the operation of door lock device  22  or the starting of engine  24  is requested with mobile device  50 , vehicle controller  20  controls door lock device  22  or engine  24  to perform the requested operation. 
     Battery  26  is an auxiliary battery of vehicle  10 , and implemented, for example, by a lead acid battery. Battery  26  supplies operating power to NFC communication device  12 , BLE communication device  14 , wireless controller  16 , and vehicle controller  20 . 
     Mobile device  50  includes NFC communication device  52 , BLE communication device  54 , a controller  56 , an input device  62 , a display  64 , and a battery  66 . 
     NFC communication device  52  is a communication device that conducts wireless communication with vehicle  10  by a communication scheme in accordance with NFC standards. NFC communication device  52  conducts NFC communication with NFC communication device  12  of vehicle  10  through an antenna not shown in the figure. NFC communication device  52  includes a passive tag (IC tag) that operates by radio waves from NFC communication device  12 . That is, NFC communication device  52  operates by radio waves received from NFC communication device  12  without receiving power supply from battery  66 . Accordingly, NFC communication device  52  can communicate with NFC communication device  12  of vehicle  10  even when mobile device  50  is powered off. 
     When NFC communication device  52  receives the request signal emitted from NFC communication device  12 , NFC communication device  52  generates a response signal including ID information that is unique to corresponding mobile device  50  and was written in the passive tag (IC tag), modulates the generated response signal, and transmits the modulated response signal to NFC communication device  12  of vehicle  10 . 
     BLE communication device  54  is a communication device that conducts wireless communication with vehicle  10  by a communication scheme in accordance with BLE communication standards. BLE communication device  54  operates with power supplied from battery  66 , and conducts BLE communication with BLE communication device  14  of vehicle  10  through an antenna not shown in the figure. 
     When BLE communication device  54  receives the request signal emitted from BLE communication device  14 , BLE communication device  54  obtains ID information that is unique to corresponding mobile device  50  from a memory  60  of controller  56 . BLE communication device  54  then generates a response signal including the obtained ID information, modulates the generated response signal, and transmits the modulated response signal to BLE communication device  14  of vehicle  10 . 
     Controller  56  includes a CPU  58 , memory  60 , signal input/output ports (not shown), and the like. Controller  56  performs various types of control of mobile device  50 . As an example, controller  56  reads, in accordance with a request from BLE communication device  54 , the ID information of corresponding mobile device  50  stored in memory  60  from memory  60 , and outputs the read ID information to BLE communication device  54 . When an input operation that requests the unlocking/locking by door lock device  22  or the starting of engine  24  in vehicle  10  is performed at input device  62 , controller  56  outputs a signal corresponding to the input operation to BLE communication device  54 . 
     Input device  62  is a device that accepts various input operations by a user on mobile device  50 , and implemented, for example, by a touch sensor that detects touch operations on display  64 , or various operation buttons provided on mobile device  50 . Display  64  displays various types of information of mobile device  50 , information corresponding to an input operation from input device  62 , and the like. Input device  62  and display  64  may be integrally formed as a touch panel sensor. 
     Battery  66  is a chargeable and dischargeable secondary battery, and implemented, for example, by a lithium ion secondary battery. Battery  66  can be charged by an external power supply using a charging device not shown in the figure. Battery  66  then supplies operating power to BLE communication device  54 , controller  56 , input device  62 , and display  64 . 
     Since NFC communication device  52  includes a passive tag that operates by radio waves from NFC communication device  12  as described above, NFC communication device  52  does not receive power supply from battery  66 . 
     In this wireless communication system, mobile device  50  can be used to perform the operation of door lock device  22  (locking/unlocking of the entrance doors), or the starting of engine  24 , in vehicle  10 . A representative description of the operation of door lock device  22  is provided. When an input operation that requests the unlocking or locking by door lock device  22  is performed at input device  62  after BLE communication has been established between BLE communication devices  14  and  54 , and authentication of mobile device  50  has been completed through the BLE communication, a signal corresponding to the input operation is transmitted from BLE communication device  54  to BLE communication device  14 , and door lock device  22  is controlled by vehicle controller  20  in accordance with this signal in vehicle  10 . 
     When a predetermined operation that requests the unlocking or locking by door lock device  22  is performed after NFC communication has been established between NFC communication devices  12  and  52 , and authentication of mobile device  50  has been completed through the NFC communication, door lock device  22  is controlled by vehicle controller  20  in accordance with this operation in vehicle  10 . For example, by holding mobile device  50  over a prescribed position and allowing the communication between NFC communication devices  12  and  52  to continue for at least a prescribed period of time, the locking and unlocking by door lock device  22  can be switched in accordance with this operation. 
     In the wireless communication system described above, NFC communication between NFC communication devices  12  and  52  and BLE communication between BLE communication devices  14  and  54  can be used. As to the NFC communication and the BLE communication, the BLE communication has a larger communicable range than the NFC communication. When mobile device  50  is powered off, on the other hand, the operating power is not supplied from battery  66  to BLE communication device  54 , and therefore, the BLE communication cannot be used. However, the passive type NFC communication that does not require power supply from battery  66  can be used. 
     For the communication between vehicle  10  and mobile device  50 , therefore, the BLE communication between BLE communication devices  14  and  54  with a larger communicable range is basically used, and the NFC communication between NFC communication devices  12  and  52  is used as a backup when the BLE communication cannot be used because mobile device  50  is powered off due to a dead battery or the like. 
     Whether in the NFC communication or in the BLE communication, in order to detect that the user carrying mobile device  50  is approaching vehicle  10 , polling for detecting mobile device  50  is performed in NFC communication device  12  and BLE communication device  14  of vehicle  10 . During the polling, radio waves (request signal) are output to the surroundings at regular intervals in order to detect mobile device  50  approaching vehicle  10 , causing a dark current to flow. If the dark current associated with this polling is high, problems may arise such as unintentional depletion of battery  26 . 
     In the wireless communication system according to the present embodiment, therefore, once the communication is established either between BLE communication devices  14  and  54  or between NFC communication devices  12  and  52 , and the authentication of mobile device  50  is completed, wireless controller  16  stops the polling by the communication devices used for the other communication because the other communication is no longer necessary. As a result, after the authentication is completed in one of the BLE communication and the NFC communication, the dark current associated with the polling can be reduced in the communication devices used for the other communication. 
     While the functions authorized when the authentication has been performed in the BLE communication and the functions authorized when the authentication has been performed in the NFC communication do not necessarily need to match completely, at least some of the functions overlap. For example, the function of locking/unlocking the entrance doors is authorized both when the authentication has been performed in the BLE communication and when the authentication has been performed in the NFC communication. As a result, a situation is avoided where the locking/unlocking of the entrance doors cannot be performed due to the stop of the polling in the communication that was determined to be unnecessary. 
     The stopped polling is resumed when a prescribed polling condition is satisfied. The polling condition can be satisfied, for example, when operating engine  24  is stopped, an ignition key or the like is turned off, which leads to a Ready-Off state, and an occupant gets out of the car and locks the doors. 
       FIG.  2    is a timing chart showing example polling by BLE communication device  14  and NFC communication device  12  of vehicle  10 . Referring to  FIG.  2   , the polling condition is satisfied before time t 1 , and a request signal is emitted from each of BLE communication device  14  and NFC communication device  12  to the surroundings between times t 1  and t 2 . 
     Even before time t 1 , such request signals are emitted at regular intervals after the polling condition is satisfied. In this example, polling by BLE communication device  14  (which may be hereinafter referred to as “BLE polling”) and polling by NFC communication device  12  (which may be hereinafter referred to as “NFC polling”) are synchronized. However, the BLE polling and the NFC polling do not necessarily need to be synchronized, and the request signals do not necessarily need to have the same length, either. 
     At time t 4 , in the BLE communication with a wider communicable range, a response signal transmitted from BLE communication device  54  of mobile device  50  in response to the request signal is received by BLE communication device  14 , and ID information included in the response signal is verified (“authentication in progress”). Then, when the authentication of mobile device  50  is completed at time t 5 , wireless controller  16  stops the NFC polling by outputting an NFC stop command to NFC communication device  12 . As a result, after the authentication is completed in the BLE communication, a dark current associated with the polling can be reduced. 
       FIG.  3    is a timing chart showing another example polling by BLE communication device  14  and NFC communication device  12  of vehicle  10 . This  FIG.  3    shows an example in which mobile device  50  is powered off (a dead battery or the like). 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , also in this example, the polling condition is satisfied before time t 11 , and a request signal is emitted from each of BLE communication device  14  and NFC communication device  12  to the surroundings between times t 11  and t 12 . Even before time t 11 , the request signals are emitted at regular intervals after the polling condition is satisfied. 
     In this example, BLE communication device  54  is stopped because mobile device  50  is powered off, and the response signal is not transmitted from BLE communication device  54  for the BLE polling. The user then moves closer to vehicle  10 , and at time t 14 , a response signal transmitted from NEC communication device  52  of mobile device  50  in response to the request signal from NFC communication device  12  is received by NFC communication device  12 , and ID information included in the response signal is verified (“authentication in progress”). Since NFC communication device  52  is a passive type communication device that does not require power feed from battery  66 , NFC communication device  52  can transmit the response signal to NFC communication device  12  of vehicle  10  in response to the request signal from NFC communication device  12 , even when mobile device  50  is powered off. 
     Then, when the authentication of mobile device  50  is completed at time t 15 , wireless controller  16  stops the BLE polling by outputting a BLE stop command to BLE communication device  14 . As a result, after the authentication is completed in the NFC communication, a dark current due to the polling can be reduced. 
       FIG.  4    is a flowchart showing an example procedure for a process performed by wireless controller  16  of vehicle  10 . A series of process steps shown in this flowchart is repeated at regular intervals. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , wireless controller  16  determines whether or not a polling condition for BLE communication device  14  and NFC communication device  12  to perform polling is satisfied (step S 10 ). The polling condition can be satisfied, for example, when operating engine  24  is stopped, which leads to a Ready-Off state of vehicle  10 , and the occupant gets out of the car and then locks the doors. When the polling condition is not satisfied (NO in step S 10 ), the process proceeds to “return.” 
     When it is determined in step S 10  that the polling condition is satisfied (YES in step S 10 ), wireless controller  16  outputs a command to perform polling to both BLE communication device  14  and NFC communication device  12  (step S 20 ). As a result, each of BLE communication device  14  and NFC communication device  12  emits a request signal to the surroundings at regular intervals. 
     Then, wireless controller  16  determines whether or not communication has been established between BLE communication devices  14  and  54 , and authentication of mobile device  50  has been completed through the BLE communication (step S 30 ). Specifically, a response signal transmitted from BLE communication device  54  of mobile device  50  in response to the request signal from BLE communication device  14  is received by BLE communication device  14 , and based on a result of verification of ID information included in the response signal, it is determined whether or not the authentication of mobile device  50  has been completed. 
     Then, when it is determined in step S 30  that the authentication of mobile device  50  has been completed through the BLE communication (YES in step S 30 ), wireless controller  16  stops the polling (NFC polling) by NFC communication device  12  (step S 40 ). 
     When it is determined in step S 30  that the communication has not been established between BLE communication devices  14  and  54 , and the authentication of mobile device  50  has not been completed (NO in step S 30 ), on the other hand, wireless controller  16  determines whether or not communication has been established between NFC communication devices  12  and  52 , and authentication of mobile device  50  has been completed through the NFC communication (step S 50 ). Specifically, a response signal transmitted from NFC communication device  52  of mobile device  50  in response to the request signal from NFC communication device  12  is received by NFC communication device  12 , and based on a result of verification of ID information included in the response signal, it is determined whether or not the authentication of mobile device  50  has been completed. 
     Then, when it is determined in step S 50  that the authentication of mobile device  50  has been completed through the NFC communication (YES in step S 50 ), wireless controller  16  stops the polling (BLE polling) by BLE communication device  14  (step S 60 ). 
     The case where the authentication is not completed in the BLE communication (NO in step S 30 ) and the authentication is completed in the NFC communication (YES in step S 50 ) corresponds to the case where NFC communication is used as a backup when BLE communication cannot be used because mobile device  50  is powered off, as was explained in  FIG.  3   . 
     When it is determined in step S 50  that the communication has not been established between NFC communication devices  12  and  52 , and the authentication of mobile device  50  has been completed (NO in step S 50 ), the process proceeds to “return.” 
     In the description above, it is determined in step S 30  whether or not the connection and the authentication for BLE communication has been completed, and when the determination is NO in step S 30 , it is determined in step S 50  whether or not the connection and the authentication for NFC communication has been completed. However, these processes may be performed in reverse order or in parallel. 
     That is, although not particularly illustrated, after the process of step S 20  is performed, wireless controller  16  may determine whether or not the connection and the authentication for NFC communication has been completed, and when it is determined that the connection and the authentication for NFC communication has not been completed, wireless controller  16  may determine whether or not the connection and the authentication for BLE communication has been completed. Then, when it is determined that the connection and the authentication for NFC communication has been completed, the BLE polling may be stopped, and when it is determined that the connection and the authentication for BLE communication has been completed, the NFC polling may be stopped. 
     After the process of step S 20  is performed, wireless controller  16  may perform the process of step S 30  and the process of step S 50  in parallel or even simultaneously. Then, when the determination is YES in step S 30 , the NFC polling may be stopped in step S 40 , and when the determination is YES in step S 50 , the BLE polling may be stopped in step S 60 . 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, when the communication between BLE communication devices  14  and  54  is established, and the authentication of mobile device  50  is completed in the BLE communication, the polling by NFC communication device  12  is stopped because the NFC communication as a backup is no longer necessary. When the communication between BLE communication devices  14  and  54  is not established because mobile device  50  is powered off, and the authentication of mobile device  50  is completed in the NFC communication as a backup, on the other hand, the polling by BLE communication device  14  is stopped. According to the present embodiment, therefore, a dark current due to the polling can be reduced. 
     While vehicle  10  is a vehicle with engine  24  in the embodiment above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to vehicles with an engine, and also includes electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles and the like without an engine. 
     While NFC communication device  52  is mounted on mobile device  50  in the embodiment above, NFC communication device  52  may be mounted on a card or the like not having a power supply, that is separate from mobile device  50 . While NFC communication device  52  includes a passive tag (IC tag) that operates by radio waves from NFC communication device  12  in the description above, NFC communication device  52  is not limited to a passive type communication device, and may operate with power received from battery  66 . 
     While wireless controller  16  is provided separately from vehicle controller  20  in vehicle  10  in the embodiment above, vehicle controller  20  may include the functions of wireless controller  16 . 
     In the embodiment above, both vehicle  10  and mobile device  50  may include, instead of BLE communication devices  14  and  54 , ultra-wide band (UWB) communication devices that conduct wireless communication by a communication scheme in accordance with UWB communication standards. Alternatively, both vehicle  10  and mobile device  50  may include the UWB communication devices in addition to BLE communication devices  14  and  54 . 
     While NFC communication device  12 , BLE communication device  14 , and wireless controller  16  are mounted on vehicle  10  in the embodiment above, the scope of the present disclosure is not limited to wireless communication apparatuses mounted on a vehicle. For example, NFC communication device  12 , BLE communication device  14 , and wireless controller  16  may be provided in a house or a home delivery box, and mobile device  50  may be used as a key to lock/unlock a door of the house or the home delivery box. 
     It should be understood that the embodiment disclosed herein is illustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The technical scope indicated by the present disclosure is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description of the embodiment above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims. 
     The illustrative embodiment described above is a specific example of aspects described below. 
     A wireless communication apparatus in one aspect includes a plurality of communication devices that conduct wireless communication by communication schemes different from each other, and a controller that controls the plurality of communication devices. Each communication device is configured to perform polling for detecting a mobile device capable of wireless communication, and to perform authentication of the mobile device detected by the polling. When the authentication is completed in one of the plurality of communication devices, the controller stops the polling by a remaining communication device. 
     A wireless communication system in one aspect includes a wireless communication apparatus, and a mobile device that conducts wireless communication with the wireless communication apparatus. The wireless communication apparatus includes a plurality of communication devices that conduct wireless communication by communication schemes different from each other, and a controller that controls the plurality of communication devices. Each communication device is configured to perform polling for detecting the mobile device, and to perform authentication of the mobile device detected by the polling. When the authentication is completed in one of the plurality of communication devices, the controller stops the polling by a remaining communication device. 
     In the wireless communication apparatus and the wireless communication system described above, when the authentication of the mobile device is completed in one of the plurality of communication devices, the polling by a remaining communication device is stopped because the communication between the remaining communication device and the mobile device is no longer necessary. As a result, a dark current associated with the polling can be reduced. 
     The plurality of communication devices may include an NFC communication device by a communication scheme in accordance with NFC standards, and at least one communication device by a communication scheme in accordance with wireless communication standards different from the NFC standards. When the authentication is completed in one of the at least one communication device, the controller may stop the polling by the NFC communication device. 
     The at least one communication device may include at least one of a BLE communication device by a communication scheme in accordance with BLE communication standards, and a UWB communication device by a communication scheme in accordance with UWB communication standards. 
     While the communication scheme in accordance with NFC standards has a smaller communicable range than the communication scheme in accordance with BLE communication standards or UWB communication standards, the communication scheme in accordance with NFC standards is a passive type that does not require a power supply. In the aspect above, therefore, the NFC communication device is used as a backup for the BLE communication device or the UWB communication device. According to the aspect above, when the authentication is completed in the BLE communication device or the UWB communication device, the polling by the NFC communication device as a backup is stopped, whereby a dark current due to the polling can be reduced. 
     At least some of functions authorized by the authentication in each communication device may overlap at least some of functions authorized by the authentication in the remaining communication device. 
     As a result, a situation is avoided where none the functions can be performed that are authorized by the authentication in the communication device where the polling is stopped. 
     The wireless communication apparatus may be mounted on a vehicle, and the functions authorized by the authentication in each communication device may include unlocking and locking of a door of the vehicle with the mobile device. 
     As a result, even when the polling by one communication device is stopped, and the communication with this communication device is no longer conducted, the door of the vehicle can be unlocked and locked with the mobile device through another communication device that was used for communication and authentication. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       10  vehicle;  12 ,  52  NFC communication device;  14 ,  54  BLE communication device;  16  wireless controller;  18 ,  60  memory;  20  vehicle controller;  22  door lock device;  24  engine;  26 ,  66  battery;  50  mobile device;  56  controller;  58  CPU;  62  input device;  64  display.