Automobile keyless entry system having an RFID interrogator

A keyless entry system for an automobile, the keyless entry system comprising:

• a) a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that has been programmed to selectively unlock an automobile when the RFID tag is within a predetermined distance and to lock the automobile when the RFID is outside the predetermined distance;
• b) an interrogator, which comprises:
• i) an actuatable RF signal generator for transmitting an electromagnetic signal, wherein the RF signal generator is housed within or on the automobile;
• and
• ii) a time-out circuit, wherein regardless whether an RFID tag is detected, or not, the RF signal generator transmits a first electromagnetic signal having a first limited total continuous transmit time, followed by an interim period of a defined length where the time-out circuit renders the interrogator incapable of transmitting the electromagnetic signal, followed by the RF signal generator transmitting a second electromagnetic signal having a second limited total continuous transmit time,
• iii) wherein no matter how frequently the RF signal generator is actuated by being within the predetermined distance of the RFID tag, the time-out circuit prevents the second and subsequent transmissions of the electromagnetic signal after a prior electromagnetic signal has been transmitted from the RF signal generator until the interim period of the defined length has expired;
• and
• c) means for changing retrievable information in the RFID tag, the retrievable information corresponding to changes in characteristics of an automobile.