Methods and apparatuses for providing strobe effects for a wheel lighting
system or wheel illuminating system. For one embodiment, a strobe device
for a wheel lighting system includes a tachometer to determine a
rotational frequency of a wheel, and a strobing element capable of
operating in a first mode and a second mode. When operating in the first
mode, the strobing frequency is related to the rotational frequency of
the wheel. When operating in the second mode the strobing frequency is
independent of the rotational frequency of the wheel. For one embodiment,
the lighting elements, tachometer, and other components of the system are
implemented completely within the rotating reference frame of the wheel.
One embodiment of the invention provides a wheel illumination system
having one or more strobing light source assemblies positioned within a
rotating reference frame of the wheel to provide stroboscopic effects for
the wheel's street side surfaces.