Systems and methods for controlling illumination of center caps in vehicle wheels

A method of controlling at least one light source in a wheel of a vehicle, the wheel including a center cap having a first portion configured to rotate with the wheel and a second portion configured to remain stationary as the wheel rotates, the second portion including the light source and a power storage module, the method comprising:

• receiving a first signal indicative of a key associated with the vehicle being within a defined distance;
• receiving a second signal indicative of a characteristic of the vehicle, the characteristic including at least one of a vehicle maintenance recommendation and a vehicle fault condition;
• and
• in response to receiving the first signal and the second signal, controlling a power converter to output electric power generated by a generator and stored in the power storage module to the light source and controlling the light source to output a defined light sequence based on the second signal to provide a notification to an approaching user of the characteristic of the vehicle.

A system for controlling at least one light source in a wheel of a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a wheel including a center cap having a first portion configured to rotate with the wheel and a second portion configured to remain stationary as the wheel rotates, the second portion including at least one light source and a battery;
• a generator configured to generate electric power and output the electric power to at least the battery, the generator including at least one magnet coupled to a rotating component of the first portion and at least one coil coupled to a stationary component of the second portion;
• a power converter coupled between the battery and the at least one light source;
• and
• a control module configured to:
• receive a first signal indicative of a key associated with the vehicle being within a defined distance;
• receive a second signal indicative of a characteristic of the vehicle, the characteristic including at least one of a vehicle maintenance recommendation and a vehicle fault condition;
• in response to receiving the first signal, control the power converter to provide the electric power generated by the generator and stored in the battery to the at least one light source and control the at least one light source to output a first defined light sequence based on the received first signal;
• and
• in response to receiving the first signal and the second signal, control the at least one light source to output a second defined light sequence based on the received second signal to provide a notification to an approaching user of the characteristic of the vehicle.