Patent ID: 9536173
Date: 2017-01-03
CPC Classifications: B60W,G01N,G06K,G06T,G08G

Claim:
1. A method for an image-based visibility range estimation, comprising: obtaining, by processing circuitry, an image captured by an image detection device and that depicts surroundings of the image detection device; processing, by the processing circuitry, the image, wherein the processing includes: ascertaining, by processing circuitry, a depiction of an object in the image; and segmenting, by the processing circuitry, the depiction of the object in order to (i) obtain a first object range of the object having an equal first distance to the image detection device within a tolerance range, (ii) obtain a second object range of the object having an equal second distance to the image detection device within a tolerance range, (iii) determine a first object luminance for the first object range, and (iv) determine a second object luminance for the second object range; and determining, by the processing circuitry, an atmospheric extinction coefficient using (a) the first object luminance, the second object luminance, the first distance, and the second distance with (b) at least one of (i) a one-dimensional equation and (ii) a model for light transmission by atmospheric aerosols, wherein the atmospheric extinction coefficient is in direct correlation to the visibility range.