Patent ID: 9171216
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: B60Q,G01N,G01W,G06K

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting the presence of an element disturbing the visibility of a scene illuminated by at least one light source at night; said element belonging to the group comprising fog, smoke, rain, and snow; the method comprising a step a) in which at least one image of the scene is acquired with the help of a camera, said at least one light source being stationary or swivel-mounted relative to the camera; the method further comprising the following steps: b1) detecting at least one light source forming part of the scene in said at least one image; b2) detecting the presence of a disturbing element as a function of the halo appearing in said at least one image in the vicinity of said light source(s); c) detecting the presence of a disturbing element in said at least one image or in a portion thereof as a function of the backscattering of light emitted by said stationary or swivel-mounted light source(s); and d) weighting the results of the detections performed in steps b2) and c), in such a manner as to output an indication concerning the presence of an element disturbing the visibility of the scene.