System and method for visibility range detection

An apparatus configured to identify a visibility range comprising:

• an image sensor system comprising:
• a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels;
• and
• readout circuitry in electrical communication with each pixel of the pixel array, the readout circuitry operable to capture pixel data for each pixel;
• and
• at least one processor configured to:
• identify hue values based on the pixel data;
• calculate a number of hue changes based on hue values;
• identify a plurality of edges in the current image frame based on the number of hue changes identified in the plurality of pixels;
• quantify the plurality of edges by summing the plurality of edges;
• and
• identify a visibility range based on the summation of the plurality of edges.

A method for detecting a visibility range for a vehicle comprising:

• capturing a first pixel value for a first pixel of a pixel array at a first integration period of a plurality of selectable integration periods in a current image frame of a plurality of image frames;
• capturing a second pixel value for a second pixel of the pixel array at a second integration period in the current image frame;
• comparing the first pixel value to the second pixel value to determine a hue change value;
• identify a plurality of edges in the current image frame by summing a plurality of hue changes by comparing a plurality of pixel values in the current image frame;
• quantify the plurality of edges in the scene by summing the plurality of edges;
• and
• identifying a visibility range based on a quantity of the plurality of edges in the current image frame.