Apparatus and method for estimating the illumination of an ambient

Method for estimating at least one illumination value of an ambient where light sources are present, comprising:

• an acquisition phase, wherein the following data are read from a memory:
• ambient data defining a plurality of points detected in said ambient, each one defined by at least one set of coordinates that define a position in a three-dimensional space of said ambient,
• emission data defining a first set of said points, wherein each point of said first set represents a portion of one of said light sources, and at least one emission value, representing a light intensity emitted by said portion of said light source, is associated with said each point of said first set,
• illuminance data defining a second set of said points, wherein each point of said second set represents a portion of said ambient illuminated by said light sources, and at least one illumination value, representing an illumination intensity received by said portion of said ambient in an emission condition of said light sources, is associated with said each point of said second set, wherein said emission condition is represented by a set of emission values comprised in said emission data,
• a training phase, wherein a neural network is trained, via processing means, by inputting said ambient data and said emission data to said neural network and by forcing said neural network to output said illuminance data,
• a determination phase, wherein second illuminance data are determined, via said neural network, on the basis of said ambient data and second emission data that define, for each point of said first set, an emission value representing a light intensity emitted by a portion of one of said light sources, and wherein said second illuminance data estimate, for each point of said second set, an illuminance value representing an illumination intensity that should be received by a portion of said ambient.

An apparatus for estimating at least one illumination value of an ambient where light sources are present, comprising:

• a memory comprising, at least, ambient data defining a plurality of points detected in said ambient, each point defined by at least one set of coordinates that define a position in a three-dimensional space of said ambient,
• an input means configured for acquiring emission data defining a first set of said points, wherein each point of said first set represents a portion of one of said light sources, and an emission value is associated with said each point of said first set which represents a light intensity emitted by said portion of said light source,
• an execution means configured for determining illuminance data, by means of a neural network, on the basis of said ambient data and said emission data, wherein said illuminance data define a second set of said points, wherein each point of said second set represents a portion of said ambient illuminated by said light sources, and an illuminance value is associated with said each point of said second set and estimates an illumination intensity that should be received by said portion of said ambient,
• wherein said neural network is trained by inputting said ambient data and second emission data to said neural network and by forcing said neural network to output second illuminance data,
• wherein said second emission data define, for said each point of said first set, at least one emission value representing a light intensity emitted by a portion of one of said light sources, wherein said second illuminance data define, for said each point of said second set, at least one illuminance value representing an illumination intensity received by said portion of said ambient in an emission condition of said light sources, and wherein said emission condition is represented by a set of emission values comprised in said second emission data.