Method and device for monitoring the attentiveness of an operating person

1. A method for monitoring the attention of an operator of an X-ray inspection system, the X-ray inspection system configured to nondestructively inspect at least one object, the method comprising:

displaying a randomly generated desired operator input on a display unit of a workstation of the X-ray inspection system and displaying X-ray inspection imaging only for the at least one object nondestructively inspected by the X-ray inspection system, the displayed desired operator input corresponding to a randomly selected position on the display unit;

determining whether an actual operator input responsive to the displayed desired operator input has been received via a user input device of the workstation of the X-ray inspection system at a processor of the workstation of the X-ray inspection system, the actual operator input including, at least in part, a corresponding operator input position on the display;

comparing the received actual operator input with the desired operator input based on the determination at the processor of the workstation of the X-ray inspection system, the comparison including matching the corresponding operator input position on the display with the randomly selected position on the display unit, the desired operator input indicated on the display unit and the received actual operator input received via the user input device needing to match to be deemed a correct attentive response by the processor of the workstation of the X-ray inspection system; and

generating a signal indicative of attentiveness of the operator based on the comparison at the processor of the X-ray inspection system, an inattentive signal generated when there is not a correct attentive response, the inattentive signal triggering a command to bring the system into a predetermined safe state, the predetermined safe state including a stoppage in actuation of the X-ray inspection system.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining as to whether the actual operator input is received within a predetermined time following the display of the desired operator input.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying the randomly generated desired operator input quantitatively in one of a graphical format and an alphanumeric format;

receiving the actual operator input via an actuation device; and

comparing the actual operator input received via the actuation input device to the desired operator input.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:

displaying the actual operator input received via the actuation input device on the display unit.

5. A device for monitoring the attention of an operator of an X-ray inspection system, the X-ray inspection system configured to nondestructively inspect at least one object, said device including:

a processing unit configured to randomly generate a desired operator input;

a display unit communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to display the randomly generated desired operator input, the displayed desired operator input corresponding to a randomly selected position on the display unit, the processing unit and the display unit together configured to display X-ray inspection imaging only for the at least one object nondestructively inspected by the X-ray inspection system; and

an input device communicatively coupled to the processor and configured to receive an actual operator input responsive to the display of the desired operator input, the actual operator input including, at least in part, a corresponding operator input position on the display, and

wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

compare the received actual operator input with the desired operator input, the comparison including matching the corresponding operator input position on the display with the randomly selected position on the display unit,

generate a signal indicative of attentiveness of the operator based on the comparison, and

issue a command to a control unit of the X-ray inspection system to place the X-ray inspection system in a pre-determined safe state based on the comparison, the predetermined safe state including a stoppage in actuation of the X-ray inspection system.

6. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to determine whether the actual operator input is received within a predetermined time interval following the display of the desired operator input.

7. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the display unit comprises a screen and the input device comprises a keyboard.

8. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

display randomly generated desired operator input in one of graphical format and an alphanumeric format,

receive the actual operator input via an actuation input device, and

compare the actual operator input received via the actuation input device to the desired operator input.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to display the actual operator input via the actuation input device in one of a graphical format and an alphanumeric format on the display unit.

10. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the input device comprises an actuating input device that can be gradually actuated to generate the actual operator input.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the actuating input device comprises:

a pressure sensor; and

an actuating element coupled to the pressure sensor configured to generate actual values associated with the actual operator input from a predetermined value range.

12. The device according to claim 5 , wherein the display unit and input device comprise at least one of a touch-sensitive screen and a keypad.