Attaching apparatus for chip-on-films

An attaching apparatus for chip-on-films includes: a base; a rotary table; a first driving device configured to drive the rotary table to rotate around the axis of the rotary table; a TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism configured to attach a conductive film onto a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region; a PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism configured to attach a conductive film onto a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region; and a pre-pressing mechanism configured to pre-press conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the pre-pressing region. The rotary table is in a first operating position, a second operating position, a third operating position and a fourth operating position successively during a rotation around its axis. When the rotary table is in any one of the operating positions, there is always one carrier in each region of the base.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is the U.S. national phase of PCT Application No. PCT/CN2015/085539 filed on Jul. 30, 2015, which claims a priority of the Chinese Patent Application No. 201510127868.2 filed on Mar. 23, 2015, the disclosures of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of displaying technology, in particular, to an attaching apparatus for chip-on-films.

BACKGROUND

In a display screen reuse project in the field of displaying technologies, a chip-on-film (COF) in a display screen needs to be replaced.

Processes of replacing the COF mainly include four steps of: attaching an anisotropic conductive film (ACF) onto a side of the COF where the COF connects to a transmission control protocol module (TCP), attaching an ACF onto a side of the COF where the COF connects to a printed circuit board (PCB), pre-pressing the conductive film at the TCP side and pre-pressing the conductive film at the PCB side.

An existing attaching apparatus for chip-on-films can merely perform serial operations for an individual COF. The waiting time in continuous operations is relatively long and thus the attaching efficiency of the COF is relatively low.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides an attaching apparatus for chip-on-films, which can enhance the attaching efficiency for chip-on-films.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides in an embodiment an attaching apparatus for chip-on-films includes:

a base, which is provided with a mounting-dismounting region, a TCP adhesive-attaching region, a PCB adhesive-attaching region and a pre-pressing region;

a rotary table, which is mounted on the base and rotatable around an axis of the rotary table; whereina first carrier, a second carrier, a third carrier and a fourth carrier are arranged on the rotary table;when the rotary table is in a first operating position, the first carrier is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the second carrier is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the third carrier is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the fourth carrier is located in the pre-pressing region;when the rotary table is in a second operating position, the fourth carrier is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the first carrier is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the second carrier is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the third carrier is located in the pre-pressing region;when the rotary table is in a third operating position, the third carrier is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the fourth carrier is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the first carrier is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the second carrier is located in the pre-pressing region;when the rotary table is in a fourth operating position, the second carrier is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the third carrier is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the fourth carrier is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the first carrier is located in the pre-pressing region;

a first driving device, which is mounted on the base and configured to drive the rotary table to rotate around the axis of the rotary table;

a TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism, which is mounted on the base and is configured to attach a conductive film onto a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region;

a PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism, which is mounted on the base and is configured to attach a conductive film onto a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region; and

a pre-pressing mechanism, which is mounted on the base and is configured to pre-press conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the pre-pressing region.

In the attaching apparatus for chip-on-films, the rotary table is in the first operating position, the second operating position, the third operating position and the fourth operating position successively during the rotation around its axis. When the rotary table is in any one of the above operating positions, there is one carrier in each of the mounting-dismounting region, the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the PCB adhesive-attaching region and the pre-pressing region of the base.

When the rotary table is in the first operating position, the first carrier is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the second carrier is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the third carrier is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the fourth carrier is located in the pre-pressing region. In this case, an operator may detach a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is already performed, away from the first carrier and mount a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is not performed, onto the first carrier. The TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the second carrier in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a TCP. The PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the third carrier in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a PCB. The pre-pressing mechanism pre-presses anisotropic conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on the fourth carrier in the pre-pressing region.

Then, the rotary table rotates around its axis to the second operating position. At this time, the fourth carrier is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the first carrier is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the second carrier is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the third carrier is located in the pre-pressing region. In this case, the operator may detach a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is already performed, away from the fourth carrier and mount a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is not performed, onto the fourth carrier. The TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the first carrier in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a TCP. The PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the second carrier in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a PCB. The pre-pressing mechanism pre-presses anisotropic conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on the third carrier in the pre-pressing region.

Then, the rotary table rotates around its axis to the third operating position. At this time, the third carrier is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the fourth carrier is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the first carrier is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the second carrier is located in the pre-pressing region. In this case, the operator may detach a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is already performed, away from the third carrier and mount a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is not performed, onto the third carrier. The TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the fourth carrier in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a TCP. The PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the first carrier in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a PCB. The pre-pressing mechanism pre-presses anisotropic conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on the second carrier in the pre-pressing region.

Then, the rotary table rotates around its axis to the fourth operating position. At this time, the second carrier is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the third carrier is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the fourth carrier is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the first carrier is located in the pre-pressing region. In this case, the operator may detach a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is already performed, away from the second carrier and mount a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is not performed, onto the second carrier. The TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the third carrier in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a TCP. The PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the fourth carrier in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a PCB. The pre-pressing mechanism pre-presses anisotropic conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on the first carrier in the pre-pressing region.

Then, the rotary table further rotates to the first operating position, and the above operations are repeated.

Hence, when using the above described attaching apparatus for chip-on-films, attaching operations are performed on multiple chip-on-films synchronously and continuously in a concurrent operating mode, thereby reducing wait time in continuous operations and improving production efficiency.

Optionally, the first driving device is a servo motor.

Optionally, the TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism includes:

a vertical plate mounted on the base;

an adhesive tape roll installation shaft mounted on the vertical plate;

guiding shafts mounted on the vertical plate;

a conductive film claw-forcep, which is mounted on the vertical plate and configured to grab a conductive film when working;

a conductive film cutter, which is mounted on the vertical plate and configured to cut the conductive film when working;

a second driving device configured to drive the conductive film claw-forcep to work; and

a third driving device configured to drive the conductive film cutter to work.

Optionally, the second driving device is a cylinder.

Optionally, the third driving device is a cylinder.

Optionally, the PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism includes:

a vertical plate mounted on the base;

an adhesive tape roll installation shaft mounted on the vertical plate;

guiding shafts mounted on the vertical plate;

a conductive film claw-forcep, which is mounted on the vertical plate and configured to grab a conductive film when working;

a conductive film cutter, which is mounted on the vertical plate and configured to cut the conductive film when working;

a fourth driving device configured to drive the conductive film claw-forcep to work; and

a fifth driving device configured to drive the conductive film cutter to work.

Optionally, the fourth driving device is a cylinder.

Optionally, the fifth driving device is a cylinder.

a vertical plate fixed on the base, where a bearing plate is provided on the vertical plate;

a pressing-head mechanism, which is slidably provided on the bearing plate and capable of pre-pressing a conductive film attached at a TCP side of a chip-on-film on a carrier in the pre-pressing region and a conductive film attached at a PCB side of the chip-on-film on the carrier in the pre-pressing region; and

a sixth driving device which is configured to cooperate with the pressing-head mechanism to drive the pressing-head mechanism to work.

Optionally, the pressing-head mechanism is slidably arranged on the bearing plate, via a slide pathway and a slide groove slidably fitting with each other.

Optionally, the sixth driving device is a driving handle provided on the pressing-head mechanism.

Optionally, the sixth driving device is a cylinder.

a seat fixed on the rotary table;

a first slider which is provided on the seat and is slidable along a first direction with respect to the seat;

a second slider which is provided on the first slider and is slidable along a second direction with respect to the first slider, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;

a first adjustment device for adjusting a relative position relationship between the first slider and the seat; and

a second adjustment device for adjusting a relative position relationship between the second slider and the first slider.

Optionally, the first adjustment device includes a micrometer member; and/or the second adjustment device includes a micrometer member.

a first seat;

a second seat fixed to the rotary table via the first seat; and

a tray, which is configured to bear a chip-on-film and is slidably arranged on the second seat;

where a first position adjustment device which adjusts, along a first direction, a relative position relationship between the tray and the second seat, and a second position adjustment device which adjusts, along a second direction, the relative position relationship between the tray and the second seat are arranged on the second seat; and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Technical solutions according to embodiments of the present disclosure are described clearly and completely hereinafter in conjunction with drawings used in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparently, the described embodiments are merely a part of rather than all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments obtained by the ordinary skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present disclosure without paying creative efforts all fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Unless other definitions are given, technical terms or scientific terms used herein refer to normal meanings which can be understood by the ordinary skilled in the field to which the present disclosure relates. Terms such as “first” and “second” used in the specification and the list of claims of the present disclosure do not indicate any order, numbers or importance, and are merely used to distinguish different components. Similarly, terms such as “one” or “an” represent there exist at least one, rather than to limit the number. Terms such as “connected with” or “connected to” do not limit to physical or mechanical connections, and can include electrical connections which are either direct or indirect. Terms such as “above”, “below”, “left” and “right” are merely used to describe a relative position relationship; if the absolute position of one described object alters, the relative position relationship with respect to the described object alters correspondingly.

As shown inFIG. 1, an attaching apparatus for chip-on-films according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes:

a base1, where the base1is provided with a mounting-dismounting region, a TCP adhesive-attaching region, a PCB adhesive-attaching region, a pre-pressing region;

a rotary table2, which is mounted on the base1and can rotate around an axis of the rotary table2; where a first carrier21, a second carrier22, a third carrier23and a fourth carrier24are arranged on the rotary table2; the rotary table2goes through a first operating position, a second operating position, a third operating position and a fourth operating position successively during a rotation around its axis; when the rotary table2is in the first operating position, the first carrier21is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the second carrier22is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the third carrier23is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the fourth carrier24is located in the pre-pressing region; when the rotary table2is in the second operating position, the fourth carrier24is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the first carrier21is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the second carrier22is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the third carrier23is located in the pre-pressing region; when the rotary table2is in the third operating position, the third carrier23is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the fourth carrier24is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the first carrier21is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the second carrier22is located in the pre-pressing region; when the rotary table2is in the fourth operating position, the second carrier22is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the third carrier23is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the fourth carrier24is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the first carrier21is located in the pre-pressing region;

a first driving device, which is mounted on the base1and is configured to drive the rotary table2to rotate around the axis of the rotary table2;

a TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism3, which is mounted on the base1and is configured to attach a conductive film onto a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region;

a PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism4, which is mounted on the base1and is configured to attach a conductive film onto a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region; and

a pre-pressing mechanism5, which is mounted on the base1and is configured to pre-press conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on a carrier located in the pre-pressing region.

In the attaching apparatus for chip-on-films, the rotary table2is in the first operating position, the second operating position, the third operating position and the fourth operating position successively during the rotation around its axis. When the rotary table2is in any one of the operating positions, there is one carrier in each of the mounting-dismounting region, the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the PCB adhesive-attaching region and the pre-pressing region which are provided on the base1.

When the rotary table2is in the first operating position, as shown inFIG. 1, the first carrier21is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the second carrier22is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the third carrier23is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the fourth carrier24is located in the pre-pressing region. In this case, an operator may detach a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is already performed, away from the first carrier21and mount a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is not performed, onto the first carrier21. The TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism3attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the second carrier22in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a TCP. The PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism4attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the third carrier23in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a PCB. The pre-pressing mechanism5pre-presses anisotropic conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on the fourth carrier24in the pre-pressing region.

Then, the rotary table2rotates clockwise around its axis by a set angle to the second operating position. At this moment, the fourth carrier24is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the first carrier21is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the second carrier22is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the third carrier23is located in the pre-pressing region. In this case, the operator may detach a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is already performed, away from the fourth carrier24and mount a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is not performed, onto the fourth carrier24. The TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism3attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the first carrier21in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a TCP. The PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism4attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the second carrier22in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a PCB. The pre-pressing mechanism5pre-presses anisotropic conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on the third carrier23in the pre-pressing region.

Then, the rotary table2rotates clockwise around its axis by a set angle to the third operating position. At this moment, the third carrier23is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the fourth carrier24is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the first carrier21is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the second carrier22is located in the pre-pressing region. In this case, the operator may detach a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is already performed, away from the third carrier23and mount a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is not performed, onto the third carrier23. The TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism3attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the fourth carrier24in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a TCP. The PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism4attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the first carrier21in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a PCB. The pre-pressing mechanism5pre-presses anisotropic conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on the second carrier22in the pre-pressing region.

Then, the rotary table2rotates clockwise around its axis by a set angle to the fourth operating position. At this moment, the second carrier22is located in the mounting-dismounting region, the third carrier23is located in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the fourth carrier24is located in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, and the first carrier21is located in the pre-pressing region. In this case, the operator may detach a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is already performed, away from the second carrier22and mount a chip-on-film, on which adhesive-attaching is not performed, onto the second carrier22. The TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism3attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the third carrier23in the TCP adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a TCP. The PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism4attaches an anisotropic conductive film onto a side of a chip-on-film on the fourth carrier24in the PCB adhesive-attaching region, the side being configured to connect to a PCB. The pre-pressing mechanism5pre-presses anisotropic conductive films attached on a chip-on-film on the first carrier21in the pre-pressing region.

Then the rotary table2further rotates clockwise to the first operating position, and the above operations are repeated.

Hence, when using the above described attaching apparatus for chip-on-films, attaching operations are performed on multiple chip-on-films synchronously and continuously in a concurrent operating mode, thereby reducing waiting time in continuous operations and improving production efficiency.

Specifically, the first driving device, that drives the rotary table2to rotate around the axis of the rotary table2with respect to the base1, is a servo motor. The servo motor can accurately control an angle by which the rotary table2rotates.

In a specific implementation, as shown inFIG. 1, the TCP side adhesive-attaching mechanism3includes:

a vertical plate31mounted on the base1;

an adhesive tape roll installation shaft32mounted on the vertical plate31, where an adhesive tape roll311is installed on the adhesive tape roll installation shaft32;

guiding shafts35mounted on the vertical plate31;

an anisotropic conductive film claw-forcep34, which is mounted on the vertical plate31and configured to grab an anisotropic conductive film when working;

an anisotropic conductive film cutter33, which is mounted on the vertical plate31and configured to cut the anisotropic conductive film when working;

a second driving device configured to drive the anisotropic conductive film claw-forcep34to work; and

a third driving device configured to drive the anisotropic conductive film cutter33to work.

In the attaching apparatus for chip-on-films with the above described structure, the anisotropic conductive film is extracted from the adhesive tape roll311, guided by the guiding shafts35, and grabbed and transferred by the anisotropic conductive film claw-forcep34. The anisotropic conductive film is of good stability and is not prone to fall off. Then, the anisotropic conductive film is cut into an appropriate size by the anisotropic conductive film cutter33and attached, by the anisotropic conductive film claw-forcep34, onto the side of the chip-on-film for connecting to the TCP.

Specifically, the second driving device for driving the anisotropic conductive film claw-forcep34to work may be a cylinder.

Apparently, the third driving device for driving the anisotropic conductive film cutter33to work may also be a cylinder.

According to an implementation, as shown inFIG. 1, the PCB side adhesive-attaching mechanism4includes:

a vertical plate41mounted on the base1;

an adhesive tape roll installation shaft42mounted on the vertical plate41, where an adhesive tape roll411wrapped with an anisotropic conductive film412is installed on the adhesive tape roll installation shaft42;

guiding shafts45mounted on the vertical plate41;

an anisotropic conductive film claw-forcep44, which is mounted on the vertical plate41and configured to grab the anisotropic conductive film when working;

an anisotropic conductive film cutter43, which is mounted on the vertical plate41and configured to cut the anisotropic conductive film when working;

a fourth driving device configured to drive the anisotropic conductive film claw-forcep44to work; and

a fifth driving device configured to drive the anisotropic conductive film cutter43to work.

In the attaching apparatus for chip-on-films with the above described structure, the anisotropic conductive film412is extracted from the adhesive tape roll411, guided by the guiding shafts45, and grabbed and transferred by the anisotropic conductive film claw-forcep44. The anisotropic conductive film is of good stability and is not prone to fall off. Then, the anisotropic conductive film412is cut into an appropriate size by the anisotropic conductive film cutter43and attached, by the anisotropic conductive film claw-forcep44, onto the side of the chip-on-film for connecting to the PCB.

Specifically, the fourth driving device for driving the anisotropic conductive film claw-forcep44to work may be a cylinder.

Similarly, the fifth driving device for driving the anisotropic conductive film cutter43to work may also be a cylinder.

According to an implementation, as shown inFIG. 2, the pre-pressing mechanism5of the attaching apparatus for chip-on-films includes:

a vertical plate51fixed on the base1, where a bearing plate52is provided on the vertical plate51;

a pressing-head mechanism53, which is slidably provided on the bearing plate52and can pre-press the anisotropic conductive film attached at a TCP side of the chip-on-film on a carrier in the pre-pressing region and the anisotropic conductive film attached at a PCB side of the chip-on-film on the carrier in the pre-pressing region; and

a sixth driving device configured to cooperate with the pressing-head mechanism53to drive the pressing-head mechanism to work.

Specifically, the pressing-head mechanism53may be slidably arranged on the bearing plate52, via a slide pathway54and a slide groove slidably fitting with each other.

More specifically, the sixth driving device for driving the pressing-head mechanism53to work may be a driving handle55provided on the pressing-head mechanism53.

Alternatively, the sixth driving device may be a cylinder.

According to a preferred implementation, as shown inFIG. 2, the first carrier21, the second carrier22, the third carrier23and the fourth carrier24arranged on the rotary table2have a same structure. Taking the first carrier21shown inFIG. 3as an example, the first carrier21includes:

a seat211fixed on the rotary table2;

a first slider212which is provided on the seat211and may slide along a first direction with respect to the seat211;

a second slider213which is provided on the first slider212and may slide along a second direction with respect to the first slider212, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction;

a first adjustment device214for adjusting a relative position relationship between the first slider212and the seat211; and

a second adjustment device215for adjusting a relative position relationship between the second slider213and the first slider212.

In the attaching apparatus for chip-on-films, the chip-on-film on the first carrier21can be aligned by adjusting positions of the first slier212and the second slider213.

According to a preferred implementation, for enhancing accuracy of the first adjustment device214in adjusting the position of the first slider212, the first adjustment device214may include a micrometer member.

Similarly, for enhancing accuracy of the second adjustment device215in adjusting the position of the second slider213, the second adjustment device215includes a micrometer member.

According to another implementation, as shown inFIG. 4, the first carrier21includes a seat216, a seat217and a tray219for bearing and mounting the chip-on-film. The seat217is fixed to the rotary table2via the seat216. The tray219is slidably arranged on the seat217. A position adjustment device2181which adjusts, along a first direction, a relative position relationship between the tray219and the seat217, and an adjustment device2182which adjusts, along a second direction, a relative position relationship between the tray219and the seat217are arranged on the seat217. The first direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The first carrier21may adjust the position of the tray219through the adjustment device2181and the adjustment device2182, thereby further adjusting the position of the chip-on-film placed on the tray219.

Obviously, the ordinary skilled in the art can make various modifications to and variants of the present disclosure without departing from the mind and scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure intends to include all these modifications and variants if they fall within the scope of the claims of the present disclosure or equivalent technologies.