Patent ID: 8608858
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of determining timing of replacement of a cleaning member in a substrate cleaning apparatus, the cleaning member being abutted against a substrate to effect scrub cleaning of the substrate, the cleaning member including an exterior layer and an interior layer having different hardness conditions and pore conditions, said method comprising: detecting a pore condition of a surface of the cleaning member using an image capturing device during a substrate cleaning operation or a cleaning member cleaning operation; measuring a hardness of the surface of the cleaning member using a hardness measurement device during the substrate cleaning operation or the cleaning member cleaning operation; and determining when to replace the cleaning member based on a change in the detected pore condition of the surface of the cleaning member or a change in the measured hardness of the surface of the cleaning member during the substrate cleaning operation or the cleaning member cleaning operation, said determining when to replace the cleaning member includes determining an absence of the exterior layer based on (a) the change in the detected pore condition of the surface of the cleaning member, or (b) the change in the measured hardness of the surface of the cleaning member.