Abstract:
An improved probe card maintenance method is capable of accurately, rapidly, and easily performing the maintenance of a probe card. The probe card is a jig adapted to test the electrical properties of semiconductor integrated circuits. The electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits are tested at a predetermined test temperature. The probe card has a plurality of probes thereon. The probe card maintenance method includes heating the probe card and the probes on the probe card to the same temperature as the test temperature. The method also includes adjusting positions and postures of the defective probes while maintaining the temperature of the probe card and the probes at the test temperature.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a maintenance method of a probe card. The probe card is a jig designed to test the electrical properties and characteristics of a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits formed on a wafer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     When a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits are formed on a wafer in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device, electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits in the wafer state are tested before the wafer is cut into a plurality of pieces (chips) by dicing. A probe card having a plurality of probes thereon is used for the testing. In testing the electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits, the wafer having the semiconductor integrated circuits formed thereon is placed on a measurement stage of a prober, the probes of the probe card come into contact with external electrode drawing-out pads on the semiconductor integrated circuits, and the electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits are measured. It is possible to determine whether each semiconductor integrated circuit (that is, each chip) possess desired electrical properties or not through such measurement. Screening of defective semiconductor integrated circuits is performed based on the determination. 
     In the measurement performed with the probe card, the probes must contact the external electrode drawing-out pads of the semiconductor integrated circuits a plurality of times, with the result that tip ends of the respective probes may be bent and/or positionally misaligned. When such bending and/or position misalignment occurs at the tip ends of the probes, it is not possible to accurately measure the electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits. 
     In general, the measurement with the probe card is carried out at high temperature (for example, 100° C. (degrees C.) or higher). Therefore, foreign matter, such as solder particles (bump scrap) of the external electrode drawing-out pads, may attach to the probes as the measurement is carried out repeatedly. If foreign matters adhere to the probes, it is not possible to accurately measure the electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits. 
     A test apparatus (prober) and a cleaning method to cope with the above-mentioned problems are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Kokai (Publication) No. 2005-79253 and Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 10-92885. In Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 2005-79253, the positions of probes in the test apparatus are detected, and the alignment between a wafer and a probe card is accurately and rapidly performed based on the detection result. Because the technology of Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 2005-79253 detects the probe positions in the test apparatus, it is possible to know the probe positions during the testing at high temperature. The technology of Japanese Patent Application Kokai No. 10-92885 heats the probes in a test apparatus to melt bump scrap attached to the probes, and the probes are ground. Since tip ends of the probes are heated to a temperature sufficient to melt the bump scrap, it is possible to easily remove the bump scrap from the probes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The conventional art can accurately and rapidly perform the alignment between the probe card and the wafer. However, it is difficult to accurately, rapidly, and easily find and/or correct bending and position misalignment of the probes. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a probe card maintenance method that is capable of accurately, quickly and easily performing the maintenance of a probe card designed to test the electrical properties of semiconductor integrated circuits. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a novel probe card maintenance method. The probe card has a plurality of probes thereon. The probe card is used during testing of electrical properties of a wafer (or semiconductor integrated circuits on the wafer). The test is carried out at a predetermined temperature (referred to as “test temperature”). The probe card maintenance method includes heating the probe card and/or the probes to the same temperature as the test temperature. The probe card maintenance method also includes adjusting positions/postures of the defective probes while maintaining the temperature of the probe card and/or the probes at the test temperature. 
     The probe card maintenance method of the present invention heats the probe card and probes to the same temperature as the wafer test temperature, and adjusts (corrects) the positions/postures of the probes while maintaining the temperature of the probe card and/or the probes at the test temperature. Consequently, it is possible to accurately, rapidly, and easily perform the maintenance of the probe card and probes. 
     The adjusting of the positions and postures of the probes may include preparing a glass mask having a plurality of alignment marks indicating original positions and postures of the probes of the probe card respectively. The adjusting of the positions and postures of the probes may also include locating the glass mask such that the glass mask faces the probe card. The adjusting of the positions and postures of the probes may also include adjusting the positions and postures of the probes such that tip ends of the probes coincide with the corresponding alignment marks. 
     The maintenance method may further include preparing a maintenance table equipped with a heater prior to the heating the probe card and probes. The heating of the probe card and probes may include placing the probe card on the maintenance table, and heating the probe card and probes with the heater. 
     The maintenance method may further include cleaning the probes before or after heating the probe card and probes, or after adjusting the positions and postures of the probes. 
     The maintenance method may further include heating the probe card and probes between the adjusting the positions and postures of the probes and the cleaning the probes. 
     The maintenance method may further include finding defective probes among the probes prior to the adjusting positions and postures of the probes. The defective probes are those probes whose tip ends are not in originally designed positions and postures. The adjusting of positions and postures of the probes may be carried out to the defective probes only. 
     The testing may be carried out in a testing apparatus. The maintenance table may be located outside the testing apparatus. The maintenance method may further include removing the probe card from the testing apparatus prior to the placing the probe card on the maintenance table and returning the probe card to the testing apparatus after the adjusting positions and postures of the probes. 
     The cleaning of the probes may include applying forced air to the probes and/or heating the probes. 
     The heating in cleaning the probes may include heating the probes to a temperature higher than the test temperature. 
     These and other objects, aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description when read and understood in conjunction with the appended claims and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a flow chart illustrating a testing procedure for a semiconductor wafer, using a probe card maintenance method according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a prober used for a wafer test in the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a maintenance table used in the maintenance method of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 B- 3 B in  FIG. 3A ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating one step in the probe card maintenance method of the first embodiment, with a probe card being placed on the maintenance table shown in  FIG. 3B ; 
         FIG. 5A  is a cross-sectional view illustrating another step in the probe card maintenance method of the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view illustrating still another step in the probe card maintenance method of the first embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating an acceptance test of a probe card using a probe card maintenance method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Now, exemplary embodiments of a probe card maintenance method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 6 . 
     First Embodiment 
     A probe card maintenance method according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is performed during wafer testing, will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5B . 
     Referring first to  FIG. 2 , in order to measure electrical properties of a wafer W having a plurality of semiconductor integrated circuits formed thereon, the wafer W is placed in a prober  10  ( FIG. 1 : Step S 1 ). The prober  10  is a test apparatus (measurement apparatus) for testing (measuring) the wafer property. The placement of the wafer W in the prober  10  will be described in detail. 
     The construction of the prober  10  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the prober  10  includes a loader chamber  11  to carry the wafer W and a prober chamber  12  disposed next to the loader chamber  11  to measure (test) the electrical properties of the wafer W. A cassette receiving part  14  to receive a wafer cassette  13  and a wafer transfer mechanism (not shown) are provided in the loader chamber  11 . A plurality of wafers W are stored or stacked in the cassette  13 . A placement table  15 , a support table  16 , a probe card  17  and a head plate  18  are provided in the prober chamber  12 . The wafer W is placed on the placement table  15 . The wafer placement table  15  has an elevating mechanism (not shown) for its vertical movement. The support table  16  supports the placement table  15 . The support table  16  has a sliding or translating mechanism (not shown) for its movement in a horizontal plane. The probe card  17  is supported by the head plate  18  of the prober chamber  12  and disposed above the placement table  15 . The probe card  17  has an opening at the central portion thereof. This opening is closed by a plate  41 . The plate  41  reinforces the structural strength of the probe card  17 . The reinforcement plate  41  is provided at the side opposite the side of the probe card  17  where the probes  19  are provided. A plurality of probes  19  are provided at the central part of the probe card  17 . The probes  19  extend diagonally downward and inward from the surface of the probe card  17  at predetermined angle when the probe card  17  is installed in the prober  10 . The probes  19  have designed posture. Components  42 , such as a relay or a resistor, are provided on the probe card  17  around the reinforcement plate  41 . The head plate  18  detachably holds the probe card  17 . Fixing and detaching the probe card  17  to and from the head plate  18  may be achieved with screws (not shown). A test head  20  is connected to the probe card  17 . A temperature control arrangement (not shown), including, for example, a heater and a cooling jacket, is built in each of the placement table  15  and the head plate  18 . The temperature of the wafer W and the probe card  17  is controlled to a desired measurement temperature by the temperature control arrangement. Since the placement table  15  has the elevating mechanism, the placement table  15  can move upward and downward (in the vertical direction). The support table  16  can move in the plane parallel to the surface of the wafer W (that is, in the horizontal plane). 
     The placement of the wafer W onto the wafer table  15  from the cassette  13  is performed as follows. First, a plurality of wafers W are stored in the cassette  13 . Next, the cassette  13  is received in the cassette receiving part  14  of the loader chamber  11 . Subsequently, one of the wafers W stacked in the cassette  13  is carried into the prober chamber  12  by the wafer carriage mechanism, and is placed on the placement table  15 . In this way, the placement of the wafer W in the prober  10  is completed. 
     Next, the wafer W and the probe card  17  are heated to a predetermined test temperature (measurement temperature) ( FIG. 1 : Step S 2 ). The wafer W is heated by the temperature control unit built in the placement table  15 , and the probe card  17  is heated by the temperature control unit built in the head plate  18 . It should be noted that another temperature control unit may be provided in the prober chamber  12  to control the interior temperature of the prober chamber  12  such that the temperature of the wafer W and the probe card  17  can be controlled to the predetermined test temperature through the control of the interior temperature of the prober chamber  12 . In such a case, the placement table  15  and/or the head plate  18  may or may not have the temperature control unit(s). 
     When the test temperature of the wafer W and the probe card  17  is reached, the measurement of the electrical properties of semiconductor integrated circuits (not shown) formed on the wafer W (referred to as “wafer test”) is performed ( FIG. 1 : Step S 3 ). Specifically, the position alignment between the wafer W and the probe card  17  is performed by moving the support table  16  in the horizontal plane. Subsequently, the placement table  15  is caused to approach the probe card  17  (that is, the placement table  15  is moved upward) until external electrode drawing-out pads (not shown) on the semiconductor integrated circuits come into contact with the probes  19 . In this state, the measurement of the electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits becomes possible. A tester (not shown) is connected to the probe card  17  via the test head  20 . A signal provided by the tester for electrical property measurement is applied to the external electrode drawing-out pads on the wafer W through the probes  19  so as to measure the electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits formed on the wafer W. 
     It should be assumed here that a contact defect between the external electrode drawing-out pads on the wafer W and the probes  19  occurs during the wafer test ( FIG. 1 : Step S 4 ). When such contact defect occurs, it is not possible to accurately measure the electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits formed on the wafer W. For example, the contact defect may occur due to bending or position misalignment of the probes  19  after repeated use of the probe card  17  (repeated contact between the probes  19  and the external electrode drawing-out pads on the wafer W). When such bending or position misalignment occurs in the probes  19 , mere movement of the support table  16  in the horizontal plane may not be able to overcome the contact defect between the probe card  17  and the wafer W. This is because, if the re-alignment between the probe card  17  and the wafer W is performed based on a particular defective probe  19  for the purpose of curing the contact defect between that particular probe and the associated external electrode drawing-out pad, then other probes  19  may not be able to maintain the appropriate contact with the associated external electrode drawing-out pads. Thus, another contact defect occurs. It should be noted that the contact defect may occur when foreign particles, such as solder particles (bump scrap) of the external electrode drawing-out pads, adhere to the probes  19 . 
     In order to eliminate the contact defect caused by the bending and position misalignment of the probes  19 , the following maintenance procedure is performed with respect to the probe card  17  in this embodiment. First, the wafer W is separated from the probes  19  by moving the placement table  15  downward, and the probe card  17  is removed from the head plate  18  ( FIG. 1 : Step S 5 ). The probe card  17  can be detached from the head plate  18  by unscrewing, and therefore, it is easy to remove the probe card  17  from the head plate  18 . 
     Next, the removed probe card  17  is placed on a maintenance table  30  ( FIG. 3A ) ( FIG. 1 : Step S 6 ). The placement of the probe card  17  on the maintenance table  30  will be described in detail. 
     First, the construction of the maintenance table  30 , on which the probe card  17  will be placed, will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3A and 3B .  FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the maintenance table  30 , and  FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 B- 3 B (indicated by a dashed dotted line) of  FIG. 3A . As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the maintenance table  30  includes a probe card support part  31 , a heater fixing part  32 , and a heater  33 . The probe card support part  31  has a cylindrical side wall  31   a  and a bottom  31   b . The bottom  31   b  has an opening at the central portion thereof. The heater fixing part  32  is secured to the bottom  31   b  of the probe card support  31  and closes the bottom opening of the probe card support  31 . The heater  33  is disposed on the center piece of the heater fixing part  32 . The heater  33  has, for example, a rectangle parallelepiped shape. The heater  33  is surrounded by (or received in) the probe card support  31 . Thus, the radiation of heat generated from the heater  33  to the outside is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to heat the probe card  17  and probes  19  by the heater  33  with high efficiency (will be described later). A control device (not shown) is connected to the heater  33  to control the temperature of the heater  33 . 
     The placement of the probe card  17  onto the maintenance table  30  is performed as follows. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the probe card  17  is placed on the maintenance table  30  with its upside down. Thus, the upper face of the probe card  17 , which is opposite the face having the probes  19 , contacts the maintenance table  30 . The probes  19  are originally designed to incline with respect to the surface of the probe card  17  at the predetermined angle. When the probe card  17  is placed on the maintenance table  30 , the edge of the probe card  17  is in contact with the probe card support  31  of the maintenance table  30 , and the reinforcement plate  41  is in contact with the heater  33 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
     After the probe card  17  is placed on the maintenance table  30 , heat is supplied from the heater  33  to the probe card  17  via the reinforcement plate  41 . Therefore, the probe card  17  and probes  19  are heated ( FIG. 1 : Step S 7 ). The heating of the probe card  17  and probes  19  is controlled by the control device connected to the heater  33 . For example, the control device may control the heater  33  to heat the probe card  17  and probes  19  such that the probe card  17  and probes  19  reach the same temperature as the wafer test temperature (for example, about 100° C.). When the probe card  17  is heated, the components  42  mounted on the probe card  17  are also heated. It should be noted that the heater  33  may be arranged to directly heat the probe card  17  without heating the reinforcement plate  41 . It should also be noted that the probe card  17  may not have a center opening and the reinforcement plate  71  may be dispensed with. 
     When the temperature of the probe card  17  and probes  19  is raised to the predetermined test temperature, external appearance confirmation/inspection and position/posture adjustment are performed with respect to the probes  19  in order to fine defective probes which have caused the contact defect at Step S 4 , while the test temperature is maintained. An example of the external appearance confirmation and position/posture adjustment of the probes  19  will be described below in detail. 
     First, the external appearance confirmation of the probes  19  is performed ( FIG. 1 : Step S 8 ). Specifically, position/posture confirmation (inspection) of the tip ends of the probes  19  is performed using a glass mask  50  having alignment marks  51  ( FIG. 5B ). The alignment marks  51  indicate where the tip ends of the probes  19  should be located (pointed). In this position/posture confirmation, a probe card test device (for example, Precision Point Vision X (PRVX)) or a microscope is used. Whether the tip ends of the probes  19  are damaged (including being broken, bent and misaligned) or not is also inspected using the probe card test device or the microscope. Since the temperature of the probes  19  is maintained at the same temperature as the test temperature (about 100 degrees C.) that is reached as a result of the heating performed in Step S 7 , it is possible to perform the external appearance confirmation of the probes  19  in (under) a condition approximate to a condition in which the probes  19  are actually used in the prober  10 . In other words, it is feasible to perform the external appearance confirmation of the probes  19  with high precision. 
     Next, the position/posture adjustment of the probes  19  is performed ( FIG. 1 : Step S 9 ). The position/posture adjustment of the probes  19  is performed using the glass mask  50 . The alignment marks  51 , which are indicia indicating where the tip ends of the probes  19  should be present. The glass mask  50  is positioned to face the probe card  17 , and the position/posture adjustment of the defective probes  19  is performed such that all the tip, ends of the probes  19  coincide with the corresponding alignment marks  51  of the glass mask  50 . Specifically, a testing person watches the probes  19  and the alignment marks  51  through the microscope, and changes (corrects) the position/posture of the defective probes  19  using a tool, such as a pincette. Through this position/posture adjustment of the probes  19 , the bent or positionally misaligned probes  10  are corrected (returned to an original posture) so that the appropriate measurement of the electrical properties of the semiconductor circuits can be performed. Since the position/posture adjustment of the probes  19  at this Step S 9  is carried out at the same temperature as the wafer test temperature, it is possible to perform accurate position/posture adjustment of the probes  19  in consideration of thermal expansion of the probe card  17  and probes  19  during the wafer test. 
     When the position/posture adjustment of the probes  19  is completed, the probes  19  are cleaned ( FIG. 1 : Step S 10 ). The cleaning of the probes  19  is performed, for example, using a tool, such as a brush or a pincette. Alternatively, the cleaning of the probes  19  may be performed using forced air. The cleaning of the probes  19  at this Step S 10  is performed at the same temperature as the wafer test temperature. Thus, foreign matter, such as bump scrap, having melted and attached to the tip ends of the probes  19  is melted again. As a result, the foreign matter, such as the bump scrap, attached to the tip ends of the probes  19  is easily removed from the probes  19 . The components  42  provided on the probe card  17  are also heated, so that it is possible to easily remove foreign matter from the components  42 . In this way, unnecessary substances are entirely removed from the probe card  17 , and therefore the wafer test can be accurately performed with high precision. 
     It should be noted that if the bump scrap is not melted at the temperature in Step  9  (about 100 degrees C.), additional heat may be supplied from the heater  33  to further increase the temperature of the probe card  17  and probes  19 . Through further heating of the probe card  17  and probes  19 , it is possible to easily remove foreign matter, such as bump scrap, which cannot be removed at the same temperature as the wafer test temperature. In other words, the probe cleaning step S 10  may include heating the probe card  17  and probes  19  to a temperature higher than the test temperature. The probe cleaning step S 10  may include all or any combination of removing foreign matter from the probe card  17  and probes  19  with brush or pincer, applying forced air to the probe card and probes and heating the probe card and probes. 
     When the cleaning of the probes  19  is completed, the probe card  17  is mounted to the prober  10  again ( FIG. 1 : Step S 11 ). The probe card  7  is fixed to the head plate  18  by the fixing members, such as screws. 
     Next, the wafer W and probe card  17  are heated to the predetermined test temperature (measurement temperature) again ( FIG. 1 : Step S 12 ). In the same manner as at Step S 2  heating the wafer W and the probe card  17 , the wafer W is heated by the temperature control unit built in the placement table  15 , and the probe card  17  is heated by the temperature control unit built in the head plate  18 . It should be noted that the wafer W remains in the prober  10  in a heated state from Step S 2  to Step S 12 . Also, the probe card  17  is in a heated state in the position/posture adjustment step S 9  and the cleaning step S 10 . As a result, it is possible to reduce time necessary to reheat the wafer W and the probe card  17  to the predetermined temperature after the probe card  17  returns to the prober  10 , as compared with a case in which the probe card  17  is position/posture-adjusted and/or cleaned at room temperature and is returned (remounted) to the prober  10 . 
     When the reheating of the wafer W and the probe card  17  is completed, the wafer test is resumed ( FIG. 1 : Step S 13 ). In the same manner as at the above-described wafer test step (Step S 3 ), the position adjustment (alignment) between the wafer W and the probe card  17  is performed by moving the support table  16  in the horizontal plane. Subsequently, the placement table  15  is caused to approach the probe card  17  until the external electrode drawing-out pads of the semiconductor integrated circuits come into contact with the probes  19 . In this state, the measurement of the electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits becomes possible. In addition, a signal for measurement is supplied from the tester to the external electrode drawing-out pads on the wafer W through the probes  19  so as to measure the electrical properties of the semiconductor integrated circuits formed on the wafer W. 
     In the above-described probe card maintenance method, the probe card  17  and the probes  19  mounted on the probe card  17  are heated to the same temperature as the test temperature (temperature at which the test of the electrical properties of the wafer W is carried out), the position/posture adjustment of the defective probes  19  is performed while the temperature of the probe card  17  and/or probes  19  is maintained at the test temperature. Since the probe card maintenance method includes the above-described steps, it is possible to perform maintenance of the probe card and probes in consideration of the thermal expansion of the probe card and the probes. Also, the probe card maintenance method does not require that the probe card  17  be fixed to the prober  10  during the maintenance procedure (Steps S 6  to S 10 ). Therefore, it is possible to quickly and easily perform the maintenance (position and posture correction and cleaning) of the probe card  17  and probes  19 . 
     It should be noted that although the probe card  17  and probes  19  are heated by the heater  33  provided in the maintenance table  30  in the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited in this regard so long as the probe card  17  and probes  19  can be heated. For example, if the maintenance table  30  is not equipped with the heater  33 , the probe card  17  and probes  19  may be heated by a separate heater provided outside the maintenance table  30  with the probe card  17  being placed on the maintenance table  30 . 
     Second Embodiment 
     In the first embodiment, the maintenance of the probe card  17  is performed during the testing of the wafer; however, the probe card maintenance method of the present invention may also be used before the wafer test, namely when receiving the probe card  17  from a remote factory. In the second embodiment, a receipt test of the probe card  17  using the probe card maintenance method according to the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . The maintenance table  30  and glass mask  50  shown in  FIG. 3A  to  FIG. 5B  are also used in this embodiment. The probe card  17  will be mounted in the prober  10  after the receipt test. 
     First, the probe card  17  is received from a probe card supplier ( FIG. 6 : Step S 101 ). Next, the received probe card  17  is placed on the maintenance table  30  ( FIG. 6 : Step S 102 ). The placing of the probe card  17  on the maintenance table  30  is carried out in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and therefore, a description thereof is omitted. 
     After the probe card  17  is placed on the maintenance table  30 , heat is supplied from the heater  33  to the probe card  17  via the reinforcement plate  41 . Thus, the probe card  17  and probes  19  are heated ( FIG. 6 : Step S 103 ). The heating of the probe card  17  and probes  19  is controlled by the control device connected to the heater  33 . For example, the control device may control the heater  33  to heat the probe card  17  and probes  19  such that the probe card  17  and probes  19  reach the same temperature as the wafer test temperature (about 100 degrees C.). 
     When the probe card  17  and probes  19  are heated to the predetermined test temperature (about 100 degrees C.), external appearance confirmation of the probes  19  is performed ( FIG. 6 : Step S 104 ). The external appearance confirmation of the probes  19  is carried out in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and therefore, a description thereof is omitted. Since the temperature of the probes  19  is maintained at the temperature reached at the probe heating step (Step S 103 ), it is possible to perform the external appearance confirmation of the probes  19  in a condition approximate to the actual use condition of the probes  19  (use condition in the prober  10 ). Thus, the external appearance confirmation of the probes  19  is performed with high precision. 
     Next, the position/posture adjustment of the probes  19  is performed while the temperature of the probes  19  is maintained at the test temperature ( FIG. 6 : Step S 105 ). The position/posture adjustment of the probes  19  is carried out in the same manner as in the first embodiment using the glass mask  50 , and therefore, a description thereof is omitted. Like the first embodiment, the position/posture adjustment of the probes  19  at this step S 105  is performed at the same temperature as the wafer test temperature. Therefore, it is possible to perform accurate position/posture adjustment of the probes  19  in consideration of thermal expansion of the probe card  17  and probes  19  during the wafer test. 
     After the position/posture adjustment of all the defective probes  19  is completed ( FIG. 6 : Step S 106 ), the probe cleaning is performed ( FIG. 6 : Step S 107 ). The cleaning of the probes  19  is performed, for example, using a tool, such as a brush or a pincette, or using forced air, in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The cleaning of the probes  19  at this step S 107  is also performed at the same temperature as the wafer test temperature. Thus, it is possible to easily remove foreign matter, such as metal pieces, attached to the probes  19  during the manufacture of the probes  19 . It should be noted that additional heating at a higher temperature may be applied to the probes  19  if the cleaning at step S 107  is insufficient. 
     The receiving test and adjustment (calibration) of the probe card  17  is completed through the above-mentioned steps S 101  to S 107 . After Step S 107 , the probe card  17  may be mounted to the prober  10  in the same manner as in the first embodiment ( FIG. 2 ). Alternatively, the probe card  17  may be stored at room temperature or high temperature (for example, 100° C. or higher) without being mounted to the prober  10 . 
     According to the second embodiment, it is possible to accurately, rapidly, and easily perform the maintenance (probe inspection, probe position/posture correction and/or probe cleaning) of the probe card  17  without mounting the probe card  17  on or in the prober  10  or the like. That is, it is possible to find and correct the defective probes and remove foreign matter from the probes, i.e., perform the maintenance of the probes, before the probe card  17  is installed in the prober  10 . Therefore, it is possible to install the “approved” probe card  17  in the prober  10 . 
     It should be noted that Step S 101  to Step S 107  of the second embodiment may be performed before the shipping of the probe card  17  from the probe card supplier. This makes it possible to ship only the approved probe card  17 . 
     This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-25030 filed on Feb. 5, 2009 and the entire disclosure thereof is incorporated herein by reference.