Patent ID: 12251738

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described with reference to drawings.FIG.5illustrates an outline of a substrate treatment device including a substrate washing device according to the present embodiment, and a substrate treatment device10has a housing12and a load port14. In the load port14, an open cassette is installed that houses many substrates W, for example.

The housing12houses plural polishing units16ato16dfor polishing (planarizing) the substrates W, a first washing unit18and a second washing unit20that wash the polished substrate W, and a drying unit22that dries the washed substrate W. In the example inFIG.5, the polishing units16ato16dare aligned in the longitudinal direction of the substrate treatment device10, and the washing units18and20and the drying unit22are aligned in parallel with the polishing units16ato16d.

A first conveyance robot24is arranged between the load port14and the polishing unit16aand drying unit22that are positioned on the load port14side, receives the substrate W that is not yet polished from the load port14, passes the substrate W to a conveyance unit24, and receives the dried substrate W that is taken out from the drying unit22from the conveyance unit24. Further, a conveyance unit26is arranged between the polishing units16ato16dand the washing units18and20and drying unit22.

Between the first washing unit18and the second washing unit20, a second conveyance robot26is arranged that passes the substrate W between those. Further, between the second washing unit20and the drying unit22, a third conveyance unit28is arranged that passes the substrate W between those.

In the housing12, a control unit32is arranged that controls actions of apparatuses of the substrate treatment device10. In the present embodiment, the control unit32is arranged in the housing12, but a configuration may be made such that the control unit32is arranged in an outside portion of the housing12and is connected with the substrate treatment device10via a network. Further, the control unit32includes an input unit34that accepts an external input. Here, the external input can include mechanical operations by a user and inputs of signals from an external device in a wired or wireless manner.

The washing units18and20of the present embodiment wash the substrate W by causing a washing tool to contact with a surface of the substrate W while causing the washing tool, which will be described later, to rotate itself. Further, as the washing units18and20, a two-fluid jet washing device may be used that washes the surface of the substrate W by a two-fluid jet in combination with the washing tool.

As one example, the drying unit22dries the substrate W by jetting IPA vapor from a nozzle, which is not illustrated, toward the rotating substrate W. Alternatively, the substrate W may be dried by a centrifugal force by rotating the substrate W at a high speed.

FIG.6is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a substrate washing device36according to one embodiment, andFIG.7is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a substrate washing device38according to another example. Each of the substrate washing devices36and38(corresponding to the substrate washing units18and20inFIG.5) has a substrate rotation mechanism that retains and rotates the substrate W and a washing liquid supply unit42that supplies a washing liquid to the substrate W. As the washing liquid, for example, in accordance with film types of substrate surfaces to be targets, a rinsing liquid such as ultrapure water (DIW), an alkali-based solution (aqueous ammonia or an ammonia hydrogen peroxide mixture (SC1)), a surfactant, a chemical liquid such as a chelating agent, or a mixture chemical liquid of those can be used.

The substrate W rotates around its central axis as a rotation axis. In the present embodiment, a description will be made about a form where the surface of the substrate W extends along a horizontal direction and the rotation axis extends in a perpendicular direction, but this is not restrictive. The substrate rotation mechanism of the present embodiment has four support members40that support an outer periphery of the substrate W. The support member40is a spindle or a chuck, for example, and rotates the substrate W by rotation.

The substrate washing device36includes the washing tool that washes the substrate W in contact with the washing tool. In the example inFIG.6, as washing tools, a pen member44A that itself rotates around a rotation axis generally vertical to the surface of the substrate W and a roll member44B that linearly extends throughout almost the whole diameter of the substrate W are used. Further, in the example inFIG.7, as the washing tools, a pair of roll members44B are used that linearly extend throughout almost the whole diameter of the substrate W.

The substrate washing device36according toFIG.6includes washing tool rotation mechanisms46and48, which rotate the pen member44A and the roll member44B as the washing tools while respectively retaining those, and rotates the pen member44A around the rotation axis generally vertical to the surface of the substrate W. Further, the substrate washing device38according toFIG.7includes a washing tool rotation mechanism50, which rotates the roll member44B as the washing tool around a rotation axis parallel with the surface of the substrate W while retaining the roll member44B. Further, the washing tool rotation mechanisms46,48, and50move the washing tool44A and44B in parallel with the surface of the substrate W and thereby move the washing tools44A and44B to contact positions at which those contact with the substrate W or stand-by positions not illustrated.

In the example illustrated inFIG.6, the pen member44A washes an upper surface of the substrate W, and the roll member44B washes a lower surface of the substrate W. Further, in the example illustrated inFIG.7, the pair of roll members44B wash a front surface and a back surface of the substrate W. However, it is sufficient that the substrate W is washed by contact of the washing tools with the surface of the substrate W, and a configuration of the substrate washing device is not limited to the example inFIG.6orFIG.7.

In the new washing tools44A and44B, particles to be causes of pollution adhere to their surfaces and internal portions, and the new washing tools44A and44B in such a state cannot be used for washing of a semiconductor device. In a case where washing treatment of the substrate W is performed by using such washing tools, a clean substrate W may be polluted by the washing tools. Thus, before the new washing tool is used for substrate treatment, a predetermined washing treatment (break-in) is performed.

FIG.8is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a device that performs the break-in of the pen member44A, andFIG.9is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of a device that performs the break-in of the roll member44B. As illustrated inFIG.8andFIG.9, a cleaning member52is arranged in a liquid tank54. The cleaning member52is formed with an inorganic-oxide-based material such as a quartz plate or a sapphire plate or an organic-polymer-based material, whose chemical resistance is high and whose leachability is low, such as PTFE, PVDF, PFA, PPS, PEEK, or PMMA, for example. Further, in the liquid tank54, a liquid (washing liquid) is reserved such as a rinsing liquid such as ultrapure water (pure water) (DIW), an alkali-based solution (aqueous ammonia or an ammonia hydrogen peroxide mixture (SC1)), or a chemical liquid such as a starch degrading enzyme solution, for example.

A liquid supply device56is connected with the liquid tank54, a chemical liquid is thereby supplied as the washing liquid to the liquid tank54in washing by the chemical liquid, and pure water is supplied as the washing liquid to the liquid tank54in the rinsing treatment. A configuration may be made such that the washing liquid is caused to circulate to the liquid tank54while being purified. Further, a temperature of the liquid reserved in the liquid tank54can preferably be adjusted by a temperature adjustment mechanism such as a heater. In addition, the liquid tank54may be provided with a vibration unit that applies ultrasonic vibration in the liquid tank54in cleaning the washing tool44A or44B.

As illustrated inFIG.8, when the pen member44A is cleaned, the pen member44A is pressed onto the cleaning member52while the washing tool rotation mechanism46rotates the pen member44A.FIG.8illustrates an example where a surface of the cleaning member52is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the pen member44A, but such an example is not restrictive.

Further, as illustrated inFIG.9, when the roll member44B is cleaned, the roll member44B is pressed onto the cleaning member52while the washing tool rotation mechanisms48and50rotate the roll member44B. In the example illustrated inFIG.9, it is assumed that the surface of the cleaning member52is inclined with respect to a vertical direction and the roll member44B moves in the vertical direction and contacts with the cleaning member, but such an example is not restrictive.

InFIG.8andFIG.9, a discharged liquid from the liquid tank54is discharged to an outside portion of the device or is sent to the liquid supply device56by a circulation mechanism not illustrated and is reused. Further, the liquid tank54is connected with a washing evaluation device60for evaluating an extent of washing of the washing tools44A and44B.FIG.10is a block diagram illustrating one example of a configuration of the washing evaluation device, and the washing evaluation device60includes a test liquid collection unit (liquid extraction unit)62, a test liquid reserving unit64, an iodine solution supply unit (color reaction unit)66, an absorbance measurement unit68, a washing unit70, a determination unit72, a storage unit74, and an output unit76. The washing evaluation device and the liquid tank are provided in or an adjacent position to the substrate washing device36or38, and washing by the chemical liquid and the rinsing treatment by pure water are applied to the washing tool44A or44B in the break-in treatment. Note that the test liquid collection unit62and the test liquid reserving unit64can be combined together as a liquid extraction unit of the present invention. Further, the iodine solution supply unit66and the test liquid reserving unit64can be combined together as a color reaction unit of the present invention. In addition, the liquid extraction unit and the color reaction unit of the present invention are not limited to configurations described in the present embodiment.

The washing liquid and pure water for rinsing may be supplied from a liquid supply device56to the liquid tank54as illustrated inFIG.8orFIG.9. However, the washing liquid and pure water can be supplied by pressure from the liquid supply device56toward an outside portion of the brush via a liquid supply opening provided in an internal portion of the brush44A or44B. In a case of the method of supply by pressure, it becomes possible to effectively push out foreign substances that are present on a deep inside of the brush. Further, a manner may be used in which the washing liquid and the pure water for rinsing are directly jetted to the brush by a spray or the like while a water depth of the liquid tank54is made shallow and an almost all part of the brush is exposed.

The test liquid collection unit62includes a test liquid collection opening and a negative-pressure production mechanism, presses the test liquid collection opening onto the surface of the washing tool44A or44B after washing and the rinsing treatment, reduces a pressure inside the test liquid collection opening by the negative-pressure production mechanism, and draws and collects a liquid (pure water that can contain eluted substances from the washing tool44A or44B and that will hereinafter be referred to as “remaining liquid”) remaining in pores in the surface of the washing tool44A or44B as a PVA sponge. The test liquid reserving unit64accumulates the remaining liquid collected from the PVA sponge by the test liquid collection unit62. When an accumulation amount of the remaining liquid by the test liquid reserving unit64reaches a predetermined amount (for example, 3 to 5 cc), drawing and collection of the remaining liquid by the test liquid collection unit62are finished.

The iodine solution supply unit66includes a reserving tank that stocks an iodine solution at a certain concentration and a supply opening that supplies the iodine solution, supplies the iodine solution to the test liquid reserving unit64when the remaining liquid accumulated in the test liquid reserving unit64reaches a predetermined amount, and thereby causes a color reaction with the remaining liquid.

The absorbance measurement unit68includes a light irradiation unit that irradiates the remaining liquid in the test liquid reserving unit64, to which the iodine solution is supplied, with measurement light in a predetermined wavelength range and an absorbance measurement apparatus that measures the degree of coloration of the remaining liquid irradiated with the measurement light by absorbance measurement. The measurement light used in irradiation by the light irradiation unit preferably includes light at a wavelength of 670 nm. Further, a measurement wavelength range of the absorbance measurement apparatus is preferably set to 600 to 800 nm.

The determination unit72determines whether the absorbance measured by the absorbance measurement unit68is less than a predetermined threshold value and sends an indication that washing of the washing tool44A or44B has to be finished to the output unit76in a case where the absorbance is less than the predetermined threshold value. On the other hand, in a case where a measurement value of the absorbance is equivalent to or more than the threshold value, an instruction to continue washing of the washing tool44A or44B is sent to the substrate washing device36or38. Accordingly, without performing an inspection by a defect inspection device, it is possible to evaluate an extent of remaining pollutants, which can become causes of defects, such as residual starch or PVA in the washing tool.

The storage unit74stores information about the threshold value. Further, the storage unit74may be configured to store information of a result of absorbance measurement that is performed by adding the iodine solution to pure water (not used for the rinsing treatment for the washing tool44A or44B) and to subtract a measurement value about pure water from each of measurement values of the absorbance measurement about the remaining liquids from the washing tools44A and44B.

The washing unit70performs washing treatment by pure water for the test liquid collection unit62and the test liquid reserving unit64at each time when the absorbance measurement of the remaining liquid is performed by the washing evaluation device60. Accordingly, when the absorbance measurement for the remaining liquid is performed, an influence (contamination) of the remaining liquid used in the absorbance measurement that is previously performed is prevented.

In the following, by using a flowchart inFIG.11, a description will be made about procedures of the break-in of the washing tool with the above configuration. When the washing tool44A or44B is replaced and the break-in is started (step S10), the washing tool44A or44B is set in the liquid tank54filled with the chemical liquid. The washing tool44A or44B rotates while pressed onto the cleaning member52, the washing tool44A or44B is washed, and further the rinsing treatment by pure water is applied (step S11).

When the rinsing treatment is finished, the test liquid collection unit62acquires the remaining liquid in the washing tool44A or44B, and the test liquid reserving unit64draws and collects the acquired remaining liquid (step S12). When a certain amount of the remaining liquid is acquired, the iodine solution supply unit66supplies the iodine solution to the remaining liquid in the test liquid reserving unit64(step S13). The absorbance measurement unit68irradiates the remaining liquid, which exhibits an iodine color reaction by supply of the iodine solution, with inspection light in a predetermined wavelength range and thereby measures the absorbance of the remaining liquid (step S14). Note that as for the measurement of the absorbance, a configuration may be made such that the value resulting from subtraction of the measurement value of the absorbance of the pure water to which the iodine solution is added (in advance stored in the storage unit74) can be output as the measurement value. Data obtained by the measurement are stored in the storage unit74of the washing evaluation device60.

When the measurement of the absorbance is completed, the determination unit72determines whether the measurement value of the absorbance at a predetermined wavelength (for example, around 670 nm) is less than a predetermined set value (step S15), determines that the iodine color reaction by starch and cross-linked PVA is sufficiently low (that is, starch and cross-linked PVA are sufficiently removed from the washing tool44A or44B after the washing and rinsing treatment) in a case where the measurement value is less than the predetermined set value, and outputs an indication that evaluation by the iodine solution is finished. Subsequently, a substrate for test for which the washing treatment is performed by the washing tools44A and/or44B is set in the defect inspection device, and a check about presence or absence of defects is conducted (step S16). Accordingly, the break-in treatment is finished (step S17). Note that a configuration may be made such that the check by the defect inspection device is skipped. Further, as the set value of the absorbance, data of absorbance measurement values for brushes about which the break-in was determined to be finished in the past may be used.

On the other hand, in a case where the measurement value of the absorbance is equivalent to or more than the predetermined set value (“N” in step S15), the procedure is again returned to step S11, the washing and rinsing treatment for the brush is again applied to the washing tool44A or44B, and the absorbance is measured. Accordingly, a frequency of checks about presence or absence of defects by the defect inspection device can be reduced, and shortening and higher efficiency of the break-in treatment can be achieved.

Further, the absorbance is measured after the iodine color reaction by the iodine solution, a starch degrading enzyme may thereafter be added, and the absorbance may again be measured. In this case, after addition of the starch degrading enzyme, only the iodine color reaction due to cross-linked PVA remains (the iodine color reaction due to starch disappears). Thus, by detecting a decreased amount of the absorbance in a case where the starch degrading enzyme is added, a determination about defects due to each of starch and cross-linked PVA becomes possible. Accordingly, compared to particle measurement in rinsing water by using a liquid particle counter, an advantage is present where types of defects can be determined. Further, many bubbles are contained in the rinsing water, but the liquid particle counter has difficulty in distinction between bubbles and particles, and in view of such a situation, a determination by an iodine color reaction method has higher reliability.

In the above embodiment, evaluation about presence or absence of defects is performed by comparing the measurement value of the absorbance with the set value, but the present invention is not limited to the above form. For example, the evaluation about presence or absence of defects may be performed based on whether the measurement value of the absorbance reaches a measurement limit.

Further, instead of extracting the remaining liquid in the washing tool44A or44B for which the rinsing treatment is finished, an outflow liquid from the washing tool44A or44B may be acquired by washing, by rubbing, the washing tool44A or44B after the rinsing treatment and may thereby be used for the measurement of the absorbance. Alternatively, a liquid seeping from the washing tool44A or44B in the rinsing treatment may be acquired and be used for the measurement of the absorbance.

Alternatively, the chemical liquid, which is used not in the rinsing treatment but in washing of the washing tool44A or44B by the chemical liquid, may directly be acquired and be used for the measurement of the absorbance. In this case, a configuration is preferably made such that the acquired chemical liquid is neutralized to reach such a pH that the iodine color reaction is not hindered and the iodine solution is thereafter added.

In addition, the evaluation about presence or absence of defects may be performed by using not only monitoring of starch eluted substances and cross-liked PVA but also eluted substances derived from uncross-linked PVA. Specifically, the iodine solution is added after adding an aggregation promoting agent (PVA cross-linking agent) to the remaining liquid in the rinsed washing tool44A or44B to generate an inspection liquid (inspection liquid1), and the absorbance is measured. The measurement value (measurement value A) in this case becomes a value resulting from eluted substances derived from starch and eluted substances derived from PVA. Next, a starch degrading reagent is added to the inspection liquid1(or the remaining liquid to which the PVA cross-linking agent is added) to generate an inspection liquid (inspection liquid2) from which the eluted substances derived from starch are removed, and the absorbance is measured. The measurement value (measurement value B) in this case becomes a value resulting from eluted substances derived from uncross-linked and cross-linked PVA.

Then, a configuration is made such that in a case where the measurement value A is smaller than a predetermined set value and the measurement value A and the measurement value B are almost equivalent values, evaluation by the iodine solution is finished and in other cases, the washing and rinsing treatment for the brush is again performed. Accordingly, evaluation can be performed about whether each of the starch eluted substances and eluted substances derived from PVA becomes sufficiently small. Alternatively, the evaluation by the iodine solution may be finished in a case where the measurement value A becomes less than the measurement limit of the absorbance.

Further, pure water supply is stopped after the rinsing treatment for the washing tool44A or44B by pure water, the washing tool44A or44B is rotated for a predetermined time period (for example, one minute) while pressing onto the cleaning member is maintained, and a liquid in the brush may thereafter be acquired. Accordingly, the washing tool44A or44B is rinsed by the same rinsing water, concentrations of the eluted substances from the washing tool44A or44B, and an improvement in analytical sensitivity by the absorbance measurement can thus be achieved.

Further, when the washing tool44A or44B is washed, the washing liquid is not drained without any treatment, but the washing liquid that is foamed may be supplied to the washing tool44A or44B. Specifically, the washing liquid is foamed by a method such as supplying clean air via a gas dissolving membrane (such that the clean air has solubility equivalent to or more than solubility of the washing liquid) or foaming by mechanical agitation with a surfactant. Because in the break-in, only the washing liquid that contacts with the surface of the washing tool44A or44B contributes to washing, in a form where the washing liquid flows in, an almost all part of the washing liquid is discarded without contributing to washing. The amount of the washing liquid can significantly be decreased by using the washing liquid in a foamed state, and costs for the break-in can be lowered.

Further, in the present embodiment, the evaluation about presence or absence of defects is performed by the absorbance measurement, but for example, a color sample of a coloration degree corresponding to a target value is in advance prepared, the colors of the eluted substances to which the iodine solution has been added are compared with the color sample, and the evaluation of presence or absence of defects may thereby be performed.

Second Embodiment

FIG.12illustrates a configuration of a washing evaluation device according to a second embodiment, instead of adding the iodine solution, a discharged liquid is filtered by a filter paper impregnated with and adsorbing iodine, the filter paper is thereby colored, and the absorbance of the colored filter paper is measured. Note that the same reference characters are given to the same configuration members as those, including the substrate washing devices36and38(seeFIG.6andFIG.7), which are described in the above first embodiment, and detailed descriptions thereof will not be made. A washing evaluation device80includes a test liquid collection unit (liquid extraction unit)82, a test liquid reserving unit84, an inspection paper supply unit (color reaction unit)86, the absorbance measurement unit68, the washing unit70, the determination unit72, the storage unit74, and the output unit76and is provided in or an adjacent position to the substrate washing device36or38. Note the test liquid collection unit82and the test liquid reserving unit84are combined together as the liquid extraction unit of the present invention. Further, an iodine solution supply unit86and the test liquid reserving unit84are combined together as the color reaction unit of the present invention. In addition, the liquid extraction unit and the color reaction unit of the present invention are not limited to configurations described in the present embodiment.

The test liquid collection unit82collects a liquid (rinsing discharged water) that is discharged when the washing tool44A or44B is rinsed by pure water. As a form of collection, for example, channels of the rinsing discharged water are switched, and the rinsing discharged liquid may thereby be caused to fall into the test liquid reserving unit84by gravity, or the rinsing discharged liquid in a rinsing discharged water channel may be collected into the test liquid reserving unit84by pressure reduction similarly to the above first embodiment. The test liquid reserving unit84accumulates the rinsing discharged water from the washing tool44A or44B by the test liquid collection unit82. When an accumulation amount of the discharged liquid by a test liquid reserving unit84reaches a predetermined amount (for example, 3 to 5 cc), collection of the discharged liquid by the test liquid collection unit82is finished.

Plural pieces of filter paper that are in advance impregnated with and adsorb the iodine solution are prepared in the inspection paper supply unit86and are colored by filtering the discharged liquid (rinsing discharged liquid) from the test liquid reserving unit84. The absorbance measurement unit68measures the absorbance of the filter paper that is colored by the filtration by a method similar to the first embodiment. In this method also, the frequency of checks about presence or absence of defects by the defect inspection device can be reduced, and shortening and higher efficiency of the break-in treatment can be achieved.

Third Embodiment

In the above embodiments, configurations are made such that presence or absence of defects is checked by using the eluted substances in a case where the washing tool44A or44B is cleaned by using a dedicated cleaning member; however, the present invention is not limited to those, and a configuration may be made such that the evaluation about presence or absence of defects in the washing tool44A or44B is performed in the substrate washing unit. For example, the break-in using the washing liquid and the rinsing liquid is performed in the washing unit by using a dummy substrate, the iodine solution is added to the rinsing discharged liquid that is discharged in the break-in (or the remaining liquid that remains in the washing tool44A or44B after the rinsing treatment or a rinsing waste liquid in a case where the washing liquid is supplied from an internal portion of the washing tool), the absorbance measurement is performed, and an inspection about presence or absence of defects by using the iodine color reaction may thereby be performed. In this method also, the frequency of checks about presence or absence of defects by the defect inspection device can be reduced, and shortening and higher efficiency of the break-in treatment can be achieved. Note that an arbitrary substrate can be used as the dummy substrate, but in a semiconductor process, a TEOS film substrate is often used.

Fourth Embodiment

In the above embodiments, an inspection about presence or absence of defects is performed based on a measurement result of the absorbance measurement. However, for example, machine learning is performed about images of samples exhibiting the iodine color reaction at time points when the break-in is finished, and a learned model is thereby generated, and the inspection about presence or absence of defects may be performed by image detection using the learned model.

FIG.13illustrates a configuration of a system in an embodiment in which the image detection using the learned model is performed. InFIG.13, the system includes a washing evaluation device100and a learning device110that performs machine learning about sample images of the iodine color reaction. The washing evaluation device100includes a determination unit102including a learned model104and an imaging unit106that images a test liquid resulting from the iodine color reaction.

The learned model104is a learned machine learning model that has performed learning for estimating an extent of agreement between an image of the test liquid that is taken by the imaging unit106and an image taken after the break-in is finished, for example, by using a neural network. The learned model104is stored from the learning device110into the storage unit74of the washing evaluation device100and is read out by the determination unit102in a case where the inspection about presence or absence of defects by the image detection is performed in the washing evaluation device100.

As the neural network, for example, a convolutional neural network120illustrated inFIG.14is used. The convolutional neural network120has a structure in which convolutional layers122and pooling layers124are alternately connected, an output of the pooling layer124on an output side is input to a fully connected layer126, and an output of the fully connected layer126is input to an output layer128.

In the convolutional layers122, the correlation between image data of an input image and a predetermined weighting filter is calculated, and a feature amount in each local region of an input image is thereby output. In the pooling layers124, a maximum value or an average value is output about the feature amount in the local region that is output from the convolutional layers122. The fully connected layer126is configured with plural layers, each of the layers includes one or plural neurons (nodes), and the neurons in adjacent layers are mutually linked. The output layer128is arranged on the farthest output side of the neural network120and outputs estimation information that indicates the extent of agreement between an input image of a sample and an image obtained after the break-in is finished.

A weight is set for a linkage between the neurons, and a threshold value is set for each of the neurons. An output of each neuron is decided based on whether the sum of the products of inputs to each of the neurons and the weights exceeds the threshold value, and the estimation information is thereby output in the neural network. In a case where a value of the estimation information output from the learned model exceeds a preset reference value, the determination unit102determines that the input image agrees with the image obtained after the break-in is finished and finishes the inspection about presence or absence of defects.

Note that the neural network in the present embodiment is not limited to the above neural network, but for example, a fully connected neural network may be used that includes an input layer, an intermediate layer, and an output layer, and a convolutional neural network and a fully connected network may be used in combination. In addition, a recursive neural network (for example, an LSTM network) may be provided that has a loop therein.

The learning device110is a general-purpose computer, for example, includes a CPU, a memory that stores a learning program, an input device, a display device, and so forth, and is connected with the washing evaluation device100via a communication line not illustrated. The learning device110starts a learning program that is in advance stored in a memory not illustrated (or installed through a network) and thereby acts as an image input unit112, a training data storing unit114, a learning unit116, and a learned model storing unit118. Note that the learning device110and the washing evaluation device100may be integrated.

The image input unit112stores, as training data, a taken image (sample image) in a case where the iodine solution is added to the remaining liquid in the washing tool when the rinsing treatment by pure water is performed for the washing tool for which the break-in is finished and from which pollutants such as starch are sufficiently removed, in the training data storing unit114. The learning unit116includes an equivalent configuration to the above-described neural network120, adjusts the weight and threshold value of each of the neurons such that the estimation information that exceeds the reference value is obtained as an output when the training data are input, and thereby performs learning for the neural network. At a phase where the estimation information that exceeds the reference value is output to plural sets of training data stored in the training data storing unit114, learning is finished, and the result is stored as the learned model in the learned model storing unit118. Further, the learning device110sends data of the learned model that finishes learning to the washing evaluation device100, and the learned model104of the washing evaluation device100is thereby updated.

In the above embodiments, a description is made about cases, as examples, where the washing tool is set in the substrate washing device and the break-in treatment is thereafter performed; however, the present invention is not limited to those but can equivalently be applied to a form where the inspection about presence or absence of defects is performed for a washing tool before shipping, for example.

In the above embodiments, a description is made about cases, as examples, where the cleaning treatment is performed for the washing tool for performing the substrate washing in chemical mechanical polishing (CMP); however, the present invention is not limited to the CMP but can equivalently be applied to a form where scrub washing for a substrate is performed by using the PVA brush.

The above-described embodiments are described with the aim of enabling a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs to carry out the present invention. It goes without saying that various modifications of the above embodiments can be made by a person skilled in the art, and the technical ideas of the present invention can be applied to other embodiments. The present invention is not limited to the described embodiments and is construed in the broadest scope according to the technical ideas that are defined by the claims.