JP2013229514A - Fine air bubble generator, fine air bubble generation method, substrate processing apparatus, and substrate processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fine air bubble generator equipped with an inexpensive device which checks whether or not the concentration of generated fine bubbles is sufficient for performing better processing in a substrate processing apparatus which processes a substrate using a process liquid including the fine bubbles generated by the fine air bubble generator and a substrate processing method.SOLUTION: A fine air bubble generator is composed of: a storage tank 2 storing a process liquid L including fine bubbles; a color sensor C detecting a color of the process liquid L; and a control part 8 detecting the concentration of the fine bubbles in the process liquid L on the basis of a detection result of the color sensor C.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fine bubble generating apparatus, a fine bubble generating method, a substrate processing apparatus, and a substrate processing method.

  For example, in a manufacturing process of a semiconductor device or a liquid crystal display device, a substrate processing apparatus is used that supplies a processing liquid to the surface of a substrate such as a semiconductor wafer or a glass substrate for liquid crystal and processes the substrate surface. Examples of the substrate processing apparatus include a resist stripping apparatus that strips a resist film that is no longer needed from the substrate surface of a semiconductor wafer, and a cleaning apparatus for removing foreign matters such as particles adhering to the substrate surface.

  In such a substrate processing apparatus, a liquid containing many fine bubbles may be used as a processing liquid.

  Further, in a machining apparatus that performs machining such as cutting, fine bubbles may be included in the cutting fluid of a processing tool such as a blade that is cut into a workpiece. By using a cutting fluid containing fine bubbles, the fine bubbles act as a cushion, reducing friction between the processing tool and the workpiece, extending the life of the processing tool, and reducing the fineness contained in the cutting fluid. Effects such as chipping prevention can be obtained by adsorbing and removing cutting chips adhering to the processing tool and the workpiece by the bubbles.

  Here, the fine bubbles are bubbles including concepts such as micro bubbles, micro nano bubbles, and nano bubbles. For example, microbubbles are bubbles having a diameter of 10 μm to several tens of μm, micronano bubbles are bubbles having a diameter of several hundred nm to 10 μm, and nanobubbles are bubbles having a diameter of several hundred nm or less.

  In processing using such a processing liquid containing fine bubbles, it is important that the required amount of fine bubbles is contained in the processing liquid. For this reason, the content of fine bubbles in the treatment liquid is confirmed before the start of the treatment. Conventionally, a turbidimeter or the like has been used as a measuring instrument for confirmation.

JP 2008-104608 A

  In general, a densitometer is expensive, and a device for confirming the content and concentration of fine bubbles in a processing solution (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “concentration”) includes a substrate processing device, Since it is only attached to a processing apparatus such as a machining apparatus, an inexpensive apparatus is required.

  A storage tank that stores processing liquid containing fine bubbles, a color sensor that detects the color of the processing liquid, and a control that can detect the concentration of the fine bubbles in the processing liquid based on the detection result of the color sensor. Part.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the concentration of fine bubbles in the processing liquid can be measured using an inexpensive apparatus.

1 is a schematic view of a substrate processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The graph which showed the relationship between the gas supply amount to a fine bubble generation means, and the detection result of a color detection means. Schematic of the substrate processing apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. Schematic of the substrate processing apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. Schematic of the substrate processing apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention.

[First Embodiment]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the substrate processing apparatus 1 includes a fine bubble generating device 30 and a substrate processing unit 10.

  The fine bubble generating device 30 has a storage tank 2, and the processing liquid L supplied from the fine bubble generating means 3 provided in the storage tank 2 is stored in the storage tank 2. The fine bubble generating means 3 is connected to a pressurized tank 5 via a supply pipe 4 a, and a liquid supply source 6 and a gas supply source 7 are provided upstream of the pressurized tank 5. The storage tank 2 is connected to the pressurized tank 5 via a return pipe 4b.

  In addition, the liquid supply source 6 and the gas supply source 7 are provided with a flow rate adjusting valve (not shown), and the supply amounts of the liquid and the gas are controlled by the control unit 8 respectively.

  A background color panel P is provided at a position facing the side wall surface of the storage tank 2 by holding means (not shown), and a position where the color of the background color panel P can be detected (in this embodiment, the storage tank 2 is Color detecting means C is installed at a position facing the background color panel P across the surface. The color detection means C is electrically connected to the control unit 8 described above. The color detection means C and the background color panel P constitute a color sensor. In the storage tank 2, at least the detection light passing path of the color detection means C is formed of a transparent member.

  The storage tank 2 is connected to the substrate processing unit 10 via a pipe 9. The substrate processing unit 10 is a unit for cleaning, for example, a semiconductor wafer W that is an object to be processed, and a nozzle 11 for supplying a processing liquid L to the surface of the semiconductor wafer W and a holding for holding the semiconductor wafer W. Means 12 are provided. The pipe 9 is provided with a valve B, and this opening / closing is controlled by the control unit 8.

  Next, the processing operation of the substrate processing apparatus 1 will be described.

  The pressurized tank 5 generates a gas-dissolved liquid by pressurizing and dissolving the gas from the gas supply source 7 into the liquid from the liquid supply source 6. In the present embodiment, pure water is used as the liquid and nitrogen gas is used as the gas. The supply amounts of pure water and nitrogen gas are controlled by the control unit 8. The pure water in which nitrogen gas is dissolved generated in the pressurized tank 5 is supplied to the fine bubble generating means 3 in the storage tank 2 through the supply pipe 4a.

  The liquid that has passed through the fine bubble generating means 3 is supplied with nitrogen gas in pure water as fine bubbles, and is supplied into the storage tank 2 as pure water (treatment liquid L) containing fine nitrogen gas bubbles ( Microbubble generation process). The processing liquid L stored in the storage tank 2 can be returned to the pressurized tank 5 again via the return pipe 4 b and circulates between the storage tank 2 and the pressurized tank 5.

  The color of the processing liquid L in the storage tank 2 is detected by the color detection means C (color detection process). Here, the detection operation of the color sensor will be described.

  The color detection means C is a function that indicates whether a detected color is close to a predetermined color or not by a measured value by setting a measured value when a specific color is detected as a maximum measured value. Have If the measured value is high, it is closer to the stored color, and if the measured value is low, it is different from the stored color.

  The measurement value of the color detection means C is sent to the control unit 8. The control unit 8 determines the density of the fine bubbles based on whether the measurement value, which is the detection result of the color detection means C, is higher or lower than a preset threshold value T (density determination step). This threshold value T is obtained and set in advance by experiments.

  In the present embodiment, the measurement value when white is detected in advance is set as the maximum measurement value. From the measurement value from the color detection means C, it can be determined whether or not the color of the treatment liquid L is close to white, and the higher the measurement value, the more white it is. As the background color panel P, a red panel is used in this embodiment.

  The treatment liquid L in the storage tank 2 becomes more cloudy as it contains more fine bubbles. First, when the color detection means C detects the color of the processing liquid in the storage tank 2 (in this case, the color of the background color panel P itself) in a state not containing fine bubbles (the gas supply amount is 0), FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, as a result of detecting red in the background color panel P, the measured value is a measured value far from the threshold value T. The measurement result is sent to the control unit 8, and the control unit 8 increases the supply amount of nitrogen gas (control process). When the fine bubbles existing in the processing liquid L start to increase, the processing liquid L becomes cloudy and the measured value of the color detection means C gradually increases. When the measured value of the color detection means C is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value T, the control unit 8 determines that the concentration of fine bubbles in the processing liquid L has reached an optimal concentration in the subsequent processing step, and the next step It moves to the liquid feeding to the substrate processing part 10 which is (liquid feeding process).

  When the processing liquid L in the storage tank 2 becomes the processing liquid L having fine bubbles having a concentration optimum for the processing process, the control unit 8 opens the valve B and supplies the valve B to the substrate processing unit 10 via the pipe 9. . The nozzle 11 of the substrate processing unit 10 discharges the processing liquid L onto the surface of the semiconductor wafer W held by the holding device 12 and cleans the semiconductor wafer W.

According to such an embodiment, the concentration of fine bubbles can be controlled with an inexpensive and simple configuration, and a treatment liquid containing fine bubbles generated at an optimum concentration for processing can be supplied to the object to be processed.
[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the substrate processing apparatus 100 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The difference from the first embodiment is that the background color panel P and the color detection means C are provided at positions facing each other across the nozzle 11. The color detection means C measures the concentration of fine bubbles contained in the processing liquid L discharged from the nozzle 11 by detecting the color of the discharged processing liquid L. This detection result is sent to the control unit 8 as in the first embodiment, and is compared by the control unit 8 with the optimum threshold value T obtained in advance through experiments. The control unit 8 performs feedback control on the gas supply amount from the gas supply source 7 based on the comparison result. That is, when the generation concentration of fine bubbles is lower than the threshold value T, the supply amount of nitrogen gas supplied from the gas supply source 6 to the pressurized tank 5 is increased.

According to such an embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. That is, it is possible to control the concentration of fine bubbles with an inexpensive and simple configuration, and to supply a treatment liquid containing fine bubbles generated at an optimum concentration for processing to the object to be processed.
[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of a microbubble generator 30 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The difference from the first embodiment is that a detection pipe 21 is provided on the side wall of the storage tank 2, and a background color panel P and a color detection means C are provided at positions facing each other with the detection pipe 21 interposed therebetween. Is a point.

  The detection pipe 21 is a pipe that is connected in a state where the upper and lower portions of the side wall of the storage tank 2 are opened. In the pipe of the detection pipe 21, the same processing liquid as that stored in the storage tank 2 is stored. The detection pipe 21 is made of a transparent member.

  The color detection means C detects the color of the processing liquid L in the detection pipe 21. As in the first embodiment, when the processing liquid L does not contain fine bubbles, the red color of the background color panel P arranged opposite to the detection pipe 21 is detected. Become. When the fine bubbles in the processing liquid L increase, the processing liquid in the detection pipe 21 becomes cloudy and the measured value of the color detection means C increases. Similarly to the first embodiment, when the threshold value T is equal to or greater than the threshold value T, the control unit 8 opens the valve B in order to send the solution to the substrate processing unit 10 as the next process.

According to such an embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. That is, it is possible to control the concentration of fine bubbles with an inexpensive and simple configuration, and to supply a treatment liquid containing fine bubbles generated at an optimum concentration for processing to the object to be processed.
[Fourth Embodiment]
FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a substrate processing apparatus 200 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The difference from the first embodiment is that the supply pipe 4a is branched to form a branch supply pipe 41a, and the nozzle 31 is provided with fine bubble generating means instead of the nozzle 11. It is. The branch supply pipe 41 a is connected to the nozzle 31. A valve B1 (three-way valve) is provided at a branch point where the supply pipe 4a branches into the branch supply pipe 41a.

  First, the processing liquid L supplied to the fine bubble generating means 3 through the supply pipe 4a gradually becomes cloudy while circulating between the pressurized tank 5 and the storage tank 2 by the return pipe 4b as in the first embodiment. Go (the concentration of fine bubbles increases). At this time, the branch supply pipe 41a side of the valve B1 is closed, and this opening / closing control is performed by the control unit 8. As in the first embodiment, when the measured value of the color detection means C becomes higher than the threshold value, the control unit 8 opens the branch supply pipe 41a side of the valve B1 and closes the side supplying the storage tank 2 to the storage tank 2. The processing liquid L in the storage tank 2 that is repeatedly circulated and becomes cloudy contains a large amount of fine bubbles and is in a state in which a large amount of gas is dissolved. By supplying the processing liquid L in the pressurized tank 5 to the nozzle 31 provided with the fine bubble generating means via the branch supply pipe 41a without passing through the fine bubble generating means 3 while maintaining this state. The processing liquid L discharged from the fine bubble generating means 31 contains a large amount of fine bubbles.

According to such an embodiment, not only the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained, but also the fine bubbles generated by the fine bubble generating means 31 are contained in a large amount without disappearing in the middle of the piping. In this state, it is supplied to the workpiece.
[Other Embodiments]
In the above embodiment, the liquid from the liquid supply source is described as pure water, and the gas from the gas supply source is described as nitrogen gas. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is suitable for processing such as ammonia water, alkaline water, oxygen gas, and the like. Liquid or gas can be used.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the to-be-processed object was set as the semiconductor wafer W and the example as a washing | cleaning apparatus which uses a substrate processing apparatus for a semiconductor wafer cleaning process was demonstrated, it is not restricted to this, The machine which processes a to-be-processed object It may be a processing device. At this time, the processing liquid L functions as a cooling liquid for cooling the workpiece and the processing member, and a cutting liquid used for cutting.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the method for generating fine bubbles is described as a pressurized dissolution method having a pressurized tank and generating means, but is not limited to this, a swirling method, a venturi method, a porous membrane method, etc. It is only necessary to have a configuration in which fine bubbles are generated.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although all gave and demonstrated the example which stores the process liquid L once in the storage tank 2, and supplies it to a board | substrate process part, in 2nd Embodiment, it does not restrict to this but stores. The processing liquid L may be supplied from the pressurized tank 5 to the substrate processing unit 10 (in this case, the nozzle 31 having the fine bubble generating means of the fourth embodiment is used) without passing through the tank 2. good.

  In the above embodiment, the color of the background color panel P is set to red. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the color detection unit detects the color of the processing liquid, Any color can be used as long as it can be distinguished and detected (thus, a color that can be easily distinguished from white is preferable).

  In the above embodiment, the concentration of fine bubbles in the processing liquid L is determined based on whether or not the control means 8 has a measured value detected by the color detection means C higher than the threshold value T, and the subsequent control is performed. Yes. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the measured value of the color detection means for the gas supply amount, the amount of fine bubbles generated, or the concentration as shown in the graph of FIG. 2 is obtained in advance and stored in the control unit. Thus, the gas supply amount may be controlled based on the measurement value from the color detection means C, and finally the concentration of fine bubbles in the processing liquid may be controlled.

  In the second embodiment described above, the color detection unit C detects the color of the processing liquid discharged from the nozzle 11, but the material through which the processing liquid passes in the nozzle 11 is made transparent. You may make it detect the process liquid before nozzle 11 discharge.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Substrate processing apparatus 2 Storage tank 3 Fine bubble generating means 30 Fine bubble generating apparatus 4a Supply pipe 4b Return pipe 5 Pressure tank 6 Liquid supply source 7 Gas supply source 8 Control part 9 Pipe 10 Substrate processing part 11 Nozzle 12 Holding means 100 Substrate processing apparatus L Processing liquid B Valve P Background color panel C Color detection means

Claims (10)

A storage tank for storing a processing liquid containing fine bubbles;
A color sensor for detecting the color of the treatment liquid;
And a control unit capable of detecting the concentration of fine bubbles in the processing liquid based on the detection result of the color sensor. A nozzle for supplying a processing liquid containing fine bubbles to an object to be processed;
A color sensor for detecting the color of the processing liquid discharged from the nozzle;
And a control unit capable of detecting the concentration of fine bubbles in the processing liquid based on the detection result of the color sensor. A nozzle for supplying a processing liquid containing fine bubbles to an object to be processed;
A color sensor for detecting the color of the processing liquid passing through the nozzle;
And a control unit capable of detecting the concentration of fine bubbles in the processing liquid based on the detection result of the color sensor. Fine bubble generating means for generating fine bubbles in the treatment liquid;
A storage tank for storing processing liquid containing fine bubbles supplied from the fine bubble generating means;
A color sensor for detecting the concentration of fine bubbles in the processing liquid;
And a control unit that controls the amount of gas supplied to the fine bubble generating means based on the detection result of the color sensor. Fine bubble generating means for generating fine bubbles in the treatment liquid;
A nozzle that supplies liquid to be processed supplied from the fine bubble generating means;
A color sensor for detecting the concentration of fine bubbles contained in the processing liquid discharged from the nozzle;
And a control unit that controls the amount of gas supplied to the fine bubble generating means based on the detection result of the color sensor. Fine bubble generating means for generating fine bubbles in the treatment liquid;
A nozzle that supplies liquid to be processed supplied from the fine bubble generating means;
A color sensor for detecting the color of the processing liquid passing through the nozzle;
And a control unit that controls the amount of gas supplied to the fine bubble generating means based on the detection result of the color sensor.   A substrate processing apparatus for processing a substrate, comprising the fine bubble generating device according to claim 1.   A substrate processing apparatus for performing a substrate cleaning process, comprising the fine bubble generating apparatus according to claim 1. A fine bubble generating step for generating fine bubbles in the treatment liquid;
A color detection step of detecting a color in the processing liquid containing the fine bubbles generated in the fine bubble generation step by color detection means;
Based on the detection result detected in the color detection step, a concentration determination step for determining whether or not the concentration of fine bubbles contained in the processing liquid is a concentration that can be used at a processing liquid use destination;
And a control step of controlling a supply amount of gas used in the fine bubble generation step based on a determination result of the concentration determination step. A fine bubble generating step for generating fine bubbles in the treatment liquid;
A color detection step of detecting a color in the processing liquid containing the fine bubbles generated in the fine bubble generation step by color detection means;
Based on the detection result detected in the color detection step, a concentration determination step for determining whether the concentration of fine bubbles contained in the processing liquid is a concentration usable in the substrate processing step;
Based on the determination result of the concentration determination step, a control step for controlling the supply amount of gas used in the fine bubble generation step;
A liquid feeding step for feeding the liquid to the next step when it is determined in the concentration judgment step that the concentration of fine bubbles is usable in the substrate processing step;
A substrate processing method comprising:

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