Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of rows, each row comprising a plurality of active regions arranged at a pitch wherein the active regions in adjacent rows are shifted with respect to each other by one half of the pitch, wherein a distance between each active region in a row is equal to a distance between active regions in adjacent rows.

Abstract: Provided is a method for forming patterns of a semiconductor device. According to the method, first mask patterns may be formed on a substrate, and second mask patterns may be formed on sidewalls of each first mask pattern. Third mask patterns may fill spaces formed between adjacent second mask patterns, and the second mask patterns may be removed. A portion of the substrate may then be removed using the first and third mask patterns as etch masks.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for measuring overlay of a semiconductor device. The method may include obtaining reference sample data and misaligned sample data from scattering data of a reference sample and misaligned samples, assigning reference fitting values based on the reference sample data and the misaligned sample data, collecting target wafer scattering data from a target wafer, evaluating a target wafer fitting value based on the reference sample data and the target wafer scattering data and comparing the target wafer fitting value with the reference fitting values to determine a target wafer misaligned value relating to the overlay between the first pattern and the second pattern of a target wafer.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of rows, each row comprising a plurality of active regions arranged at a pitch wherein the active regions in adjacent rows are shifted with respect to each other by one half of the pitch, wherein a distance between each active region in a row is equal to a distance between active regions in adjacent rows.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device are provided. Methods of forming a finer pattern of a semiconductor device using a buffer layer for retarding, or preventing, bridge formation between patterns in the formation of a finer pattern below resolution limits of a photolithography process by double patterning are also provided. A first hard mask layer and/or a second hard mask layer may be formed on a layer of a substrate to be etched. A first etch mask pattern of a first pitch may be formed on the second hard mask layer. After a buffer layer is formed on the overall surface of the substrate, a second etch mask pattern of a second pitch may be formed thereon in a region between the first etch mask pattern. The buffer layer may be anisotropically etched using the second etch mask pattern as an etch mask, forming a buffer layer pattern.

Abstract: A multiple exposure system and a multiple exposure method using the same enhance the resolution of the image of the mask pattern transferred to a substrate. The system includes NA controllers that provide excellent resolution with respect to the directions of the short axis and long axis of the mask pattern. In one form of the method, a first exposure process is performed using a first NA controller that provides excellent resolution with respect to the direction of the short axis of the mask pattern and subsequently, a second exposure process is performed using a second NA controller that provides excellent resolution with respect to the direction of the long axis of the mask pattern. Alternatively, the first exposure process and the second or high order exposure process can be sequentially performed using the first and second NA controllers simultaneously.

Abstract: There are provided a semiconductor device having an overlay measurement mark, and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor device includes a scribe line region disposed on a semiconductor substrate. A first main scale layer having a first group of line and space patterns and a second group of line and space patterns is disposed on the scribe line region. Line-shaped second main scale patterns are disposed on space regions of the first group of the line and space patterns. Line-shaped vernier scale patterns are disposed on space regions of the second group of the line and space patterns. In the method, a first main scale layer having a first group of line and space patterns and a second group of line and space patterns is formed on a semiconductor substrate. Line-shaped second main scale patterns are formed on space regions of the first group of the line and space patterns. Line-shaped vernier scale patterns are formed on space regions of the second group of the line and space patterns.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods of forming SAC pads in non-straight semiconductor device having non-straight type or separate type active regions. A plurality of gate line structures extending in one direction may be formed on a semiconductor substrate having non-straight active regions. An interlayer insulating layer covering gate line structures may be formed on the gate line structures. Then, a photo-resist layer may be formed on the interlayer insulating layer. A photo-resist pattern may be formed through exposing and developing the photo-resist layer by using a photo-mask having, for example, a bar type, a wave type, or a reverse active type pattern. Then, contact holes exposing source/drain regions may be formed by etching the interlayer insulating layer using the photo-resist pattern as an etching mask. Contact pads may then be formed by filling the contact holes with a conductive material.

Abstract: There are provided methods of performing a photolithography process for forming asymmetric semiconductor patterns and methods of forming a semiconductor device using the same. These methods provide a way of forming asymmetric semiconductor patterns on a photoresist layer through two exposure processes. To this end, a semiconductor substrate is prepared. A planarized insulating interlayer and a photoresist layer are sequentially formed on the overall surface of the semiconductor substrate. A first semiconductor pattern of a photolithography mask is transferred to the photoresist layer, thereby forming a photoresist pattern on the photoresist layer. A second semiconductor pattern of a second photolithography mask is continuously transferred to the photoresist layer, thereby forming a second photoresist pattern on the photoresist layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device may include a substrate having a plurality of active regions and a field isolation layer on the substrate surrounding the active regions of the substrate. Each of the plurality of active regions may have a length in a direction of a first axis and a width in a direction of a second axis, and the length may be greater than the width. The plurality of active regions may be provided in a plurality of columns of active regions in the direction of the second axis, and active regions of adjacent columns may be offset in the direction of the second axis.

Abstract: Mask sets are provided which may be used to define a first pattern region that has a first pitch pattern and a second pattern region that has a second pitch pattern during the fabrication of a semiconductor device. These mask sets may include a first mask that has a first exposure region in which a first halftone pattern defines the first pattern region and a first screen region in which a first shield layer covers the second pattern region. These mask sets may further include a second mask that has a second exposure region in which a second halftone pattern defines the second pattern region and a second screen region in which a second shield layer covers the first pattern region. The second shield layer also extends from the second screen region to cover a portion of the second halftone pattern.

Abstract: The mounting assembly of a license plate includes a license plate having at least one fastening aperture, a frame, on one side of which the license plate is mounted, a fixing member located at the other side of the frame, opposite to the license plate, and a fastening means for coupling the license plate and the fixing member to the frame. The frame is provided with an opening and a shock-absorbing member fitted into the opening. The license plate is fastened to the frame by attaching the license plate to the shock-absorbing member.

Abstract: A photomask for use in photolithography has substrate, a main pattern at one side of the substrate, and a transparency-adjusting layer at the other side of the substrate. The transparency-adjusting layer has a characteristic that allows it to change the intensity of the illumination incident on the main pattern during the exposure process accordingly. In manufacturing the photomask, a first exposure process is carried out on a wafer using just the substrate and main pattern. The critical dimensions of elements of the pattern formed on the wafer as a result of the first exposure process are measured. Differences between these critical dimensions and a reference critical dimension are then used in designing a layout of the transparency-adjusting layer in which the characteristic of the layer is varied to compensate for such differences.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming a pattern. A first organic polymer layer is formed on a substrate on which an underlying layer, and then a second organic polymer layer, which has an opening partially exposing the first organic polymer layer, is formed on the first organic polymer layer. Next, a silicon-containing polymer layer is formed on the second organic polymer layer to cover the opening. The silicon-containing polymer layer is oxidized and simultaneously the second organic polymer layer and the first organic polymer layer are ashed by oxygen plasma to form a pattern having an anisotropy-shape. The underlying layer is etched using the silicon-containing polymer layer and the first organic polymer layer as an etching mask to form a pattern.

Abstract: DRAM devices include a plurality of word lines extending in a first direction and a plurality of bit lines extending in a second direction and intersecting the word lines. A plurality of active regions is provided that are electrically coupled to the word lines and the bit lines. Each of the active regions defines a single unit memory cell having an area of 6F2 in terms of a minimum line width F. Each of the active regions may be overlapped by only one word line and the active regions may be defined by an isolation region.

Abstract: There are provided a method of forming a trench for a recessed channel of a transistor and a layout for the same. A layout for the recessed channel according to one aspect of the present invention is formed such that an open region is extended across at least one of a first active region in a lateral direction, and also across another second active region in parallel with the first active region in a diagonal direction, and the extension is cut not to reach an isolation region between two third active regions that are in parallel with the second active region in a diagonal direction, and have noses facing each other in a longitudinal direction, and the layout includes an alignment of a plurality of open regions, which are discontinuously aligned. An etch mask is formed using the layout, and a semiconductor substrate is etched using the etch mask, and a trench for a recessed channel is formed on the active region.

Abstract: In a resist reflow measurement key, and method of fabricating a fine pattern of a semiconductor device using the same, the resist reflow measurement key includes a first reflow key including a plurality of first pattern elements each having a first pattern with a first radius of curvature located on a first side of a first center line and a second pattern with a second radius of curvature located on a second side of the first center line, and a second reflow key including a plurality of second pattern elements each having a third pattern with a third radius of curvature located on a first side of a second center line and a fourth pattern with a fourth radius of curvature located on a second side of the second center line, the second reflow key being formed on a same plane of a substrate as the first reflow key.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods of forming SAC pads in non-straight semiconductor device having non-straight type or separate type active regions. A plurality of gate line structures extending in one direction may be formed on a semiconductor substrate having non-straight active regions. An interlayer insulating layer covering gate line structures may be formed on the gate line structures. Then, a photo-resist layer may be formed on the interlayer insulating layer. A photo-resist pattern may be formed through exposing and developing the photo-resist layer by using a photo-mask having, for example, a bar type, a wave type, or a reverse active type pattern. Then, contact holes exposing source/drain regions may be formed by etching the interlayer insulating layer using the photo-resist pattern as an etching mask. Contact pads may then be formed by filling the contact holes with a conductive material.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of rows, each row comprising a plurality of active regions arranged at a pitch wherein the active regions in adjacent rows are shifted with respect to each other by one half of the pitch, wherein a distance between each active region in a row is equal to a distance between active regions in adjacent rows.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the invention, a substrate doped with a P type impurity is provided. An N type impurity is doped into the substrate to divide the substrate into a P type impurity region and an N type impurity region. Active patterns having a first pitch are formed in the P type and N type impurity regions. Gate patterns having a second pitch are formed on the active patterns in a direction substantially perpendicular to the active patterns. Other embodiments are described and claimed.