Abstract: A phase shifting mask is used for manufacturing a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a conductor pattern in which the line width of patterned conductor strips or the space between patterned conductor strips is not constant. For main transparent areas in the mask corresponding to the conductor pattern, auxiliary pattern segments are provided for compensating changes in the phase distribution of transmitted light caused by changes of the line width or the space. Alternately, the spaces between the conductor strips are adjusted to suppress the changes in the phase distribution of transmitted light. Whether the auxiliary pattern segments should have the phase shifting function is determined depending upon the disposition of the main transparent areas.

Abstract: A DRAM has memory cells provided at crossing points between word line conductors and bit line conductors. Each memory cell has a cell selection transistor and an information storage capacitor arranged over the bit line conductors. Unit active regions are defined in a main surface of a semiconductor substrate by a field isolation pattern. The field isolation pattern has a controlled length of extension of bird's beaks so that channel formation regions in each unit active region has almost no stepped portion to provide the cell selection transistors with a stabilized threshold voltage.