Abstract: A semiconductor includes a plurality of active regions that are separated from each other on a substrate by a device isolation layer and extend in a first direction, the active regions having two opposite ends and a center region; wordlines that are buried in and cross the active regions and extend in a second direction, which is different from the first direction, wherein a wordline that crosses an active region crosses between one of the two opposite ends and the center region of the active region; first contact plugs on the two opposite ends of the active regions, each contact plug overlapping a border between the active region and the device isolation layer; and second contact plugs formed on the first contact plugs.

Abstract: Provided is a trench-type capacitor. To form the capacitor, first and second active regions are disposed in a semiconductor substrate. Node patterns are disposed in the first active region. Each node pattern may have a conductive pattern and an insulating pattern, which are sequentially stacked. Impurity diffusion regions are disposed in the vicinity of the node patterns. Substrate connection patterns in electrical contact with the first and second active regions are disposed. Node connection patterns in electrical contact with the node patterns are disposed in the vicinity of the first and second active regions. In addition, a semiconductor device having the trench-type capacitor and a semiconductor module having the semiconductor device is provided.

Abstract: A method of forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device uses a double patterning technique. A first mask pattern is formed on a first hard mask layer disposed on a substrate. A conformal buffer layer is formed over the first mask pattern. A second mask pattern is formed such that segments of the buffer layer are interposed between the first and second mask patterns, and each topographical feature of the second mask pattern is disposed between two adjacent ones of each respective pair of topographical features of the first mask pattern. A first hard mask pattern is formed by etching the first hard mask layer using the first mask pattern, the second mask pattern, and/or the buffer layer as an etch mask. A trench is formed by etching the substrate using the first hard mask pattern as an etch mask. An isolation layer, of a material that is different from that of first hard mask pattern, is formed in the trench.

Abstract: A vertical type integrated circuit device includes a substrate and a pillar vertically protruding from the substrate. The pillar includes a lower impurity region and an upper impurity region therein and a vertical channel region therebetween. A portion of the pillar including the lower impurity region therein includes a mesa laterally extending therefrom. The device further includes a first conductive line extending on a first sidewall of the pillar and electrically contacting the lower impurity region, and a second conductive line extending on a second sidewall of the pillar adjacent the vertical channel region. The second conductive line extends in a direction perpendicular to the first conductive line and is spaced apart from the mesa. Related devices and methods of fabrication are also discussed.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes unit active regions, word lines extending in a first direction over the unit active region, bit lines extending on the word lines in a second direction substantially perpendicularly to the first direction, first pad contacts in contact with central portions of the unit active regions, the first pad contacts being arranged between the word lines, direct contacts electrically connected between the first pad contacts and the bit lines, second pad contacts in contact with edge portions of the unit active regions, the second pad contacts being arranged between the word lines and between the bit lines, buried contacts electrically connected to the second pad contacts, and capacitors electrically connected to the buried contacts.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having a self-aligned contact plug are provided. Methods include forming a lower insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of interconnection patterns parallel to each other on the lower insulating layer; forming an upper insulating layer that is configured to fill between the interconnection patterns, and forming a plurality of first mask patterns crossing the plurality of interconnection patterns, ones of the plurality of first mask patterns parallel to each other on the semiconductor substrate having the upper insulating layer.

Abstract: Provided are semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) devices including gate patterns having a step difference therebetween and a connection line interposed between the gate patterns. The semiconductor IC device includes a semiconductor substrate including a peripheral active region, a cell active region, and a device isolation layer. Cell gate patterns are disposed on the cell active region and the device isolation layer. A peripheral gate pattern is disposed on the peripheral active region. A cell electrical node is disposed on the cell active region adjacent to the cell gate patterns. Peripheral electrical nodes are disposed on the peripheral active region adjacent to the peripheral gate pattern. Connection lines are disposed on the cell gate patterns disposed on the device isolation layer. The connection lines are connected between the cell gate patterns and the peripheral gate pattern.

Abstract: A semiconductor device and associated methods, the semiconductor device including a semiconductor layer including a first region and a second region, a first contact plug disposed on the semiconductor layer and electrically connected to the first region, a second contact plug disposed on the semiconductor layer and electrically connected to the second region, a conductive layer electrically connected to the first contact plug, the conductive layer having a side surface and a bottom surface, and an insulating layer disposed between the conductive layer and the second contact plug so as to insulate the conductive layer from the second contact plug, the insulating layer facing the side surface and a portion of the bottom surface of the conductive layer.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a contact barrier for insulating contacts with a large aspect ratio and having a fine pitch between adjacent conductive lines and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The semiconductor device includes a buried contact formed in a region between two adjacent first conductive lines and two adjacent second conductive lines. Insulating lines define a width of the buried contact. To form the contact barrier, an interlayer dielectric layer formed on the second conductive lines is patterned to form a space and an insulating line having an etching ratio different from the interlayer dielectric layer is formed in the space. The interlayer dielectric layer is selectively wet etched relative to an insulating layer covering the second conductive line and the first insulating line to form buried contact hole. The buried contact hole is filled with conductive material to form a buried contact.

Abstract: A semiconductor device, and a method of forming the same, includes forming a cell bit line pattern and a peripheral gate pattern on a semiconductor substrate. The cell bit line pattern may be formed on an inactive region adjacent to a cell active region of the semiconductor substrate. The peripheral gate pattern may be disposed on a peripheral active region of the semiconductor substrate. A cell contact plug may be formed between the cell bit line pattern and the cell active region. A peripheral contact plug may be formed on the peripheral active region on a side of the peripheral gate pattern. An insulating layer may be formed to expose top surfaces of the cell bit line pattern, the peripheral gate pattern, and the cell and peripheral contact plugs at substantially the same level.

Abstract: Methods of forming a contact structure in a semiconductor device include providing a semiconductor substrate including active regions and word lines crossing the active regions. A first interlayer dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Direct contact plugs are formed extending through the first interlayer dielectric layer to contact selected ones of the active regions. Bit line structures are formed on the first interlayer dielectric layer and crossing the word lines that are coupled to the selected ones of the active regions by the direct contact plugs. A second interlayer dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate including the bit line structures. Barrier patterns are formed extending in parallel with bit line structures and into the second interlayer dielectric layer. Mask patterns are formed overlying an entirety of top surfaces of the direct contact plugs on the second interlayer dielectric layer and the bit line structures.

Abstract: Provided are semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) devices including gate patterns having a step difference therebetween and a connection line interposed between the gate patterns. The semiconductor IC device includes a semiconductor substrate including a peripheral active region, a cell active region, and a device isolation layer. Cell gate patterns are disposed on the cell active region and the device isolation layer. A peripheral gate pattern is disposed on the peripheral active region. A cell electrical node is disposed on the cell active region adjacent to the cell gate patterns. Peripheral electrical nodes are disposed on the peripheral active region adjacent to the peripheral gate pattern. Connection lines are disposed on the cell gate patterns disposed on the device isolation layer. The connection lines are connected between the cell gate patterns and the peripheral gate pattern.

Abstract: A method of forming a fine pattern of a semiconductor device uses a double patterning technique. A first mask pattern is formed on a first hard mask layer disposed on a substrate. A conformal buffer layer is formed over the first mask pattern. A second mask pattern is formed such that segments of the buffer layer are interposed between the first and second mask patterns, and each topographical feature of the second mask pattern is disposed between two adjacent ones of each respective pair of topographical features of the first mask pattern. A first hard mask pattern is formed by etching the first hard mask layer using the first mask pattern, the second mask pattern, and/or the buffer layer as an etch mask. A trench is formed by etching the substrate using the first hard mask pattern as an etch mask. An isolation layer, of a material that is different from that of first hard mask pattern, is formed in the trench.

Abstract: Methods of forming a contact structure in a semiconductor device include providing a semiconductor substrate including active regions and word lines crossing the active regions. A first interlayer dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Direct contact plugs are formed extending through the first interlayer dielectric layer to contact selected ones of the active regions. Bit line structures are formed on the first interlayer dielectric layer and crossing the word lines that are coupled to the selected ones of the active regions by the direct contact plugs. A second interlayer dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate including the bit line structures. Barrier patterns are formed extending in parallel with bit line structures and into the second interlayer dielectric layer. Mask patterns are formed overlying an entirety of top surfaces of the direct contact plugs on the second interlayer dielectric layer and the bit line structures.

Abstract: Provided may be a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method may include forming a plurality of isolation patterns including conductive patterns on a semiconductor substrate and forming gaps between the isolation patterns, forming active patterns filling the gaps on the semiconductor substrate, forming a gate insulation layer on the isolation patterns and the active patterns, and forming gate patterns on the gate insulation layer.

Abstract: Provided are semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) devices having an upper pattern aligned with a lower pattern molded by a semiconductor substrate and methods of forming the same. In the semiconductor IC devices, the lower pattern contacts the upper pattern using an active region and/or an isolation layer. The methods include preparing a semiconductor substrate having an active region. A lower pattern is formed on the active region. The lower pattern is surrounded by the active region and protrudes from a top surface of the active region. An upper pattern is disposed on the lower pattern. The upper pattern contacts the lower pattern.

Abstract: Provided may be a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method may include forming a plurality of isolation patterns including conductive patterns on a semiconductor substrate and forming gaps between the isolation patterns, forming active patterns filling the gaps on the semiconductor substrate, forming a gate insulation layer on the isolation patterns and the active patterns, and forming gate patterns on the gate insulation layer.

Abstract: Methods of forming a contact structure in a semiconductor device include providing a semiconductor substrate including active regions and word lines crossing the active regions. A first interlayer dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate. Direct contact plugs are formed extending through the first interlayer dielectric layer to contact selected ones of the active regions. Bit line structures are formed on the first interlayer dielectric layer and crossing the word lines that are coupled to the selected ones of the active regions by the direct contact plugs. A second interlayer dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate including the bit line structures. Barrier patterns are formed extending in parallel with bit line structures and into the second interlayer dielectric layer. Mask patterns are formed overlying an entirety of top surfaces of the direct contact plugs on the second interlayer dielectric layer and the bit line structures.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a semiconductor device having a self-aligned contact plug are provided. Methods include forming a lower insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a plurality of interconnection patterns parallel to each other on the lower insulating layer; forming an upper insulating layer that is configured to fill between the interconnection patterns, and forming a plurality of first mask patterns crossing the plurality of interconnection patterns, ones of the plurality of first mask patterns parallel to each other on the semiconductor substrate having the upper insulating layer.

Abstract: Provided are semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) devices having an upper pattern aligned with a lower pattern molded by a semiconductor substrate and methods of forming the same. In the semiconductor IC devices, the lower pattern contacts the upper pattern using an active region and/or an isolation layer. The methods include preparing a semiconductor substrate having an active region. A lower pattern is formed on the active region. The lower pattern is surrounded by the active region and protrudes from a top surface of the active region. An upper pattern is disposed on the lower pattern. The upper pattern contacts the lower pattern.