Abstract: A fabrication method of the semiconductor device comprises forming an isolation layer and an active region, which is defined by the isolation layer, on a substrate, forming an insulating layer on the substrate, forming a plurality of pillar masks, which are spaced from one another by a first gap and a second gap that is smaller than the first gap, on the insulating layer, forming spacers on the plurality of pillar masks, forming mask bridges in regions where the plurality of pillar masks are spaced from one another by the second gap by partially removing the spacers and forming a contact hole, which exposes the active region, by etching the insulating layer using the plurality of pillar masks and the mask bridges.

Abstract: A spacer covering a sidewall of a contact plug includes a relatively more damaged first portion and a relatively less damaged second portion. An interface of the first and second portions of the spacer is spaced apart from a metal silicide layer of the contact plug. Thus reliability of the semiconductor device may be improved. Related fabrication methods are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a system for managing network traffic by using monitoring and filtering policies, including: a network traffic managing device to manage network traffic by (i) creating a monitoring policy and a filtering policy and (ii) transmitting the created monitoring policy and the created filtering policy to a user terminal device; and a traffic control device to detect packets generated in one or more applications of the user terminal device, according to the one or more applications or one or more destination addresses based on the monitoring policy received from the network traffic managing device, create and transmit traffic statistical information on the detected packets to the network traffic managing device, and filter the packets according to the filtering policy received from the network traffic managing device at a kernel area of the user terminal device.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor pattern can include providing an etching target layer. A hard mask pattern can be formed on the etching target layer using photolithography. First spacers can be formed on opposing sidewalls of the hard mask pattern and the hard mask pattern can be removed from between the first spacers to provide a first double patterning pattern self-aligned to the hard mask pattern. The planarization of top surfaces of the first double patterning pattern can be increased to provide a smoothed first double patterning pattern.

Abstract: A spacer covering a sidewall of a contact plug includes a relatively more damaged first portion and a relatively less damaged second portion. An interface of the first and second portions of the spacer is spaced apart from a metal silicide layer of the contact plug. Thus reliability of the semiconductor device may be improved. Related fabrication methods are also described.

Abstract: A spacer covering a sidewall of a contact plug includes a relatively more damaged first portion and a relatively less damaged second portion. An interface of the first and second portions of the spacer is spaced apart from a metal silicide layer of the contact plug. Thus reliability of the semiconductor device may be improved. Related fabrication methods are also described.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a cell area and a peripheral area includes a semiconductor substrate, a cell insulating isolation region delimiting a cell active region of the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a word line disposed within the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a bit line contact plug disposed on the cell active region, a bit line disposed on the bit line contact plug, a peripheral insulating isolation region delimiting a peripheral active region of the semiconductor substrate in the peripheral area, and a peripheral transistor including a peripheral transistor lower electrode and a peripheral transistor upper electrode. The bit line contact plug is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor lower electrode, and the bit line electrode is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor upper electrode.

Abstract: A spacer covering a sidewall of a contact plug includes a relatively more damaged first portion and a relatively less damaged second portion. An interface of the first and second portions of the spacer is spaced apart from a metal suicide layer of the contact plug. Thus reliability of the semiconductor device may be improved. Related fabrication methods are also described.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a cell area and a peripheral area includes a semiconductor substrate, a cell insulating isolation region delimiting a cell active region of the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a word line disposed within the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a bit line contact plug disposed on the cell active region, a bit line disposed on the bit line contact plug, a peripheral insulating isolation region delimiting a peripheral active region of the semiconductor substrate in the peripheral area, and a peripheral transistor including a peripheral transistor lower electrode and a peripheral transistor upper electrode. The bit line contact plug is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor lower electrode, and the bit line electrode is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor upper electrode.

Abstract: A spacer covering a sidewall of a contact plug includes a relatively more damaged first portion and a relatively less damaged second portion. An interface of the first and second portions of the spacer is spaced apart from a metal silicide layer of the contact plug. Thus reliability of the semiconductor device may be improved. Related fabrication methods are also described.

Abstract: Methods for forming a semiconductor device including fine patterns are provided. The method may include forming a mask layer including first holes spaced apart from each other in a first direction and a second direction. The method may also include forming local mask patterns on the mask layer and forming a sacrificial layer on the mask layer filling the first holes and surrounding the local mask patterns. The local mask patterns may be offset from the first holes in the first direction and the second direction. The method may further include removing the local mask patterns to form openings in the sacrificial layer exposing the mask layer and etching the mask layer through the opening to form second holes in the mask layer.

Abstract: A lower layer of a microelectronic device may be patterned by forming a first sacrificial layer on the lower layer; patterning a plurality of spaced apart trenches in the first sacrificial layer; forming a second sacrificial layer in the plurality of spaced apart trenches; patterning the second sacrificial layer in the plurality of spaced apart trenches to define upper openings in the plurality of spaced apart trenches; and patterning the lower layer using the first and second sacrificial layers as a mask to form lower openings in the lower layer.

Abstract: A spacer covering a sidewall of a contact plug includes a relatively more damaged first portion and a relatively less damaged second portion. An interface of the first and second portions of the spacer is spaced apart from a metal silicide layer of the contact plug. Thus reliability of the semiconductor device may be improved. Related fabrication methods are also described.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a cell area and a peripheral area includes a semiconductor substrate, a cell insulating isolation region delimiting a cell active region of the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a word line disposed within the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a bit line contact plug disposed on the cell active region, a bit line disposed on the bit line contact plug, a peripheral insulating isolation region delimiting a peripheral active region of the semiconductor substrate in the peripheral area, and a peripheral transistor including a peripheral transistor lower electrode and a peripheral transistor upper electrode. The bit line contact plug is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor lower electrode, and the bit line electrode is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor upper electrode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a cell area and a peripheral area includes a semiconductor substrate, a cell insulating isolation region delimiting a cell active region of the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a word line disposed within the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a bit line contact plug disposed on the cell active region, a bit line disposed on the bit line contact plug, a peripheral insulating isolation region delimiting a peripheral active region of the semiconductor substrate in the peripheral area, and a peripheral transistor including a peripheral transistor lower electrode and a peripheral transistor upper electrode. The bit line contact plug is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor lower electrode, and the bit line electrode is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor upper electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-mode multi-band mobile communication terminal and a mode switching method thereof wherein a mode switching can be performed between an asynchronous network and a synchronous network by minimizing interruption in communication. According to the switching method of a multi-mode multi-band mobile communication terminal, the power of a signal received from an asynchronous network or a synchronous network is measured and the measured power of the received signal drives a modem portion, thereby switching the mode of the mobile communication terminal.

Abstract: A video telephony service method between mobile communication terminals, which can perform video telephony through a mobile communication system, in a mobile communication network, each of the mobile communication terminals storing profile information, the method comprising setting up a call between calling and called mobile communication terminals, transmitting the profile information of the calling mobile communication terminal to the called mobile communication terminal, consulting the profile information received from the calling mobile communication terminal, and transmitting a response signal to the mobile communication system to determine that video telephony is possible for the received profile. The mobile communication system transmits the response signal to the calling mobile communication terminal after establishing conditions for video telephony and further establishing a communication path between the calling and called mobile communication terminals for video telephony.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a terminal device including: a state determining unit to determine a connection state of a voice call or a data call at a specific time prior to a transfer period of a keep-alive message designated to a specific application; and an application interworking unit to transfer the keep-alive message through the data call according to the determined connection state of the voice call or the data call to notify of a driving state of the specific application.

Abstract: Methods for forming a semiconductor device including fine patterns are provided. The method may include forming a mask layer including first holes spaced apart from each other in a first direction and a second direction. The method may also include forming local mask patterns on the mask layer and forming a sacrificial layer on the mask layer filling the first holes and surrounding the local mask patterns. The local mask patterns may be offset from the first holes in the first direction and the second direction. The method may further include removing the local mask patterns to form openings in the sacrificial layer exposing the mask layer and etching the mask layer through the opening to form second holes in the mask layer.

Abstract: The video telephony service method includes the step of the mobile communication system, which stores profile information, setting up a call between culling and called mobile communication terminals; the step of the mobile communication system transmitting the profile information of the calling mobile communication terminal to the called mobile communication terminal, as the calling mobile communication terminal transmits the profile information thereof to the mobile communication system; the step of the called mobile communication terminal consulting the profile information, and transmitting a response signal to the mobile communication system after establishing conditions for video telephony if it is determined that video telephony is possible for a received profile, and the mobile communication system transmitting the response signal to the calling mobile communication terminal; and the step of the mobile communication system establishing a communication path between the calling and called mobile communica