Patent ID: 8748275

Claim:
A method, comprising: forming a protective material layer selectively above an isolation region that laterally separates a first active region from a second active region formed in a semiconductor layer of a semiconductor device, said protective material layer covering an entire upper surface of said isolation region, said first and second active regions being covered by at least one mask layer; forming an etch mask above said first active region and a portion of said isolation region so as to expose said at least one mask layer above said second active region; removing said at least one mask layer from above said second active region selectively to said protective material layer in the presence of said etch mask; forming a semiconductor alloy on said second active region by using one or more of said at least one mask layer formed above said first active region as a deposition mask; and forming a first transistor in and above said first active region and a second transistor in and above said second active region.