Patent ID: 7008840

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device with capacitor elements, comprising: forming a conductive layer on a first insulating layer formed on a substrate, and on a plurality of contact plugs formed in the first insulating layer; forming a plurality of capacitor element lower electrodes by patterning the conductive layer; forming a second insulating layer on the first insulating layer and the capacitor element lower electrodes; forming a recess in the second insulating layer, the recess being positioned at a region above at least one of the capacitor element lower electrodes, without exposing a surface of the at least one capacitor element lower electrode over which the recess is positioned; planarizing the second insulating layer with the recess by polishing so as to not expose the surface of the capacitor element lower electrodes; exposing the capacitor element lower electrodes by removing a surface portion of the planarized second insulating layer; and forming a capacitive insulating film and capacitor element upper electrodes above the capacitor element lower electrodes.