Patent ID: 8236665

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, the method comprising the acts of: forming a first device separating structure that defines a plurality of first active regions over a semiconductor substrate; forming a trench in a predetermined region of the first device separating structure; forming a barrier film so as to fill the trench; etching the first device separating structure to a predetermined depth to expose sidewalls of the first active regions and a top portion of the barrier film formed in the trench; growing a selective epitaxial growth (SEG) film from each of the exposed sidewalls of the first active regions, thereby forming second active regions, each of the second active regions extending from one of the exposed sidewalls of the first active regions to contact the top portion of the barrier film so that each second active region is in part defined by the barrier film; and forming a second device separating structure so that each of the second active regions is between and in contact with at least a portion of the second device separating structure and a top portion of one of the first active regions.