Patent ID: 8895405

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprising: forming a silicon nitride film on a semiconductor substrate, the silicon nitride film having an opening formed in a portion thereof; forming a silicon oxide film on the silicon nitride film and on a side face of the opening; etching the silicon oxide film so that a sidewall is formed on the side face of the opening; forming a trench with vertical and straight sidewalls in the semiconductor substrate using the sidewall and the silicon nitride film as a mask; and forming an insulating layer in the trench that comprises a planar curve-less top portion that is parallel with the bottom of the trench, wherein the width of the planar curve-less top portion is less than the width between the vertical and straight sidewalls of the trench that is situated between convex curved portions that extend above and directly contact the semiconductor substrate beyond the left and right sides of the trench, wherein the step of forming the silicon oxide film includes the step of oxidizing the silicon nitride film with one of a plasma oxidation method or a radical oxidation method wherein at least a portion of the silicon oxide film forms a permanent part of the semiconductor device.