Patent ID: 8513114

Claim:
A method of making a semiconductor device comprising the steps of: forming a first pattern in both a metal film and an underlying dielectric layer that overlie an insulator layer above a semiconductor substrate, the metal film and the underlying dielectric layer defining the same first pattern, the first pattern exposing a surface area of the insulator layer uncovered by the first pattern, and the metal film is formed over the dielectric layer; forming a second pattern in the insulator layer, the second pattern being defined at least in part by a first mask positioned above the first pattern of the metal film and the dielectric layer, wherein the first mask covers a part of the surface area of the insulator layer uncovered by the first pattern, the second pattern having a first depth in the insulator layer; after the second pattern forming step, removing the metal film while leaving the dielectric layer; and after removing the metal film while leaving the dielectric layer, using the dielectric layer as a second mask, etching the insulator layer such that a portion of the insulator layer uncovered by etching of the dielectric layer extends into the insulator layer to a second depth different than the first depth of the second pattern in the insulator layer.