Patent ID: 7892941

Claim:
A method for forming an isolation structure for a semiconductor device, comprising: depositing a dielectric material onto a semiconductor substrate; depositing a buffer material onto the dielectric material; removing a portion of the buffer material, a portion of the dielectric material, and material from the semiconductor substrate to form at least one trench extending into the semiconductor substrate, the trench including at least one side wall; forming an oxide on exposed portions of the semiconductor substrate within the at least one trench; removing a portion of the buffer material to reduce a thickness of the buffer material and laterally recess a side wall defined by the buffer material relative to a side wall defined by the dielectric material and relative to a side wall of the at least one trench; applying isolation material to remaining buffer material, in contact with a portion of the dielectric material exposed laterally adjacent to the side wall of the at least one trench, and filling the at least one trench; removing portions of the isolation material from the remaining buffer material; and removing the remaining buffer material to exposed side walls of at least one isolation structure protruding from the dielectric material and located laterally beyond corresponding side walls of the at least one trench.