Patent ID: 8084352

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having at least one wiring layer therein and an air gap in any wiring layer area to reduce inter-wire capacity, the method comprising: when forming the wiring layer in which an air gap is formed, forming a first insulating film on a semiconductor substrate or a lower wiring layer; forming a plurality of wires in an upper part of the first insulating film; forming a first cap film on the wires; forming a mask pattern on an air gap non-forming area of the first insulating film and the first cap film; at least partly etching the first cap film and the first insulating film through the mask pattern to form a gap in an air gap forming area; removing the mask pattern; forming a second cap film on at least an area in which the first cap film was etched; and depositing a second insulating film on the gap, the first cap film, and the second cap film to form the air gap from the gap in the air gap forming area.