US Patent 11769811 Semiconductor device including gate structure and separation structure

A semiconductor device includes first and second gate structures respectively on first and second active regions and an insulating layer between the first and second active regions and a separation structure between a first end portion of the first gate structure and a second end portion of the second gate structure and extending into the insulating layer. The separation structure includes a lower portion, an intermediate portion, and an upper portion, a maximum width of the intermediate portion in the first direction is greater than a maximum width of the lower portion in the first direction, and the maximum width of the intermediate portion is greater than a maximum width of the upper portion in the first direction.