Solid state imaging device and method for fabricating the same

A method for fabricating a solid state imaging device, the method comprising:

• a first step of forming a first oxide film and a first nitride film over a semiconductor substrate so that the first oxide film and the first nitride film are stacked in this order;
• a second step of forming, on the first nitride film, a plurality of first gate electrodes so that the first gate electrodes are arranged so as to be spaced apart from one another with a predetermined distance therebetween;
• a third step of forming a second oxide film so that the second oxide film covers upper part and side walls of each said first gate electrode;
• a fourth step of forming a sidewall spacer of a third oxide film so that the sidewall spacer is buried in an overhang portion generated on each side wall of each said first gate electrode covered by the second oxide film;
• a fifth step of forming a second nitride film so that the second nitride film covers the second oxide film, the sidewall spacer and part of the first nitride film located between the first gate electrodes;
• a sixth step of forming a plurality of second gate electrodes on at least part of the second nitride film located between adjacent two of the first gate electrodes;
• a seventh step of forming a fourth oxide film on the first nitride film after the first step and before the second step;
• and
• an eighth step of forming a fifth oxide film on the second nitride film after the fifth step and before the sixth step, wherein:
• in the second step, part of the first nitride film is remained between the first gate electrodes, and
• a thickness of the second nitride film is adjusted so that a total of respective thicknesses of parts of the first nitride film and the second nitride film located under a bottom of each said second gate electrode is the same as a thickness of part of the first nitride film located under a bottom of each said first gate electrode.