In a semiconductor device, a capacitor is provided which has a gap in at least
one of its plates. The gap is small enough so that fringe capacitance between the
sides of this gap and the opposing plate at least compensates, if not overcompensates,
for the missing conductive material that would otherwise fill the gap and add to
parallel capacitance. As a result, the capacitance of a storage device can be increased
without taking up more die area. Alternatively, the size of a capacitor can be
reduced with no decrease in capacitance. Various gap configurations and methods
for providing them are also within the scope of the current invention.