US Patent 7592211 Methods of fabricating transistors including supported gate electrodes

Transistors are fabricated by forming a protective layer having an opening extending therethrough on a substrate, and forming a gate electrode in the opening. A first portion of the gate electrode laterally extends on surface portions of the protective layer outside the opening, and a second portion of the gate electrode is spaced apart from the protective layer and laterally extends beyond the first portion. Related devices and fabrication methods are also discussed.