A storage-management apparatus and method that manages storage areas. A second counter counts pulses of a second clock pulse stream to produce a reference signal when a predetermined number of the pulses is counted. The thick dielectric layer, which reduces the capacitance between the drain and gate of the device, can be formed in both the active areas of the device, where the switching function is performed, and in the inactive areas where, among other things, contacts are made to the gate electrode.