Patent ID: 6147907
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
A method of reading a flash memory Electrically-Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) that includes a multitude of field effect transistor memory cells each having a source, drain, floating gate, control gate and a substrate, the method comprising:(a) applying zero voltage to all bitlines in the flash memory device;(b) applying a negative voltage (-V.sub.D) to all wordlines in the flash memory device;(c) applying zero volts to each source of the multitude of memory cells in the flash memory device;(d) applying the negative voltage (-V.sub.D) to each substrate of the multitude of memory cells in the flash memory device;(e) applying the negative voltage (-V.sub.D) to a bitline to which the drain of the cell to be read is attached; and(f) applying a positive voltage (V.sub.G) minus the voltage (V.sub.D) to a wordline to which the gate of the cell to be read is attached.