Patent ID: 7864594

Claim:
A method for operating a memory, the memory having a plurality of memory cells, and each of the memory cells having a first source/drain region shared with a neighboring memory cell and a second source/drain region, the method comprising: turning on all channels between the second source/drain region of a first memory cell of the plurality of memory cells and the second source/drain region of a second memory cell of the plurality of memory cells; applying a first voltage to the second source/drain region of the first memory cell and applying a second voltage to the second source/drain region of the second memory cell to program the first memory cell; and applying an electron flow into at least a first source/drain region between the second source/drain region of the first memory cell and the second source/drain region of the second memory cell; wherein an electron flow in the channel of the first memory cell is greater than an electron flow in the channel of the second memory cell.