Patent ID: 8076707

Claim:
A programming device for supporting a readout device that is adapted to store a variable amount of charge in a floating gate, comprising: a substrate including a first doped region that is doped with impurities of a first conductivity; a plurality of contacts of the first conductivity type in contact with the first doped region; a plurality of contacts of a second conductivity type in contact with the first doped region; a first insulating layer on the substrate; and a floating gate disposed on the insulating layer, a first segment of the floating gate located proximately to the contacts of the first conductivity type relative to the contacts of the second conductivity type, and a second segment of the floating gate located proximately to the contacts of the second conductivity type relative to the contacts of the first conductivity type, wherein the first insulating layer placed underneath the floating gate is of a thickness to cause direct tunneling of charge between the substrate and the floating gate responsive to applying a voltage difference between the substrate and the floating gate; and a biasing circuitry configured to move charge bidirectionally between the floating gate and the substrate via direct tunneling.