Patent ID: 7710780

Claim:
A ground-sensing semiconductor non-volatile memory, comprising: a memory cell array at least including a first memory cell, a first bit line connected to a drain of the first memory cell, a second bit line connected to a source of the first memory cell, and a third bit line provided in the vicinity of a source of a second memory cell whose drain is connected to the second bit line; a sense amplifier; a voltage source for supplying a predetermined read voltage; a ground power supply; a selection circuit for selectively connecting the first to third bit lines to the sense amplifier, the voltage source and the ground power supply; and selection control means for controlling the selection circuit, wherein the selection control means controls the selection circuit so that the first bit line is connected to the voltage source, the second bit line to the sense amplifier, and the third bit line to the ground power supply during an operation of reading the first memory cell.