Patent ID: 8077521

Claim:
A bitline current generator for a floating gate non-volatile memory array, said floating-gate non-volatile memory array comprising a plurality of memory bitcells and bitlines, the bitline current generator comprising: a transistor for each bitline for coupling a bitline to a program voltage supply when the bitline is selected for programming; a variable current source for providing a programming current to said selected bitline, the variable current source being adapted to select a level of said programming current such that programming of selected memory bitcells on said selected bitline does not disturb a programmed state of unselected memory bitcells on unselected bitlines; a programmable current source; and a current mirror having an input coupled to the programmable current source and an output for providing the programming current; wherein the variable current source further comprises a programmable voltage reference, adapted to provide a variable reference voltage to the current mirror.