Patent ID: 7729165

Claim:
A method of adjusting the threshold voltage of a nonvolatile memory cell having a floating gate or dielectric for receipt and storage of charge and a control gate, the method comprising: placing a selected amount of charge on said floating gate or dielectric, said selected amount of charge corresponding to a desired threshold voltage for said non-volatile memory cell; comparing a first output current and a second output current from the memory cell to a first reference current and a second reference current, when a first control voltage and a second control voltage are placed on said control gate, respectively, the first and second control voltages being within a selected range that includes said desired threshold voltage, the first control voltage being greater than said desired threshold voltage and the second control voltage being less than said desired threshold voltage; and adjusting the charge on said floating gate or dielectric, when said first output current exceeds said first reference current, or when said second output current is less than said second reference current.