Patent ID: 7952929

Claim:
A flash memory device comprising: a driver for driving a source line select device, memory cells and a string select device connected in series between a bitline and a source line; and a controller for controlling the driver in a programming operation, the controller being configured to drive all wordlines of the memory cells to a first pass voltage for coupling a string precharge voltage provided by the source line to the memory cells, the string precharge voltage being greater than the first pass voltage, continue driving all the wordlines except a first wordline corresponding to a first memory cell adjacent to a selected memory cell to second pass voltage greater than the first pass voltage, the first memory cell being positioned between the selected memory cell and the string select device, drive a second wordline corresponding to a second memory cell adjacent to the selected memory cell to a first supply voltage for turning off the second memory cell, drive a third wordline corresponding to the selected memory cell to a programming voltage greater than the second pass voltage, and couple the bitline to the selected memory cell.