Patent ID: 7508719

Claim:
A method for operating a non-volatile memory cell, comprising: applying a voltage across a first transistor's semiconductor drain/well diode and injecting a first injection current between a floating gate electrode and the first transistor's semiconductor well substrate in order to place a first portion of an amount of charge on the floating gate electrode, the first injection current caused by a band-to-band tunneling current within the first transistor, the band-to-band tunneling current caused by a first physical mechanism including energy band bending between the floating gate electrode and the first transistor's semiconductor drain/well diode that is caused at least in part by the applied voltage, activating a select line to permit a current to flow through a second transistor and thereby injecting a second injection current between the floating gate electrode and the second transistor's semiconductor substrate in order to place a second portion of the amount of charge on the floating gate electrode, the second injection current caused by a second physical mechanism that is different from the first physical mechanism; and, wherein the first injection current and the second injection current are both oriented to carry charge in the same direction with respect to the floating gate electrode.