Patent ID: 8537617

Claim:
A method for programming a NAND flash string having a source line select device, memory cells and a string select device connected in series between a bitline and a source line comprising: driving all wordlines 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; continuing driving all the wordlines except a first wordline corresponding to a first memory cell adjacent to a selected memory cell to a 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; driving 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; driving a third wordline corresponding to the selected memory cell to a programming voltage greater than the second pass voltage; and, coupling the bitline to the selected memory cell.