Patent ID: 7440325

Claim:
A semiconductor memory device comprising: a plurality of memory cells each storing a plurality of data using n threshold voltage levels (n: natural number more than 1); a data storage circuit connected to one terminal of each of the memory cells, and storing first or second logic level inputted externally; and a control circuit connected to the data storage circuit, the control circuit carrying out a first operation of stepping up the n threshold voltage levels of said each memory cell when the data storage circuit is at the first logic level, the control circuit maintaining the n threshold voltage levels of said each memory cell unchanged when the data storage circuit is at the second logic level, the control circuit carrying out a verify operation for verifying whether said each memory cell reaches a k-th level (k≦n) included in the n threshold voltage levels, the control circuit carrying out the verify operation by charging an end of a memory cell included in the memory cells and set at the k-th level, performing no charging operation on a memory cell other than said memory cell set at the k-th level, applying a first voltage to a gate of the memory cell other than said memory cell set at the k-th level, changing a logic level of the data storage circuit to the second logic level and performing no first operation when a voltage at the one terminal of said each memory cell is not less than a preset detection level.