Patent ID: 6987694

Claim:
A method of programming a non-volatile memory device including a string of serially connected memory cell transistors with each memory cell transistor of the string being connected to a different word line, the method comprising: applying a pass voltage to a first word line connected to a first memory cell transistor of the string; applying a coupling voltage to a second word line connected to a second memory cell transistor of the string and wherein the pass voltage and the coupling voltage are different; applying a decoupling voltage to a third word line connected to a third memory cell transistor of the string wherein the third memory cell transistor of the string is serially connected between the first and second memory cell transistors, wherein the coupling voltage is greater than the decoupling voltage; and while applying the pass voltage to the first word line, while applying the coupling voltage to the second word line, and while applying the decoupling voltage to the third word line, applying a program voltage to a fourth word line connected to a fourth memory cell transistor of the string, the fourth memory cell transistor being programmed responsive to applying the program voltage to the fourth word line wherein the second memory cell transistor is between the first and fourth memory cell transistors of the serially connected string.