Patent ID: 7259991

Claim:
A method of operating a non-volatile memory device having at least one string of non-volatile memory cells, the method comprising: bringing a selected bit line to a ground potential; bringing a source line to a first positive potential; applying a second positive potential to a first drain select gate interposed between a string of non-volatile memory cells and the selected bit line; applying the ground potential to a first source select gate interposed between the string of non-volatile memory cells and the source line, thereby deactivating the first source select gate; applying the ground potential to a second source select gate interposed between the first source select gate and the source line, thereby deactivating the second source select gate; and applying a third positive potential to a selected word line of the string of non-volatile memory cells sufficient to cause a change in programming state of a memory cell of the string of non-volatile memory cells associated with the selected word line and the selected bit line.