Patent ID: 7933151

Claim:
A non-volatile semiconductor storage device comprising: a plurality of memory strings, each having a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells connected in series; and a plurality of first selection transistors connected to one ends of the respective memory strings, each of the memory strings comprising: a first semiconductor layer including a columnar portion extending in a direction perpendicular to a substrate; a first electric charge storage layer formed to surround a side surface of the columnar portion; and a first conductive layer formed to surround a side surface of the columnar portion as well as the first electric charge storage layer, the first conductive layer functioning as a control electrode of a respective one of the memory cells, each of the first selection transistors comprising: a second semiconductor layer extending upward from a top surface of the columnar portion; a second electric charge storage layer formed to surround a side surface of the second semiconductor layer; and a second conductive layer formed to surround a side surface of the second semiconductor layer as well as the second electric charge storage layer, the second conductive layer functioning as a control electrode of a respective one of the first selection transistors, the non-volatile semiconductor storage device further comprising a control circuit configured to cause, prior to reading data from a selected one of the memory strings, electric charges to be accumulated in the second electric charge storage layer of one of the first selection transistors connected to an unselected one of the memory strings.