Patent ID: 7116579

Claim:
A semiconductor storage device, comprising: a memory array comprising a plurality of memory elements; a write state machine for performing a sequence of a program operation or an erase operation with respect to the memory array; a decoder for decoding a signal indicating a current state of the write state machine, which is output from the write state machine, and outputting a status signal indicating a status of the program operation or the erase operation with respect to the memory array; a status register for storing the status signal; and an output circuit for outputting the status signal stored in the status register, wherein each of the plurality of memory elements comprises a gate electrode provided via a gate insulating film on a semiconductor layer, a channel region provided under the gate electrode, diffusion regions provided on opposite sides of the channel region and having a conductivity type opposite to that of the channel region, and memory function sections provided on opposite sides of the gate electrode and having a function of retaining charges.