Patent ID: 7257022

Claim:
A method of operating a memory array, comprising: programming a charge into a number of charge storing nanoparticles located in a gate insulator of one or more transistors in a memory array; wherein the charge is programmed using electron tunneling from a channel region, through a portion of the gate insulator, into the number of charge storing nanoparticles; wherein the charge storing nanoparticles have a work function greater than 3.2 eV; detecting the charge on the number of charge storing nanoparticles, including: applying a first voltage potential to a first source/drain region of the transistor; applying a second voltage potential to a second source/drain region of the transistor; and applying a gate potential to a gate of the transistor; wherein programming the charge is performed in a first direction, and detecting the charge is performed in a direction opposite to the first direction.